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Russian (CIS)English (United Kingdom)
ISSN 2223-165X

V.I. ABAEV NORTH-OSSETIAN INSTITUTE FOR HUMANITARIAN AND SOCIAL STUDIES

OF VLADIKAVKAZ SCIENCE CENTRE OF RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

AND THE GOVERNMENT OF NORTH OSSETIA-ALANIA

ИЗВЕСТИЯ СОИГСИ

Plaeva Z. K. Wæjygs as the Acamaz’s Enemies: From Chthonic Archaic Characters to the Struggle with Feudal Lords // Izvestiya SOIGSI. 2015. Iss. 18 (57). P. 87-95. Print

Keywords: Nart epos, Acamaz, wæjyg (giant), ældar (duke), «external soul», enemy’s weapon, chthonic being

The article deals with the Acamaz’s epic enemies in the Ossetian Nart sagas. A special attention is given to the motive of «external soul», which is found in different peoples’ folklore, and the motive of destruction of the enemy with his own weapon, specific for chthonic beings. The author concludes that the Ossetian wæjygs are chthonic giants, reflecting the previous stage of the earth’s population. Many-headed giants are autochthons and «owners of places», that’s why they are landlords, but the Narts are aliens, who fight against these giants and make the conquered territory more civilized.