ИЗВЕСТИЯ СОИГСИ

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.