THE THREE CENTRES OF RUS’: FROM REAL GEOGRAPHY TO MYTHICAL ONE

Abstract

The localisation of the three cities / centres of early Rus’ mentioned by Islamic authors is complicated due to significant differences in the versions of this plot. However, the traditional orientation of most historical interpretations to Eastern Slavic medieval realities does not find confirmation in narrative and archaeological data. The original core of the plot was connected with the state-political formations that left the monuments of Saltovo-Mayaki archaeological culture in the basin of the Don and its tributaries. Subsequently, after the destruction of some of these formations, this real plot acquires legendary details, Arab and Persian geographers change the location of some of its main points to the south of the Caucasus. The threads of biblical stories about the prince or the people of Rosh, connected with the Lesser Caucasus or Asia Minor, are woven into the historical canvas.