THE EPIC TRADITION OF KOLYMA

The article outlines the history of populating Kolyma (beginning with the 17th century) and of its historical settlements, Nizhnekolymsk and Pokhodsk. The history of epic songs (bylinys) collecting in the region is described (D. I. Melikov, V. G. Bogoraz, S. I. Bolo). The local bylinys are analyzed. Archaic versions of certain story lines are highlighted, as well as the influence of the manuscript tradition (The Wars of the Jews by Josephus Flavius) on one of the epic songs, Mikhail Danilovich, an Underage Warrior. Direct links between Kolyma and Indigirka (Russkoye Ustye) are stablished.