Judging by Udmurt legends, Idna was the strongest among his brothers, as he “did not depend on anyone, and was not afraid of anyone.” The Idnakar hillfort became the largest settlement in the north of Udmurtia. This is an archaeological monument of nationwide significance.
The hillfort has rich cultural deposits; over the years of study, archaeologists have found tens of thousands of unique artifacts there. One of them is a bird-shaped noise-making pendant. The image of a bird is typical of the iconic bronze casting in the Perm zoomorphic style.
For many peoples, the duck is the main character in their creation myths, and the bird in the sky is a symbol of the immortality of the soul, rebirth and connection with the other world. The image of a bird has been traditionally viewed as a female amulet and a symbol of fertility and household prosperity.
Duck’s feet were considered a sacral pattern and were used in women’s clothing, jewelry and noise-making pendants. They were considered talismans for good luck and amulets protecting from dark forces. The pendant from the museum’s collection has duck feet to make a chime: this sound was believed to deter evil spirits.
Idnakar was a metal processing center of the Prikamye region, and its blacksmiths were renowned for their great skill. The development of the craft gave rise to jewelers who made skillful rings, barrettes, pendants and other jewelry.