ИЗВЕСТИЯ СОИГСИ

The article considers the cult of the military deity that occupied an important place in the religious views of the Alans. Comparison of the ancient sources with folklore and ethnography of Ossetians, modern descendants of the Alans, clarifies some features of this cult. B. Bakhrakh’s long-standing assumption that the god of war, worshiped by the Alans in the form of a sword, was also the lord of another world, finds confirmation in the Ossetian epos. The Nartic hero Batraz, who is considered the epic hypostasis of the god of war, acts also as the lord of another world. Some specific elements of Ossetian memorial rites (a knife touching all food commemorating the deceased, stabbing the knife in the grave mound) testify in favor of that. The legend of the sacred sword of the Scythians (resp. Alans), found with the help of a cow, is interpreted as a transformation of the myth about the god of war, born of a cow, and about his zoomorphic incarnation as a bull. Some specific characteristics and actions of Nartic Batraz speak well for this interpretation: in the childhood he is fed by cows, he is able to turn into a bull, at the behest of Shatana he seizes with the Nartian herd of bulls, battling with them like a bull. A well-known hypothesis about the impact of the Alanian military cult on the formation of West European legends about Arthur is additionally supported in the article with some data of the Ossetian Nart epos. Already well-known Nartian analogies of the motif of the Arthurian legends about the “sword in stone” are supplemented by one more: Batraz thrusts in the ground an unusual weapon, which presents simultaneously a sword and a lance. Moreover, as the accordance to the motifs of the “sword in stone” and “sword from the lake” the examples from the Vedic mythology are given: the vajra, the miraculous weapon of the storm god, pierces the mountain / stone, and in some contexts is described as lying in the sea. It is suggested that ritual dances with swords existed in the Alanian military cult.

Keywords: Alans, sacred sword, God of War, Ossetians, Nart Epic, King Arthur, sword in stone.

The article considers a document of 1768 with the autograph of Catherine the Great, telling about her incognito travelling (1742) to a number of medieval monuments of the North Caucasus. On the basis of data of the early XXth century historian N.F. Katanov, who rightly pointed to the three facts in the document when the empress narrated from the “man’s perspective”, the article verifies his presumption that this information was “copied by empress” from some another source. Comparison of the mention of Golden Horde Majar, legends of the ataman A. Shadra and other data allows to suggest that the data of the document could be borrowed from V.N. Tatishchev. Today this assumption is supported also by the find of an almost identical text in the Tatishchev‘s “Russian History”. The comparison of the texts of the empress’ document and the fragment from the Russian historian’s work clearly explains the reasons for Catherine narrating from the “man’s perspective”. This also highlights the necessity for further investigation (in prospective) of the data stating reasons and time when Kizlyar, Tatartup, “Yulat” and other monuments of the region were visited.

Keywords: works of Catherine the Great, Bolgar, North Caucasus, Majar, Kizlyar, V.N. Tatishchev, beginning of the North Caucasus studies.

Renaissance of various elements of Caucasian highlanders’ authentic political culture at present necessitates the revision of the time when this culture functioned in its original state – before and during the integration of the Caucasus into Russia in the XIX century. One of the important aspects of that was leadership, vividly exemplified by the Abkhazian society. Personal authority among Caucasian highlanders resulted from the combination of reputation and connections, and defined the success and influence of a person. Titles, estates, and wealth were subordinate factors; therefore, the political hierarchy did not match the social one. Personal qualities and reputation of a leader were the basis of his power. For the highlanders power itself was an element of personality. The leader’s power was based on the number of his voluntary followers, which forced people to maintain mutually beneficial cooperation with the leader. As the leader’s personality was an integral part of his followers’ society, the leadership among the highlanders was rather a corporate phenomenon than a personal one. The goal of the Abkhazian culture and society was not to suppress people’s social activity, but to regulate it so that the growth of the leader’s influence, wealth, and fame would be considered as an achievement of his group. Moreover, the leader’s team did not only support him, but also significantly limited his ambitions. Highlanders’ self-government traditions prevented political leaders from participating in the economic and spiritual spheres. There was a special type of leaders in the Caucasus – the elders, which were the dominant force in the non-political aspects of the society’s life. The elders were a medium between subjects and objects of political system. They served as outside observers responsible for the moral appraisal and legal evaluation of all current events.

