The Ossetes: Modern-Day Scythians of the Caucasus, by Richard Foltz
Ossetians at the front of the church at Dallagkau (North Ossetia-Alania), August 1902. Photo by John Baddeley
The Ossetes: Modern-Day Scythians of the Caucasus
Author: Richard Foltz
Year: 2021
Place of Publication: London, UK
Number of pages: 194
Published by: Bloomsbury Publishing
Language: English
The Ossetes, a small nation inhabiting two adjacent states in the central Caucasus, are the last remaining linguistic and cultural descendants of the ancient nomadic Scythians who dominated the Eurasian steppe from the Balkans to Mongolia for well over one thousand years. A nominally Christian nation speaking a language distantly related to Persian, the Ossetes have inherited much of the culture of the medieval Alans who brought equestrian culture to Europe. They have preserved a rich oral literature through the epic of the Narts, a body of heroic legends that shares much in common with the Persian Book of Kings and other works of Indo-European mythology. This is the first book devoted to the little-known history and culture of the Ossetes to appear in any Western language. Charting Ossetian history from Antiquity to today, it will be a vital contribution to the fields of Iranian, Caucasian, Post-Soviet and Indo-European Studies.
Table of Contents
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
The full book in PDF can be downloaded by clicking here (7.7 MB)