Ossetian mythology or Alan mythology (Ossetian: Ирон мифологи, Дигорон митологи, romanized: Iron mifologi, Digoron mitologi) is the collective term for the beliefs and practices of the Ossetian people of the Caucasus region, which contains several gods and supernatural beings. The religion itself is believed to be of Scythian origin, but contains many later elements from Christianity, with Ossetian gods often being identified with Christian saints. The gods play a role in the famous stories about a race of semi-divine heroes called the Narts.
Hutsau or Xucau (Ossetian: Хуыцау, Хуцау, romanized: Xwycaw, Xucaw). The chief of the gods.
Uastyrdzhi or Wasgergi (Ossetian: Уастырджи, Уасгерги, romanized: Wastyrdži, Wasgergi), also known as Lagtydzuar or Lagdzuar, more rarely as Uastylag. Named after Saint George, he is the patron of males and travellers, and the guarantor of oaths. Main patron of North Ossetia–Alania.
Uacilla (Ossetian: Уацилла, Уацелла, Елиа, romanized: Wacilla, Wacella, Elia). Named after Saint Elijah, also spelled Watsilla. God of rain, thunder and lightning. As protector of the harvest he is known as Хоры Уацилла (Hory Uacilla, "Uacilla of the wheat"). Anyone struck by lightning was considered chosen by the god and, if they survived, a sheep was sacrificed in their honour. His festival was celebrated in the summer with the sacrifice of a lamb and a bull and the drinking of specially brewed beer. On that day women baked bread in silence as a mark of reverence.[1]
Safa (Ossetian: Сафа, romanized: Safa). God of the hearth chain. The most important domestic deity for Ossetians.
Donbettyr (Ossetian: Донбеттыр, Донбеттæр, romanized: Donbettyr, Donbettær). Lord of the waters. He is named after Saint Peter, and is a fusion of the Ossetian don (meaning water) and Peter. He uses his chain to drag down those who unwarily go swimming too late to his realm at the bottom of the sea. He has many beautiful daughters, comparable to the Rusalki of Slavic mythology. Up to the 19th century, his day was celebrated on the Saturday following Easter by young girls.
Dzerassae (Ossetian: Дзерассæ, romanized: Dzerassæ), one of Donbettyr's daughters, the mother of many Nart heroes.
Fælværa (Ossetian: Фæлвæра, romanized: Fælværa). Possibly named after Florus and Laurus. Fælværa was the protector of sheep and his festival was celebrated before sheep-shearing in September.[1] He only has one eye. He is often the enemy of Tutyr.
Kurdalægon (Ossetian: Куырдалæгон, Курдалæгон, romanized: Kwyrdalægon, Kurdalægon). The heavenly smith. A close friend of the Narts.
Satana (Сатана). Mother goddess, mother of the Narts.
Saubarag (Ossetian: Саубарæг or Сау бæрæджы дзуар, Сау бæрæги дзиуарæ, romanized: Sawbaræg or Saw barædžy dzwar, Saw bærægi dziwaræ, lit. '"black rider"'), the god of darkness and thieves.[3]
Huyændon Ældar (Хуыæндон Æлдар). Lord of the fish. A great magician and a spirit who behaves like an earthly chief ("ældar"). His name means "lord of the strait" according to Abaev; this is most probably the Cimmerian Bosphorus, the modern Strait of Kerch.
Barastyr (Ossetian: Барастыр, Барастæр, romanized: Barastyr, Barastær) Ossetian psychopomp. The ruler of the underworld who assigns arriving dead souls to either paradise or his own realm.[4]
Aminon (Ossetian: Аминон, romanized: Aminon). Gatekeeper of the underworld.
The uac- prefix in Uastyrdzhi and Uacilla has no synchronic meaning in Ossetic, and is usually understood to mean "saint" (also applied to Tutyr, Uac Tutyr, perhaps Saint Theodore, and to Saint Nicholas, Uac Nikkola). The synchronic term for "saint", however, is syhdaeg (cognate to Avestan Yazata). Gershevitch (1955) connects uac with a word for "word" (Sanskrit vāc, c.f. Latin vox), in the sense of Logos.
Dream journey to the land of the deadedit
Among them there are also some old men and women who, on the eve of Saint Sylvester, fall into a sort of ecstasy, remaining motionless on the ground as though asleep. When they awaken, they say they’ve seen the souls of the dead, sometimes in a great swamp, alternatively, astride pigs, dogs or rams. If they see a soul gathering wheat in the fields and bringing it to the village, they detect the omen of an abundant harvest.[6][7] Julius Klaproth 1823
Kurys (Digor Burku) is a dream land, a meadow belonging to the dead, which can be visited by certain individuals (the shaman-like Kurysdzauta/Burkudzauta) in their sleep. Visitors may bring back miraculous seeds of luck and good fortune, sometimes pursued by the dead. Inexperienced souls may bring back fever and sickness instead. Gershevitch (with V.I. Abaev) compares the name Kurys to the mountain Kaoiris in Yasht 19.6 (Avestan *Karwisa), which might indicate that the name is a spurious remnant of origin legends of Airyanem Vaejah of the Alans.
