The Nart Epos

.

THE FOUNTAIN-HEAD OF CIRCASSIAN MYTHOLOGY

The Nart Sagas are arguably the most essential ingredient of Circassian Culture, to which they are what Greek mythology is to Western Civilization. Though much less known than their Greek counterparts, the Nart epic tales are no less developed. The heroism, sagacity, guile and ferocity of the Nart demi-gods are more than matches to those of the Greek Pantheon. The Nart Epos is potentially the rallying cry for Circassian cultural renaissance.

The legends of the Narts have been recently collected and published by Circassian scholars who are cognizant of the role that these might play in effecting the desired revival. Also the orally transmitted music has been written down. Western scholars, such as the late Georges Dumezil and more recently professor John Colarusso of McMaster University in Toronto, Canada, did much research on the subject and have published many tomes on it. However, more work still needs to be done to disseminate them. This is my humble contribution.

The principal protagonists of the Epos encapsulate the characteristics most cherished by the ancient Circassians and Abkhaz (Adige and Apswe, respectively). Satanay, the mother of all the Narts, was born of a lovely flower which still bears her name. Her beauty was legendary. She was sought after by all the notable Narts for marriage. The story of the birth of Sosriqwe bears witness to the uncontrollable effect she had on men. As she sat on her haunches doing the laundry by the river, the cow-herd, Zhemix'we, who was tending his bevy on the other side of the river, seeing her uncovered curvaceous limbs, was unable to hold back his semen (nafsi) as it was ejected across the river on the stone beside her. The stone later engendered Sosriqwe. She was also famous for her inventiveness. She discovered wine-making and gave the Narts their first taste of the elixir. She was the epitome of wisdom and sagacity. The Narts turned to her for council and advice in times of national calamities, and she was able to avert many disasters that could have annihilated the Nart nation.

Despite Sosriqwe's puny stature and dark complexion, he proved to be the most cunning and resourceful amongst the Narts. The story of how he fetched fire is a graphic illustration of his quick-wit and wile. Although many Narts surpassed him in physical strength and military acumen, they always held him in great esteem and respect. The fact that he led them back after fetching fire is a good testimony to that effect.

There were many other Narts, the most famous of whom were: X'imishch, Beterez, Nisren-Zchach'e, Lashin, Yimis, Sibil-Shiy, Sosim, Zchindu-Zchach'e, Areq-Shu, Tote-Resh, Ashe, Ashe-Mez, Wazir-Megh. Each one of these embodied unique qualities besides the common Nart characteristics. All are worthy of being admitted to the Nart Hall-of-Fame.

Bibliography of the Nart Epos and North Caucasian Mythology (In Western European Languages)