Keywords: Caucasus, leadership, authority, social relationship, political culture.

The article presents the historical and genealogical research of the Baevs family (North Ossetia’s Tagaurian society), based on archival sources and published materials. The family of the Baevs gave Ossetia a number of prominent representatives of the military intelligentsia, as well as scientific, public and political figures. The article considers the historical fates of this family representatives in the XIX – early XX century: lieutenant general Gado Baev, an outstanding financier Leo Baev, a hero of Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 Alexander Baev, the St. George beau Order, a member of the Danube company Zahar Baev, an active member of the «Society for the spread of education and technical information among the highlanders of the Terek region» Basil Baev, a member of the White movement major general Paul Baev, an astrologer scientist, professor of astronomy Konstantin Baev, veterinary service organizer in Ossetia Peter Baev, the first mayor Gappo Baev, an officer of the General headquarters Dzandar Baev, attorney Ishmael Baev, professor, mathematician Andrei Baev, a famous revolutionary Chermen Baev, et al. The studied materials substantially complement the history of Ossetia, contribute to a deeper and updated study of the Ossetian families’ genealogy.

Keywords: Russia, Caucasus, North Ossetia, military intelligentsia, education, social and political activity, revolution.

The article is devoted to the history of Dagestan towns’ emergence in the XX century. It is noted that 6 of the 10 towns of Dagestan, namely Khasavyurt, Dagestanskiye Ogni, Kizilyurt, Kaspiisk, Izberbash and Yuzhno-Sukhokumsk gained this status during the Soviet period. The article pays special attention to each of these towns, the time of their emergence, their growth and development are deing considered, the acquisition of the status of the town is shown. It is noted that the turning of the former working settlements into towns was promoted for some – by construction of large industrial enterprises – plant No. 182 (“Dvigatelstroy”), a glass factory “Dagestanskiye Ogni”, for others – by the discovery of oil and gas, construction of hydroelectric power stations, etc. All this favored the increase in the urban population, improving the welfare of citizens; a change in the way of life of many Dagestanians, as well as the development of transport and socio-cultural infrastructure of towns and the republic. Attention is paid to the fact that large enterprises were built in Dagestan in the XX century and had a direct impact on the development and formation of towns, at the same time laid the basis for a crisis in the functioning of these towns at the end of the XX – beginning of XXI century.

Keywords: Dagestan, town, settlement, XX century, emergence of towns, industrial enterprises.

The article on the basis of the memories of the contemporaries and the archival data considers the history of the development of cinematography in the North Caucasus’ republics in the 1960s – 1980s. It highlights, that the creation of television documentary and feature films production in the region was largely a result of the national cultural policy. The practice of cultural paternalism common among political elite in the reviewed period had an essential impact on the development of cinematography,  also of great significance was  contribution of A.T. Aguzarov, then head of the State television and radio of North Ossetian ASSR, to the formation of a regional base of filmmaking in the North Caucasus. The regional film art was developed within the frame of the state program of “social request”. Cinematography proponents solved definite tasks for propaganda of the Soviet way of life, of upbringing in the spirit of devotion to socialist ideals, patriotism and internationalism. The need to comply with ideological, censorial demands substantially limited the freedom of creative search, often led to schematism, “posterism” of subjects and images. However in general the humanistic ideas of goodness, fairness, peaceful coexistence of the peoples, transmitted by North Caucasian cinematography, resonated with the moods of the majority of the region’ multinational population and responded in the hearts of ordinary people.

Keywords: North Caucasus, cinema art, regional TV cinematography, documentary and art cinema, cultural paternalism, political elite, A.T. Aguzarov.