Folkloreedit
Ossetian folklore also includes several mythological figures, including those in the Nart sagas, such as the warrior heroes Batraz, Akhshar and Akhsartag.
^Chaudhri, Anna (1996), "The Caucasian hunting-divinity, male and female: traces of the hunting-goddess in Ossetic folklore", in Billington, Sandra; Green, Miranda (eds.), The Concept of the Goddess, Routledge, pp. 167–168, ISBN9781134641529
Dumézil, Georges, ed. (1965), Le Livre des héros: légendes sur les Nartes, Paris: Gallimard
Foltz, Richard (2019). "Scythian Neo-Paganism in the Caucasus: The Ossetian Uatsdin as a 'Nature Religion'," Journal for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture". Vol. 13, no. 3. pp. 314–332.
Gershevitch, Ilya (1955), "Word and Spirit in Ossetic", Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 17 (3): 478–489, doi:10.1017/S0041977X0011239X.
Further readingedit
Миллер, Всеволод, Осетинские этюды [Ossetian Studies] (in Russian) , published in 3 volumes
Осетинские тексты, vol. I, 1881 , folklore texts
Исследования, vol. II, 1882 , phonetics and grammar of Ossetian; religious beliefs
Исследования, vol. III, 1887 , history and ethnography, proverbs
Hübschmann, H. (1887), "Ossetische Nominalbildung", Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft (in German), 41 (2), Harrassowitz Verlag: 319–346, JSTOR 43361867 , based on Miller's 1881 work
Dumézil, Georges, ed. (1976), Осетинский Эпос И Мифология [Ossetian Epics and Mythology] (in Russian)
Дзадзиев, Александр Борисович; Караев, Солтан Михайлович; Дзуцев, Хасан Владимирович, eds. (1994), Этнография и мифология осетин [Ossetian ethnography and mythology] (dictionary) (in Russian)
External linksedit
Мелетинский, Е. М. (1990), МИФОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ СЛОВАРЬ [Mythological Dictionary] (e-text) (in Russian) , e-text based on the ru:Мифологический словарь (1990) with articles on various figures from Ossetian myth
January 01, 1970
ossetian, mythology, alan, mythology, ossetian, Ирон, мифологи, Дигорон, митологи, romanized, iron, mifologi, digoron, mitologi, collective, term, beliefs, practices, ossetian, people, caucasus, region, which, contains, several, gods, supernatural, beings, rel. Ossetian mythology or Alan mythology Ossetian Iron mifologi Digoron mitologi romanized Iron mifologi Digoron mitologi is the collective term for the beliefs and practices of the Ossetian people of the Caucasus region which contains several gods and supernatural beings The religion itself is believed to be of Scythian origin but contains many later elements from Christianity with Ossetian gods often being identified with Christian saints The gods play a role in the famous stories about a race of semi divine heroes called the Narts Contents 1 Deities 2 Dream journey to the land of the dead 3 Folklore 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Sources 5 2 Further reading 6 External linksDeities editHutsau or Xucau Ossetian Huycau Hucau romanized Xwycaw Xucaw The chief of the gods Uastyrdzhi or Wasgergi Ossetian Uastyrdzhi Uasgergi romanized Wastyrdzi Wasgergi also known as Lagtydzuar or Lagdzuar more rarely as Uastylag Named after Saint George he is the patron of males and travellers and the guarantor of oaths Main patron of North Ossetia Alania Uacilla Ossetian Uacilla Uacella Elia romanized Wacilla Wacella Elia Named after Saint Elijah also spelled Watsilla God of rain thunder and lightning As protector of the harvest he is known as Hory Uacilla Hory Uacilla Uacilla of the wheat Anyone struck by lightning was considered chosen by the god and if they survived a sheep was sacrificed in their honour His festival was celebrated in the summer with the sacrifice of a lamb and a bull and the drinking of specially brewed beer On that day women baked bread in silence as a mark of reverence 1 Safa Ossetian Safa romanized Safa God of the hearth chain The most important domestic deity for Ossetians Donbettyr Ossetian Donbettyr Donbettaer romanized Donbettyr Donbettaer Lord of the waters He is named after Saint Peter and is a fusion of the Ossetian don meaning water and Peter He uses his chain to drag down those who unwarily go swimming too late to his realm at the bottom of the sea He has many beautiful daughters comparable to the Rusalki of Slavic mythology Up to the 19th century his day was celebrated on the Saturday following Easter by young girls Dzerassae Ossetian Dzerassae romanized Dzerassae one of Donbettyr s daughters the mother of many Nart heroes Tutyr Ossetian Tutyr Totur romanized Tutyr Totur Named after Saint Theodore of Tyre Lord of the wolves Faelvaera Ossetian Faelvaera romanized Faelvaera Possibly named after Florus and Laurus Faelvaera was the protector of sheep and his festival was celebrated before sheep shearing in September 1 He only has one eye He is often the enemy of Tutyr AEfsati Ossetian AEfsati romanized AEfsati