From Manus to “Ruka”: Cognitive Foundations of the Concept of Power in Roman and Russian Traditions

Abstract

This article presents a comparative analysis of the semantics and pragmatics of the metaphors manus and hand (ruka) as instruments of power in ancient Rome and Russia. Its goal is to reconstruct the functions of the symbolism of the “hand” and to identify shared semantic motifs and differences in two contexts. Methodologically, the study combines the examination of legal and religious texts, historical-legal commentary, and culturalsemiotic interpretation, and is qualitative in nature. As a result, the author develops a typology of the meanings of the “hand” (legal authority, a symbol of divine sanction, and an instrument of punishment and creation), demonstrating the relationship between institutionalized Roman practices of manus and Russian discursive models of power. The article does not claim a direct genetic connection between the two traditions; rather, it identifies a typological similarity between the cognitive models of imperial-type societies. It also outlines promising directions for further research: expanding the chronological scope, studying visual symbols, analyzing the influence of the metaphor of the hand on specific institutional practices, and drawing comparisons with ancient Greek, Old Testament, and Western European traditions.