1. A PROPOS DE QUELQUES REPRESENTATIONS FOLKLORIQUES DES OSSETES. GEORGES DUMEZIL. PP. 38-46 IN FESTGABE FUR HERMAN LOMMEL. B. SCHLERATH (Ed.). WIESBADEN: HARRASSOWITZ, 1960.
2. A RE-EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSED CONNECTION BETWEEN THE NART SAGAS AND THE ARTHURIAN LEGENDS. NANCY ARBUTHNOT. MA THESIS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLGY, McMASTER UNIVERSITY, TORONTO, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1988.
3. CAUCASIAN SAGA [ASIATIC REVIEW, LONDON, Vol. 50, No. 182, APR. 1954, PP. 149-52], DAVID M. LANG.
4. CAUCASIENS DE GRECE. BERNARD SERGENT. PP. 37-50 IN CAUCASOLOGIE ET MYTHOLOGIE COMPAREE, ACTES DU COLLOQUE INTERNATIONAL DU C.N.R.S. PARIS: PEETERS, 1992. {CAUCASIANS OF GREECE}
5. CAUCASOLOGIE ET MYTHOLOGIE COMPAREE: ACTES DU COLLOQUE INTERNATIONAL DU CNRS, IVe COLLOQUE DE CAUCASOLOGIE, SEVRES, 27-29 JUIN 1988. CATHERINE PARIS (Ed.). NUMERO SPECIAL (SOCIETE D'ETUDES LINGUISTIQUES ET ANTHROPOLOGIQUES DE FRANCE 23). SOCIETE D'ETUDES LINGUISTIQUES ET ANTHROPOLOGIQUES DE FRANCE (SERIES) 332. PARIS: PEETERS, 1992. (533 PAGES. 24 cm. ISBN 2877230422).
6. CIRCASSIAN SAGA REMINISCENCES. MALIA GUIRY NATERBOV. ?.
7. DIE SAGEN UND LIEDER DES TSCHERKESSEN-VOLKS. SHORA BEKMURZIN NOGMOV, TRANSLATED BY A. BERGE. LEIPZIG, 1866. PP. XXXI, 144. / BRIT MUS.
8. DIE TSCHERKESSISCHEN NARTENSAGEN. Dr. BATIRAY OZBEK. HEIDELBERG, 1982. {THERE IS AN ARABIC TRANSLATION}
9. EPIC, NORTH CAUCASIAN: THE NARTS. JOHN COLARUSSO. PP. 553-62 IN THE MODERN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RUSSIAN AND SOVIET LITERATURES, Vol. 6. HARRY B. WEBER (Ed.). GULF BREEZE, FLORIDA: ACADEMIC INTERNATIONAL PRESS, 1984.
10. FURTHER TRANSLATION OF THE NART SAGAS. JOHN COLARUSSO. (58 PAGES).
11. GEORGES DUMEZIL, A LA DECOUVERTE DES INDO-EUROPEENS. JEAN-CLAUDE RIVIERE. PARIS: COPERNIC, 1979.
12. GEORGES DUMEZIL AND ARMENIAN MYTH [ARMENIAN REVIEW 44, 1991, PP. 37-49], D. S. CALONNE. {HAS BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SOME OF DUMEZIL'S WORKS}
13. HOMAGE TO GEORGES DUMEZIL. EDGAR POLOME (Ed.). JOURNAL OF INDO-EUROPEAN STUDIES, MONOGRAPH 3, 1982.
14. LA MEMOIRE INDO-EUROPEENNE DU CAUCASE. GEORGES CHARACHIDZE. TEXTES DU XXe SIECLE (HACHETTE (FIRM)). PARIS: HACHETTE, 1987. (153 PAGES. 18 cm. ISBN 2010128087). {INCLUDES BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES}
15. LA PREHISTOIRE INDO-IRANIENS DES CASTES [JOURNAL ASIATIQUE (JA), 216, 1930, PP. 109-30], GEORGES DUMEZIL.
16. LE DIT DE LA PRINCESSE SATANIK [REVUE D'ETUDES ARMENIENNES 9, 1929, PP. 41-53], GEORGES DUMEZIL.
17. LEGENDES SUR LES NARTES: NOUVEAUX DOCUMENTS RELATIFS AU HEROS SOSRYKO [REVUE DE L'HISTOIRE DES RELIGIONS (RHR), 125, 1942-43, PP. 97-128], GEORGES DUMEZIL.
