Tendencies of inter-penetration of the Slavic and the Finno-Ugric mythological interpretations

An attempt to understand the essence of the original Mordovian perception of the outworld by means of the analysis of the related neighbouring cultures is made. On the basis of the comparative analysis mythological images of the Mordva and the Russians, the Finno-Ugric and the Slavic which are characterised by the tendency of inter-penetration are presented.