RELIGIOUS AND MYTHOLOGICAL BASIS OF VASILY ZHUKOVSKY’S LAST POEM AHASUERUS

The last Zhukovsky’s poem "Wandering Jew", which was regarded by him as final, is considered by the author of the article in the context of the changes of the poet's mood conditioned by a gradual transition from the educational views to the religious-mystical attitude, giving special attention to Apocalypse by Saint Ioannis the Evangelist. Zhukovsky is represented not only as a romantic poet, but also as an independent myth-maker, who skillfully intertwines biblical events, his own interpretation of the myth of Ahasuerus and the Napoleonic theme.