18. LEGENDES SUR LES NARTES, SUIVIES DE CINQ NOTES MYTHOLOGIQUES. GEORGES DUMEZIL. BIBLIOTHEQUE DE L'INSTITUT FRANCAIS DE LENINGRAD, XI, PARIS: HONORE CHAMPION, 1930. {PP. 16-18 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE NORTH CAUCASIAN EPIC}
19. LE LIVRE DES HEROS, LEGENDES OSSETES SUR LES NARTES. GEORGES DUMEZIL. COLLECTION UNESCO D'OEUVRES REPRESENTATIVES: SERIE DES LANGUES NON RUSSE DE L'UNION SOVIETIQUE. PARIS: GALLIMARD, 1965. REPRINTED BY GALLIMARD IN 1989. (264 PAGES). {TEXTS TRANSLATED FROM OSSETIAN BY DUMEZIL, WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES}
20. L'EPOPEE NARTE [LA TABLE RONDE, No. 132, 1958, PP. 42-55], GEORGES DUMEZIL.
21. LES CLASSES SOCIALES DANS LA PERSE ANCIENNE. GEORGES DUMEZIL. PP. 37-41 IN LA CIVILISATION IRANIENNE. PARIS: PAYOT, 1952.
22. LES 'ENAREES' SCYTHIQUES ET LA GROSSESSE DU NART HAMYC [LATOMUS, REVUE DES ETUDES LATINES, V, 1946, PP. 249-55], GEORGES DUMEZIL.
23. LES TROIS "TRESORS DES ANCESTRES" DANS L'EPOPEE NARTE [REVUE DE L'HISTOIRE DES RELIGIONS (RHR), 157, 1960, PP. 141-54], GEORGES DUMEZIL.
24. MYTHE ET EPOPEE I, L'IDEOLOGIE DES TROIS FUNCTIONS DANS LES EPOPEES DES PEUPLES INDO-EUROPEENS. GEORGES DUMEZIL. BIBLIOTHEQUE DES SCIENCES HUMAINES. PARIS: GALLIMARD, 1968.
25. MYTHE ET EPOPEE. TYPES EPIQUES INDO-EUROPEENS: UN HEROS, UN SORCIER, UN ROI. GEORGES DUMEZIL. BIBLIOTHEQUE DES SCIENCES HUMAINES. PARIS: GALLIMARD, 1971.
26. ? NARTS [REVUE DE L'HISTOIRE DES RELIGIONS (RHR), CXVI, 1938, PP. 50-74].
27. ON THE PROBLEM OF MYTHOLOGY IN THE DAGHESTANIAN EPOS: THE PROBLEM OF THE GENERAL AND PARTICULAR. GADJI G. GAMZATOV. PP. 69-82 IN CAUCASOLOGIE ET MYTHOLOGIE COMPAREE, ACTES DU COLLOQUE INTERNATIONAL DU C.N.R.S. PARIS: PEETERS, 1992.
28. NOMS MYTHIQUES INDO-IRANIENS DANS LE FOLKLORE DES OSSES [JOURNAL ASIATIQUE (JA), 244, 1956, PP. 349-67], GEORGES DUMEZIL.
29. OSSETIC (NARTA). H. W. BAILEY. PP. 236-67 IN TRADITIONS OF HEROIC AND EPIC POETRY. VoL. 1: THE TRADITIONS. A. T. HATTO (Ed.). PUBLICATIONS OF THE MODERN HUMANITIES RESEARCH ASSOCIATION, 9. LONDON: THE MODERN HUMANITIES RESEARCH ASSOCIATION, 1980. {"A FIVE-PART INTRODUCTION TO THE NARTA TALES OF THE CAUCASUS WHICH DISCUSSES THE RETENTION IN THE MODERN OSSETIC TALES OF CERTAIN ARCHAIC LINGUISTIC FEATURES. PART I PROVIDES BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE TALES AND THE GENEALOGIES OF THE FIVE FAMILIES UPON WHICH THE TALES ARE CENTRED. PART II DISCUSSES THE TRANSMISSION OF THE TALES (ORAL AND WRITTEN) AND THE MODE OF PERFORMANCE. PART III RELATES THE TALES TO THE SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF OSSETIC CULTURE. PART IV IS A DISCUSSION AND EXPLANATION OF THE MYTHICAL WORLD OF THE NARTA. PART V TREATS THE AESTHETIC ASPECTS OF NARTA PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING FOLKLORE ELEMENTS, FORMULISM, AND THE PRESERVATION OF ARCHAIC ELEMENTS OF DICTION."}