The article traces the course of life and creativity of Akim Kazbekovich Dzhanaev – one of the prominent representatives of the generation of Ossetian scientific intelligentsia, whose creative biography was being formed during the period of profound social transformations in the first half of the XX c. A.K. Dzhanaev developed interest in the Humanities at a very early age, and this interest eventually turned into conscious desire to become a professional historian. The social atmosphere of 1920-1930 facilitated this, when the educated layer of the society was actively engaged in discussing issues of ideological foundation for the socialism construction in USSR. Dzhanaev taught for many years in different educational organizations. But scientific research was his main calling. The article marks the scientist’s important contribution into development of the Ossetian studies and Caucasology. The author characterized the main directions of Dzhanaev’s research activities. The list of themes the researcher treated during his long life in science outlines breadth of his scientific interests. Among them there are problems of feudal landowning in Digoria, development of the revolutionary movement and socialist construction in the North Caucasus, as well as the questions of the Ossetian historiography, archeographical and source studying, etc. The bibliographical list of the Dzhanaev’s works is presented. It contains 84 titles including the monographs, articles, as well the collected scientific articles and documents, in elaborating which the researcher participated.

Keywords: history of Ossetia, A.K. Dzhanaev, feudal landowning, revolutionary movement in the North Caucasus, Ossetian historiography, source studying.

Somatic lexicon is one of the universal lexical groups in any language. In view of this, this very group of words is one of the most common objects of comparative-historical, structural-comparative and linguocultural research. Both in Russian and foreign linguistic studies, as a rule, this vocabulary is distinguished first in the lexical-thematic system of any language. This article is devoted to the study of the somatic lexicon of the Digorian version of the Ossetian language, as this problem in the Ossetian linguistics has not been sufficiently studied. In the article the concept of somatic vocabulary is given, the place of somatic lexicon in the lexical system of language is analyzed. Different classifications of somatisms are considered. The most acceptable for the somatic lexicon of the Digor variant of the Ossetian language is a classification based on their functional characteristics and the nature of the object of nomination, as well as on the opposition “external / internal”. The study revealed the composition of the somatic lexicon of the Digor variant of the Ossetian language, which was analyzed and systematized. The semantic and denotative characteristics of Digor somatisms are given. It was revealed that the Digor somatisms are characterized by a complex system of figurative meanings and increased productivity in word formation and in the formation of idiomatic combinations.

Keywords: Digorian variant of the Ossetian language, vocabulary, word semantics, lexico-semantic system of language, somatisms.

The article investigates the evolution of gender in the Iranian languages. Special attention is given to the study of West and East Iranian languages in the historical perspective. On the basis of a wide range of various linguistic data the generalities and peculiarities of the grammar of Iranian languages, especially the category of gender, are described and characterized in detail. Iranian linguistic group belongs to the family of Indo-European languages, which are currently spoken on a vast territory. The most numerous branch of this family is Indo-Iranian, which includes Indo-Aryan and Iranian languages. Their separation began with the migrations of the ancestors of modern Indo-Aryans to Northwest India. The history of Iranian-speaking tribes and peoples, who in the past lived on the geography stretching from the shores of Black sea in the west to the borders of China in the east and from the southern Urals in the north to the shores of the Persian Gulf and India in the south, covers a vast period of time – from the II millennium BC up to the present day. The dialects of many tribes by the turn of the new era still retained a significant degree of initial community, inherited from the ancient Iranian source language close to Avestan.

Keywords: gender, grammar, Iranian languages, Indo-European languages, Western Iranian languages, Eastern Iranian languages.

The article proves that the abstract meaning of completeness / duration of verbal action can be considered as the main semantic feature of aspect in the typologically different languages. This feature gives basis for the comparison of aspectological potential of the languages with different typological structures (namely French, Russian and Ossetian). Comparative-typological studies, conducted in terms of closely related languages and unrelated ones, reveal the undeniable fact that the basis of all differences (of lexical, semantic and syntactic nature) are accounted for, first and foremost, by the systemic features of any given natural language. Some differences between the French, Russian and Ossetian linguistic systems manifested in the ability of the reviewd language cultures can serve as an illustration to the above stated fact to express a variety of aspect meanings. For typological research of aspects it becomes important to identify the common parameters, allowing the correlation of the systems content studied in the framework of the indicated problem. Thus, in particular, it seems appropriate to consider the abstract value of completeness / duration of actions as the main semantic characteristic of the verbal form in the languages of different structural models (in our case: French, Russian and Ossetian). Within the mentioned correlations more specific semantic meanings, namely, duration/continuity, completeness /incompleteness of the process, are found. The last of the semantic characteristics can be included in their activity attitude to the result, which is quite natural, as we judge the effectiveness only in case of completed action. Unfinished action can achieve no result. The given significance of the aspect occurs in the speech stream as a result of interactions between various linguistic levels: the lexical meaning of the verbal lexeme together with the value of its grammatical forms and syntactic environments. In other words, within the functional-semantic category (FSC) of aspectuality is the distribution of semantic features to the main categorical and peripheral ones. It seems like the regularity of expression of the latter is narrowed from one aspect feature to another. For example, if the duration is inherent in almost any process action, not any integral action is effective.

