- published: 30 Mar 2017
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The Nart sagas (Adyghe: Нартхымэ акъыбарыхэ; Karachay-Balkar: Нарт таурухла; Ossetian: Нарты кадджытæ; Narty kaddžytæ; Chechen: Нарт Аьрштхой) are a series of tales originating from the North Caucasus. They form the basic mythology of the tribes in the area, including Abazin, Abkhaz, Circassian, Ossetian, Karachay-Balkar and Chechen-Ingush folklore.
The term nart comes from the Ossetian name of Narts, Nartæ, which is plurale tantum of "nar". The origin of the root nar is of Iranian origin, from Proto-Iranian nar for "hero", "man", descended from Proto-Indo-European *h₂nḗr. In Chechen the word nart means "giant".
Some of the characters who feature prominently in the sagas are:
Sagas are stories mostly about ancient Nordic and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, the battles that took place during the voyages, about migration to Iceland and of feuds between Icelandic families. They were written in the Old Norse language, mainly in Iceland.
The texts are tales in prose which share some similarities with the epic, often with stanzas or whole poems in alliterative verse embedded in the text, of heroic deeds of days long gone, "tales of worthy men," who were often Vikings, sometimes pagan, sometimes Christian. The tales are usually realistic, except legendary sagas, sagas of saints, sagas of bishops and translated or recomposed romances. They are sometimes romanticised and fantastic, but always dealing with human beings one can understand.
Vasily Abaev, Ossetian Soviet linguist, suggested a Mongolian origin of nar, from Mongolian nara "sun", ultimately from ProtoAltaic: *ŋḕrá ("day, sun, light"). In Chechen the word nart means "giant". The central hero of the saga is the woman Satana. As it has been narrated in Karachay-Balkar Nart epos, Satanay Biyche is the daughter of the sun and the moon. Her father is the sun and her mother is the moon. There is a clue about the meaning of her name in Karachay-Balkar Alan variants of Nart epos. While she was a little child, a witch has brought up her in a desolate island. Satanay has liked to play with coral stones in this island. The witch has seen that and has decided to name her as Satanay which has meant “little coral stone” (Aliyeva 1994: 299). In Divanu Lugatit Turk of Mahmud Kas...
Scene from the short film “Land of the Narts” [“Нарт Хэку”] (2015) In Circassian (and some Russian), with English subtitles. Produced by Beslan Zeik’werey Directed by Oleg Hemiqwe Actors: Modern Russified Circassian: Vladimir Biytoqw Ancient Nart: Ahmed Hemirze The film laments the loss of the Circassian language and traditional norms of conduct in urban Kabarda (Eastern Circassia), the only place on Earth where the Circassians form a majority. Watch the whole film: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kugnxRouVcg]
The Nart sagas are a series of tales originating from the North Caucasus.They form the basic mythology of the tribes in the area, including Abazin, Abkhaz, Circassian, Ossetian, Karachay-Balkar and Chechen-Ingush folklore. This channel is dedicated to make Wikipedia, one of the biggest knowledge databases in the world available to people with limited vision. Article available under a Creative Commons license Image source in video
From the Circassian Nart Epos: "The Anthem of Nart Sosriqwe" [«Нарт Сосрыкъуэ и пшыналъэ»; "Nart Sosriqwe yi Pshinalhe"] There are many versions of this ancient chant that differ in the details but are unitary concerning the main theme. Two versions are presented hereby. The first, some three millennia old, is sung (in Kabardian) by Vladimir Bereghwn (Baragunov). The second is a modern rendition by the popular singer Sultan Uragan (Hezhiroqwe; Хьэжырокъуэ СулътIан). Transcribed and interpreted by Amjad Jaimoukha. Produced by Sanjalay Jaimoukha. Jaimoukha, Amjad, Circassian Culture and Folklore, London: Bennett and Bloom, 2010. http://www.bennettandbloom.com/circassians.htm This is perhaps the best known melody in the Nart Epos musical repertoire, and one of the most dif...
Circassian Nart Rhapsody Exhilarating music depicting some of the exploits of the mighty Circassian Narts, which would transport those familiar with the Nart Epos to wondrous Nartia – a fabulous world of superhuman heroes and strange creatures, mightful gods and goddesses, demigods and anti-gods, monsters and ogres, giants and Lilliputians, witches and warlocks, Caucasian Medusas and tree-ladies... A little-known fantastic universe that nevertheless would rival the high exoticism and endless rapture of Classical Greece. “The Narts”: I. Zhansherx’ (Жаншэрхъ. Challenging Nart game in which a massive wheel with cutting blades is rolled downhill, with the Nart braveheart attempting to stop it in its tracks lower down the precipitous height). II. Dance of the Archers. III. Zhansherx’(rep...