30. OURANOS-VARUNA, ETUDE DE MYTHOLOGIE COMPAREE INDO-EUROPEENNE. GEORGES DUMEZIL. PARIS: MAISONNEUVE, 1934.
31. PARALLELS BETWEEN THE CIRCASSIAN NART SAGAS, THE BG VEDA AND GERMANIC MYTHOLOGY. JOHN COLARUSSO. IN PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1983 MEETING OF THE CANADIAN ASIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION. SETTY V. PENDAKUR (Ed.). VANCOUVER: UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. (28 PAGES).
32. PROMETHEE, OU, LE CAUCASE: ESSAI DE MYTHOLOGIE CONTRASTIVE. GEORGES CHARACHIDZE. NOUVELLE BIBLIOTHEQUE SCIENTIFIQUE. PARIS: FLAMMARION, 1986. (357 PAGES. 22 cm. ISBN 2082111660). {PREFACE DE GEORGES DUMEZIL. BIBLIOGRAPHY ON PP. 347-54}
33. REVUE DE L'HISTOIRE DES RELIGIONS (RHR), CXXV, 1942-43, PP. 110-111, 116-117, 118.
34. ROMANS DE SCYTHIE ET D'ALENTOUR. GEORGES DUMEZIL (1898- ). BIBLIOTHEQUE HISTORIQUE. PARIS: PAYOT, 1978. (380 PAGES. 23 cm. ISBN 2228120006). {INCLUDES BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES}
35. SCYTHES ET OSSETES. GEORGES DUMEZIL. PP. 330-34 IN LA CIVILISATION IRANIENNE. PARIS: PAYOT, 1952.
36. THE COMMODITY COMPOSITION OF TRADE IN THE ARGONAUT MYTH. M. SILVER. PP. 241-81 IN ANCIENT ECONOMY IN MYTHOLOGY. SAVAGE (Ed.). MARYLAND, 1991.
37. THE DAWN OF CHIVALRY [THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART BULLETIN, Vol. 32, 1975, PP. 150-52], H. NICKEL.
38. THE DESTINY OF THE WARRIOR. GEORGES DUMEZIL. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, 1970. (TRANSLATED BY ALF HILTEBEITEL).
39. THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF OLD EUROPE 7000 TO 3500 B.C. MARIJA GIMBUTAS. LONDON: THAMES AND HUDSON, 1974.
40. THE GREEK MYTHS. ROBERT GRAVES. PENGUIN BOOKS, 1955. 2 vols.
41. THE HOLY GRAIL, THE CAULDRON OF ANNWN, AND THE NARTY-AMONGA, A FURTHER NOTE ON THE SARMATIAN CONNECTION [JOURNAL OF AMERICAN FOLKLORE, 92, 1979, PP. 326-33], C. SCOTT LITTLETON.
42. THE NART SAGAS OF THE CIRCASSIANS, BY PROF. JOHN COLARUSSO, IN THE SERIES "MYTHOS", PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY: PRINCETON UNIVERSTY PRESS, 1998. (366 PAGES). GO TO PROF. COLARUSSO'S HOME PAGE.
43. THE NART SAGAS OF THE OSSETIANS. FORTHCOMING BOOK, TO BE PUBLISHED IN 1999: TRANSLATED BY WALTER MAY, OSSETIAN EDITION BY TAMERLAN SALBIEV, ENGLISH EDITION BY JOHN COLARUSSO.
44. THE NART EPIC: NORTH CAUCASIAN. JOHN COLARUSSO. ?.(62 PAGES).
45. THE NEW COMPARATIVE MYTHOLOGY. C. SCOTT LITTLETON. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS (CAMPUS BOOKS), 1966. 3rd EDITION.
46. THE SARMATIAN CONNECTION: NEW LIGHT ON THE ORIGIN OF THE ARTHURIAN AND HOLY GRAIL LEGENDS [JOURNAL OF AMERICAN FOLKLORE, 91, 1978, PP. 513-27], C. SCOTT LITTLETON AND ANN C. THOMAS.
47. "VOLKER DER KOLCHIS". ASPEKTE IHRER MYTHOLOGIE. WOLFGANG FEURSTEIN. IN CAUCASOLOGIE ET MYTHOLOGIE COMPAREE. CATHERINE PARIS (Ed.). PARIS, 1992.

.