Keywords: contrastive method, functional-semantic category, verbal paradigm; aspectual meaning; semantic dominant, grammatical marker, semantic features.

The article examines Sozyryko Britaev’s translation heritage, assesses the contribution of the translator to the theory and practice of literary translation. The author analyzes Britaev’s translations, identifies methods of recreating in his translated version the form and contents of the original text. The researcher considers ways of displaying contrast as a basic structure-forming element of the work in the translated text analyzing the story of L.N. Tolstoy «After the Ball» in the original and in Britaev’s translation. The study allows to conclude, that Britaev as a translator managed to reproduce the style of narration, the system of artistic images of the original, the architectonics of the work. The author traced the translation into Ossetian the original figures of speech (metaphors, epithets). Generally speking, the translator managed to reproduces these tropes retaining the original Russian writer’s creative manner. Replacing some individual metaphorical structures with equivalents of the language of translating allowed Britaev to preserve the structure of the tropes, but led to the loss of their aesthetic function. Translation of some epithets required a deviation from the lexical correspondences and finding semantic equivalents.

Keywords: artistic translation, artistic detail, antithesis, translation unit, artistic image, equivalent, lexeme, figurative unit.

The article studies the main courses of evolution of Ossetic children’s literature of the middle of the XX^th century as a subsystem of the Ossetic artistic literature in general, namely in the books of S.A. Britaev, the Ossetic writer, storyteller, translator, and publicist. Complex analysis of the author’s fairy tales is given, specifics, “especial artistry” of which lies in their synthetic nature; through the prism of the dialogue of the individual author’s standpoint and the traditional fairy genre-forming elements in various aspects (genre synthesis system of images, stylistic features, and the author’s viewpoint) reveals the artistic world of S. Britaev. The author’s short prose works, including a number of unpublished stories, have been introduced into scientific discourse for the first time on the basis of the archival sources. The main tendencies and characteristic features of the development of this period’s Ossetic children’s literature are traced in researching the originality of the author’s works, such as the synthesis of folklore means with literary ones proper (descriptions, action detailing, psychologism, image plasticity), tendency to change from folklore types-generalizations to creation of individualized characters;from the folk-fantastic forms of narration and traditional ways of transferring the collective point of view of the world to the strengthening of creative self-expression, the originality of the author’s positions.

Keywords: S. Britaev, Ossetic children’s literature, Ossetic folklore, literary fairy tale, folklore traditions, author’s position, imaging system, artistic world.

The article presents an overview of the Ossetian poetry of the years of Perestroika (1985-1991) and the post-Soviet period (1992-2000-s). Generally, it reproduces the specificity of the state of the artistic consciousness of the Ossetians within the borders of the reviewed chronological layers. An attempt is undertaken to trace the aesthetic and the semantic hierarchy of the poetry of these years, to describe the ambiguous atmosphere of ideological divisions in the literary environment within the context of radical political and economic transformation, spiritual and value shifts in society. Along with the topical priorities and key trends of the creativity of the acknowledged poets due attention is paid to the space of the poetic world, shaped by a new generation of poets. The author shows the outlines of the poets whose creative debut mostly occurred in the post-perestroika period, and therefore thee contain the elements of a different perception of life and their own place in it, demonstrate the logic of "attraction-repulsion" in contact with the national tradition and experience of the world spiritual and mental practices. This article is intended for specialists in the Ossetian language studies, as well as a wide range of readers interested in the poetic map of Ossetia.

Keywords: the Ossetian poetry, a chronological layer, poetic generation, ideas, trends, images, topical hierarchy, books of results.

