Svans. Historical reference

In Georgia they say: “Whoever has not been to Svaneti has not seen Georgia!”

Svaneti (Svaneti) - the most beautiful and picturesque alpine region, located on the south side of the main Caucasian ridge. Includes 2 districts: Mestia (Upper Svaneti) and Lentekhi (Lower Svaneti). It is in Upper Svaneti that the highest locality in Europe - the village of Ushguli (Ushguli) approx. 2500 m above sea level. Svaneti is part of Colchis. According to Greek mythology, the Argonauts followed Jason to Colchis to find the Golden Fleece. Virgin nature, high mountains and proud towers create an indescribable feeling. The rivers Inguri, Kodori and Tskhenistsqali are formed here. This ancient, unique land has preserved its pristine nature to this day, one of which is the construction in ancient times of watchtowers and defensive towers called “Svan Towers”.

Who are the Svans

Some considered them to be Persians by origin; others claimed that they came from Mesopotamia and Syria; There were also those who proved the direct origin of the Svans from the ancient Romans. The basis for such hypotheses were certain similarities between the Svan and Persian languages, Syrian ornaments on ancient Svan jewelry, as well as some Italic elements of the city. ancient architecture Svaneti. Now we know that the Svans are Kartvelians by origin; they belong to the family of the Caucasian proper, or Japhetic peoples. The most ancient inhabitants of the Caucasus, its aborigines, were called Japhetids. Svaneti is an organic part of Georgia. It is connected with it not only geographically, but with its entire history and centuries-old culture. However, the Svan language is completely different from modern Georgian. The Svan language never had its own written language; the Georgian script was adopted. Georgian is the language taught in schools, and all books, magazines and newspapers are printed in it in Svaneti. The Svan language belongs to Caucasian group languages, to its southern group, but is separated by a separate Svan subgroup. In the seal subgroup of the southern Caucasian languages ​​there are Mingrelian and Chan, in the second, Kartvelian subgroup there is Georgian with its various dialects (Khevsurian, Kartalian, Imeretian, Gurian, etc.), and in the third, separately, Svan. More than once I had to be convinced that Georgians with dialects of the Kartvelian subgroup do not understand a word of Svan. The Svan language lives in parallel with Georgian. They read and study in Georgian, and Svan is spoken in the family and songs are sung. Most Svans thus now use three different languages ​​- Svan, Georgian and Russian.

The same applies to Mesopotamia and Persia, it is now known: the distant ancestors of the Kartvels once inhabited Asia Minor. Svaneti, like other parts of Georgia, has been in close cultural contact with Syria, Palestine and Northern Mesopotamia since ancient times. With the spread of Christianity in Georgia, these ties strengthened even more. Regarding relations with Italy, the matter is. the situation is somewhat more complicated. The Romans were familiar with Svaneti already from the 1st century AD, when the Svans occupied a much larger territory. Scientists of Rome, historians and geographers, considered the Svans to be powerful and warlike people, which even the Roman generals had to reckon with. Even then the Svans had high culture and were well organized, firmly welded together by their ancestral social order. It is possible that some kind of Italian influence penetrated into Svaneti and brought here architectural forms completely alien to other regions of the Caucasus. The battlements of the Svan towers are somewhat reminiscent of the Moscow Kremlin. It is known that the Kremlin walls were built by Italians in the 15th century. There are watchtowers in the Caucasus and other places, in Ossetia, for example, but nowhere else will you find anything similar to the architectural forms of the Svan towers. Perhaps in medieval Italy...

The Kartvels appeared in Georgia 1000 years BC; it is not yet known for certain when they settled in Svaneti. However, in the Mestia Museum you can see objects found in Svaneti that belonged to people not only of the Bronze Age, but also of the Stone Age.

Svans are a small people. Currently, there are only about 18 thousand inhabitants in Upper Svaneti. The sex ratio data for 1931 is very interesting. Up to the age of 15 inclusive, men predominated in Upper Svaneti at that time, and after 15 years, women predominated. This is explained by accidents in the mountains (hunting, avalanches, while crossing passes in mountain rivers), deaths during the civil war, as well as the result of the blood feud that flourished in 1917-1924. Fortunately, this outbreak of “litzvri” was the last. The grown-up children have already balanced this terrible discrepancy. All Svans are fanatically hospitable. Nowadays there are a lot of different people walking around Svaneti, and everyone is still finding shelter, shelter and food in Svan houses. Svans are leisurely, reserved and polite. They will never offend a person. The Svan language is distinguished by the absence of swear words. The strongest curse among the Svans is the word “fool”. (The rest were borrowed from other languages.) But even this word could not be tolerated by Svan’s pride; often because of it, enmity and even blood feud arose. Politeness is in the blood of Svans, laid down by many generations. Respect for elders, veneration of the elderly has been elevated to an unshakable law in Upper Svaneti. Crazy courage and bravery coexist with deep inner culture, tact and restraint in the character of the Svan.

