Description
Book SynopsisRichard Foltz is Professor of Religions and Cultures at Concordia University, Canada.
Trade ReviewIn strategic matters small does not mean insignificant. In the Caucasus, the small nation of the Ossetes occupies the centre of the Caucasus, a strategically crucial region for the Kremlin. This book gives the most extensive and penetrating account of these people, from their origins as survivors of the ancient Scythians to their folklore and modern social dynamics. Anyone dealing with Russia should read this book. * John Colarusso, Professor, Anthropology, Linguistics and Languages, McMaster University, Canada *
Anyone asking ‘The Ossetes? Who are they?!’ need look no further. Scythian-Sarmatian-Alan nomadic Aryan tribes ranged across the whole Eurasian steppe in the 2nd millennium BC, and the processes that confined their Indo-Iranian speaking Ossete descendants within a central Caucasian homeland, divided between North Ossetia (Russian Federation) and South Ossetia across the mountains, are explored, alongside examination of mythology (notably the national Nart epic), religion, customs and inter-ethnic relations (N. Ossetian-Ingush, S. Ossetian-Georgian), whilst today’s internal economic-political situation attracts trenchant criticism. The S. Ossetian-Georgian conflict occasioned the 5-day Russo-Georgian war of August 2008 – reason alone why ignorance of the Ossetes needs to be dispelled, and Folz makes an essential contribution to raising their profile. * George Hewitt, Emeritus Professor, Caucasian Languages, SOAS, UK *
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgements Historical Timeline A Note on Transcriptions Introduction: The Ossetes: Caucasians, Iranians, or Both? 1. The Scythians: Mounted Archers of the Steppes 2. From Sarmatians to Alans: An Iranian Element in the History of Europe 3. The Nart Epic: A Neglected Treasure of Indo-European Mythology 4. The Ossetes and Russia: A Special Relationship 5. Religion and National Identity: The Uatsdin 6. South Ossetia: A Fragile Independence 7. Life in Ossetia Today Appendix: A Popular Ossetian Love Song Bibliography Index