From the Circassian Nart Epos: «Лашын Нартыжьхэм Хуаусэ» "Lashin Addresses the Great Narts" Sung by Elena Pasch'e (Pacheva) The role of Ashemez is sung by Ziramikw Qardenghwsch' Translated by Amjad Jaimoukha Produced by Sanjalay Jaimoukha In this ancient song of satire Lashin in turn refuses Amisch, Lhepsch, Schebetiniqwe, Sosriqwe, Ariqschawe, Lhebitsezchey, Yex'wtenijizch, Schawey son of Qanzh, as suitors, but avows to accept Ashemez son of Ashe as a husband if he offers his solicitations. When Ashemez refuses her suit, she adds him to her list of non-suitors. The words of the song retain some of the archaic features of mediaeval Circassian. One's appreciation of this song is infinitely amplified should one read about the Nart heroes targeted by the petulant shrew and their prin...
Vasily Abaev, Ossetian Soviet linguist, suggested a Mongolian origin of nar, from Mongolian nara "sun", ultimately from ProtoAltaic: *ŋḕrá ("day, sun, light"). In Chechen the word nart means "giant". The central hero of the saga is the woman Satana. As it has been narrated in Karachay-Balkar Nart epos, Satanay Biyche is the daughter of the sun and the moon. Her father is the sun and her mother is the moon. There is a clue about the meaning of her name in Karachay-Balkar Alan variants of Nart epos. While she was a little child, a witch has brought up her in a desolate island. Satanay has liked to play with coral stones in this island. The witch has seen that and has decided to name her as Satanay which has meant “little coral stone” (Aliyeva 1994: 299). In Divanu Lugatit Turk of Mahmud Kas...
Scene from the short film “Land of the Narts” [“Нарт Хэку”] (2015) In Circassian (and some Russian), with English subtitles. Produced by Beslan Zeik’werey Directed by Oleg Hemiqwe Actors: Modern Russified Circassian: Vladimir Biytoqw Ancient Nart: Ahmed Hemirze The film laments the loss of the Circassian language and traditional norms of conduct in urban Kabarda (Eastern Circassia), the only place on Earth where the Circassians form a majority. Watch the whole film: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kugnxRouVcg]
The Nart sagas are a series of tales originating from the North Caucasus.They form the basic mythology of the tribes in the area, including Abazin, Abkhaz, Circassian, Ossetian, Karachay-Balkar and Chechen-Ingush folklore. This channel is dedicated to make Wikipedia, one of the biggest knowledge databases in the world available to people with limited vision. Article available under a Creative Commons license Image source in video
From the Circassian Nart Epos: "The Anthem of Nart Sosriqwe" [«Нарт Сосрыкъуэ и пшыналъэ»; "Nart Sosriqwe yi Pshinalhe"] There are many versions of this ancient chant that differ in the details but are unitary concerning the main theme. Two versions are presented hereby. The first, some three millennia old, is sung (in Kabardian) by Vladimir Bereghwn (Baragunov). The second is a modern rendition by the popular singer Sultan Uragan (Hezhiroqwe; Хьэжырокъуэ СулътIан). Transcribed and interpreted by Amjad Jaimoukha. Produced by Sanjalay Jaimoukha. Jaimoukha, Amjad, Circassian Culture and Folklore, London: Bennett and Bloom, 2010. http://www.bennettandbloom.com/circassians.htm This is perhaps the best known melody in the Nart Epos musical repertoire, and one of the most dif...
Circassian Nart Rhapsody Exhilarating music depicting some of the exploits of the mighty Circassian Narts, which would transport those familiar with the Nart Epos to wondrous Nartia – a fabulous world of superhuman heroes and strange creatures, mightful gods and goddesses, demigods and anti-gods, monsters and ogres, giants and Lilliputians, witches and warlocks, Caucasian Medusas and tree-ladies... A little-known fantastic universe that nevertheless would rival the high exoticism and endless rapture of Classical Greece. “The Narts”: I. Zhansherx’ (Жаншэрхъ. Challenging Nart game in which a massive wheel with cutting blades is rolled downhill, with the Nart braveheart attempting to stop it in its tracks lower down the precipitous height). II. Dance of the Archers. III. Zhansherx’(rep...
From the Circassian Nart Epos: «Лашын Нартыжьхэм Хуаусэ» "Lashin Addresses the Great Narts" Sung by Elena Pasch'e (Pacheva) The role of Ashemez is sung by Ziramikw Qardenghwsch' Translated by Amjad Jaimoukha Produced by Sanjalay Jaimoukha In this ancient song of satire Lashin in turn refuses Amisch, Lhepsch, Schebetiniqwe, Sosriqwe, Ariqschawe, Lhebitsezchey, Yex'wtenijizch, Schawey son of Qanzh, as suitors, but avows to accept Ashemez son of Ashe as a husband if he offers his solicitations. When Ashemez refuses her suit, she adds him to her list of non-suitors. The words of the song retain some of the archaic features of mediaeval Circassian. One's appreciation of this song is infinitely amplified should one read about the Nart heroes targeted by the petulant shrew and their prin...