Semiotics of the Earth in Modern Eschatology

Abstract

Introduction. This article examines the mythometaphorical image of the earth in the context of contemporary eschatological discourse, which develops on the margins of religious life. The image of the earth in narratives of marginal eschatology is ambivalent, manifested in a shift between metonymic and symbolic interpretations. Content. This study aims to identify the specifics of the conceptualization of this image within the pragmatic framework of eschatological discourse. In traditional biblical apocalypticism, the earth is perceived as the site of eschatological catastrophes. In contemporary narratives, the earth is metaphorically personified, imbuing it with the capacity for feeling and action, which imbues its actions with moral significance. The article identifies several basic patterns of interpreting the image of the earth, including: "Earth as a giver of harvest" – an archetypal image associated with the deification of the earth and its ability to bear fruit. "Saturation of the earth in conditions of eschatological famine" is a hermeneme according to which the earth becomes a source of food in times of catastrophe. "God's wrath upon the earth" is a metonymic correlation of the earth with humanity, where the earth's suffering is interpreted as punishment for human sins. "The earth cannot withstand human iniquities" is a theme associated with apocalyptic catastrophes caused by sins. "Endowment of the earth with the ability to feel and express emotions" develops a metaphorical interpretation according to which the earth reacts to human actions. The image of "Mother Earth" is an archetypal image rooted in Slavic paganism that retains its significance in modern narratives. Conclusions. The study emphasizes the polysemantic nature of the image of the earth in eschatological narratives and its ability to generate mythological concepts, which contributes to the mythologization of modern eschatology of Orthodox origin.