Possibly named after Saint Eustace he is a male hunting god 2 Kurdalaegon Ossetian Kuyrdalaegon Kurdalaegon romanized Kwyrdalaegon Kurdalaegon The heavenly smith A close friend of the Narts Satana Satana Mother goddess mother of the Narts Saubarag Ossetian Saubaraeg or Sau baeraedzhy dzuar Sau baeraegi dziuarae romanized Sawbaraeg or Saw baraedzy dzwar Saw baeraegi dziwarae lit black rider the god of darkness and thieves 3 Huyaendon AEldar Huyaendon AEldar Lord of the fish A great magician and a spirit who behaves like an earthly chief aeldar His name means lord of the strait according to Abaev this is most probably the Cimmerian Bosphorus the modern Strait of Kerch Barastyr Ossetian Barastyr Barastaer romanized Barastyr Barastaer Ossetian psychopomp The ruler of the underworld who assigns arriving dead souls to either paradise or his own realm 4 Aminon Ossetian Aminon romanized Aminon Gatekeeper of the underworld Alardy or Alaurdi Ossetian Alardy Alaurdi romanized Alardy Alawrdi Lord of smallpox who had to be placated 5 The uac prefix in Uastyrdzhi and Uacilla has no synchronic meaning in Ossetic and is usually understood to mean saint also applied to Tutyr Uac Tutyr perhaps Saint Theodore and to Saint Nicholas Uac Nikkola The synchronic term for saint however is syhdaeg cognate to Avestan Yazata Gershevitch 1955 connects uac with a word for word Sanskrit vac c f Latin vox in the sense of Logos Dream journey to the land of the dead editAmong them there are also some old men and women who on the eve of Saint Sylvester fall into a sort of ecstasy remaining motionless on the ground as though asleep When they awaken they say they ve seen the souls of the dead sometimes in a great swamp alternatively astride pigs dogs or rams If they see a soul gathering wheat in the fields and bringing it to the village they detect the omen of an abundant harvest 6 7 Julius Klaproth 1823 Kurys Digor Burku is a dream land a meadow belonging to the dead which can be visited by certain individuals the shaman like Kurysdzauta Burkudzauta in their sleep Visitors may bring back miraculous seeds of luck and good fortune sometimes pursued by the dead Inexperienced souls may bring back fever and sickness instead Gershevitch with V I Abaev compares the name Kurys to the mountain Kaoiris in Yasht 19 6 Avestan Karwisa which might indicate that the name is a spurious remnant of origin legends of Airyanem Vaejah of the Alans Folklore editOssetian folklore also includes several mythological figures including those in the Nart sagas such as the warrior heroes Batraz Akhshar and Akhsartag See also editNart saga AEtsaeg Din Scythian mythologyReferences edit a b Arys Djanaieva 2004 p 163 Chaudhri Anna 1996 The Caucasian hunting divinity male and female traces of the hunting goddess in Ossetic folklore in Billington Sandra Green Miranda eds The Concept of the Goddess Routledge pp 167 168 ISBN 9781134641529 Sau baradzhi dzuar in Russian Lurker Manfred 1987 The Routledge Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses Devils and Demons Routledge p 30 ISBN 0 415 34018 7 Arys Djanaieva 2004 p 165 Klaproth Julius Voyage au Mont Caucase et en Georgie 2 vols Paris 1823 vol II pp 223 ff Ginzburg Carlo 2004 Ecstasies Deciphering the Witches Sabbath Chicago University of Chicago Press Sources edit Arys Djanaieva Lora 2004 Parlons ossete Paris Harmattan Dumezil Georges ed 1965 Le Livre des heros legendes sur les Nartes Paris Gallimard Foltz Richard 2019 Scythian Neo Paganism in the Caucasus The Ossetian Uatsdin as a Nature Religion Journal for the Study of Religion Nature and Culture Vol 13 no 3 pp 314 332 Gershevitch Ilya 1955 Word and Spirit in Ossetic Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 17 3 478 489 doi 10 1017 S0041977X0011239X Further reading edit Miller Vsevolod Osetinskie etyudy Ossetian Studies in Russian published in 3 volumes Osetinskie teksty vol I 1881 folklore texts Issledovaniya vol II 1882 phonetics and grammar of Ossetian religious beliefs Issledovaniya vol III 1887 history and ethnography proverbs Hubschmann H 1887 Ossetische Nominalbildung Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenlandischen Gesellschaft in German 41 2 Harrassowitz Verlag 319 346 JSTOR 43361867 based on Miller s 1881 work Dumezil Georges ed 1976 Osetinskij Epos I Mifologiya Ossetian Epics and Mythology in Russian Dzadziev Aleksandr Borisovich Karaev Soltan Mihajlovich Dzucev Hasan Vladimirovich eds 1994 Etnografiya i mifologiya osetin Ossetian ethnography and mythology dictionary in Russian External links editMeletinskij E M 1990 MIFOLOGIChESKIJ SLOVAR Mythological Dictionary e text in Russian e text based on the ru Mifologicheskij slovar 1990 with articles on various figures from Ossetian myth Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ossetian mythology amp oldid 1223599266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