The presented documents characterize the reasons and conditions for the emergence of the Russian Drama Theater in Vladikavkaz in the second half of the XIXth century. The materials of the funds of the Central State Archive of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania and the Scientific Archive of North Ossetian Institute for Humanitarial and Social Studies, confirmed by the information of the theatrical chronicles of the local periodical press, reveal unknown pages of the history of the Russian Theater, connected with its appearance, its financial and organizational and personnel issues, construction and architectural decision of the theater building at different times. Particular attention is paid to the role of the Russian Theater in the formation of the urban social and cultural environment of the North Caucasus.

Keywords: Russia, North Caucasus, Vladikavkaz, all-Russian identity, socio-cultural mechanism, Russian theater, sources.

In the review on the professor L.A. Chibirov’s monograph “Ossetian Nartiada. Mythological origins and areal connections” special actuality, timeliness, and multidimensional importance of this work (scientific, educational, and methodological) are accentuated. The reviewed book is an example of returning to the principles of scientific analysis and objective historicism in the face of too noticeable tendencies in the Nart studies of standing up for only national interests. The monograph is a purposeful and all-round research of the Narts’ epos circulating in various versions among different ethnics of the North Caucasus, as well as its genesis, formation conditions and spreading. Of particular value are the comparative parallels scrupulously traced by the author on the basis of vast and original materials: from the Narts’ epos to Scythians, and through them to European, Iranian and Indo-Iranian antiquities. The Caucasian versions of the epos are systemically analyzed, alongside with dynamically developing hypotheses on the centers of formations of the epos’ core. L.A. Chibirov presents to a reader scientifically argumentative conclusions on futility of discussions about epos authorship, and on admissibility of only scientific version.

Keywords: Ossetian Nartiada, Nart studies, comparative parallels, center of formations of the epos’ core, principles of scientific analysis and objective historicism.

OUR AUTHORS

Britaeva Anzhela Borisovna – candidate of philological sciences, senior researcher, V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of VSC of RAS; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dalgat Elmira Murtuzalievna – doctor of historical sciences, professor, head of the department of Modern and Contemporary Dagestan history, Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of Dagestan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Darchiev Anzor Valerievich – candidate of historical sciences, senior researcher, V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of VSC of RAS; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dzalaeva Kamila Ruslanovna – candidate of historical sciences, senior researcher, V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of the Vladikavkaz Scientific Center of RAS; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dzaparova Elizaveta Borisovna – candidate of philological sciences, senior researcher, V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of VSC of RAS; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kalabekova Liudmila Tazretovna – Doctor of philological sciences, associate professor of the Chair of Foreign Languages for Nonlinguistic Specialties, the Faculty of Foreign Languages, K.L. Khetagurov North-Ossetian State University; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Khadikova Alina Khazmetovna – candidate of historical sciences, senior researcher, V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of the Vladikavkaz Scientific Center of RAS; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mamieva Izeta Vladimirovna – candidate of philological sciences, associated professor, senior researcher, V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of the Vladikavkaz Scientific Center of RAS; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Marzoev Islam-Bek Temurkanovich – doctor of historical sciences, senior researcher, head of the sector for Genealogical research of the ethnology department, V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of VSC of RAS; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Narozhnyi Evgeni Ivanovich – doctor of historical science, head of the sector of system studying of archaeological monuments, chief specialist, Non-Public Joint-Stock Company “Nasledie Kubani”; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Pigar Stepan Sergeevich – lecturer of the Faculty of History, Abkhazian State University; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Salikhova Leila Bagautdinovna – candidate of historical sciences, researcher, Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Dagestan Scientific Centre of RAS, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Sattsaev Elbrus Batrbekovich – candidate of philological sciences, senior researcher, V. I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of VSC of RAS; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tsallagova Iskra Nartovna – candidate of philological sciences, senior researcher, V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of VSC of RAS; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tsibirob Gerlik Ilasovich – candidate of historical sciences, senior researcher, V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of the Vladikavkaz Scientific Center of RAS

Tsorieva Inga Totrazovna – doctor of historical sciences, associate professor, senior researcher, V.I. Abaev North-Ossetian Institute for Humanitarian and Social Studies of the Vladikavkaz Scientific Center of RAS; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it