Svans.
Illustrated encyclopedia of the peoples of Russia. St. Petersburg, 1877.

Historical information

The Svans now, as before, occupy the highlands of the Caucasus near Elbrus, to the southwest of it. They are of Iberian origin and speak Georgian. Strabo placed them nearby

with Dioscuria, and Pliny wrote: “The Kobi River from the Caucasus Mountains flows through the lands of the Svans.” Even today the Svans live in the upper reaches of the Khobi River, the name of which is more accurately written by Arrian than by Pliny. Ptolemy calls these people Svano-Colchians. Here is the information left about this people by Pliny and Strabo.

Pliny's text:“Once upon a time Subop reigned in Colchis, who, having first conquered the Svans, mined a lot of gold and silver there, just like in the kingdom famous for the Golden Fleece. It is said that the beams, columns and reliefs in his palace were made of gold and silver. Sesostris, the king of Egypt, defeated him..."

It seems that the expedition of Sesostris had the same goal as the journey of Phrixus and the campaign of Jason, and that the owners of the golden fleece were not the Egyptian Colchians at all, but the Svano-Colchians, or Svans (Soans). Let's see what Strabo says about this people.

Strabo's text:“The Svans are neighbors of the feteirophages and are no less unclean than them, but they surpass them in power and courage.

They live on the peak of the Caucasus, located above Dioscuria, and in areas forming a circle with this peak in the center. They have a king and a council of 300 people. Since all their men bear arms, they are said to be able to field 200,000 infantry.

They claim that gold flows in their rivers and they collect it in troughs with holes (something like a sieve) and put it in sheep skins. It is because of this that the legend of the Golden Fleece was born, or perhaps we are talking about the Western Iberians, who bear the same name as these, whose lands are also very rich in metals. Among the Svans, arrows are dipped in poison, which penetrates the wounds and causes an unbearable stench.”

It is clear from the text that the Svans living in the highlands of the Caucasus are real Georgians, since Strabo also gives them the name “Iberians”. And indeed, they speak one of the dialects of the Georgian language, and their appearance the same as that of the Georgians.

The treatise on the embassies of Menander (Protector) says that the Byzantines and Persians fought in 562 for the capture of Svaneti, and Khosrov told the ambassadors that the country of the Svans was completely unworthy of the attention of the Byzantines and they would not be able to receive any profit from it.

In Svaneti there is a mountain pass that was used before and is still used to cross the Caucasus. In 569, Zemarkh was returning from his ambassadorial trip to the Turkish Khan Ektag (Altai), the Sarodiyalan (Ossetian) prince advised him not to go through the country of the Mindians, since the Persians had set a trap for him in the neighborhood of Svaneti, and it would be better to choose the Darinyan (Daryal) road. to be sure to return home.

They say that the Svans were once subordinate to Georgia, but at least it is known for sure that they were part of the Laz kingdom. Those who live on Tskhenis-tsgali are subject to the Mingrelian prince Dadiani. On the contrary, those who live on the Enguri have their own more or less independent princes.

The Svans have professed Christianity since very ancient times; in their mountains there are still churches in good condition; Svans from Tskhenis-tsgali recognize the jurisdiction of Bishop Lechkumi.

Name

The Svans call themselves “Shnau”, and the Georgians, Imeretians and Mingrelians call them “Svans”, or “Sons”, and their country - Svaneti. The Svans now occupy the southern alpine meadows of the Caucasus; first they can be found east of Mount Dzhumantau, located about 40 versts south of the Karachai settlement.

Location

A narrow valley, irrigated by Teberda, stretches to the snowy mountains, the road through these mountains crosses the Caucasus and leads to the sources of Tskhenis-tsgali (Horse River) - the river that the ancients called the Eastern Gippius, and further, on the other side of the mountains, to Imereti and Mingrelia. The Svans live in the upper reaches of this river, which flows through their lands called Lashkhuri, as well as in the upper reaches of the Hopi and Inguri rivers, which flow into the Black Sea at Anaklia. In the west, the Svans border with the Abkhazians.

On Lashkhuri they have the settlements of Lasheti, Choluri, Ralashi and Ienta. Lasheti is located one short walk from the village of Sard Meli, located in the Racha region on the Ritseauli stream, which at some distance from here flows into the Rioni on the left side.

The villages located on Inguri, or Enguri, are as follows: Uchkur, Kaya, Adish, Migat, Ipar, Bogresh, Tsirmi, Yeli, Milokh, Lengor, Lateli, Bechi, Dol-Zebut, Tskhumar, Yezer and Lakhmura.

Appearance of residents

The Svans are tall, handsome, well-built people, but one of the most unclean in the entire Caucasus. Outwardly, the Svans are similar to Georgians, however, their dialect is very different from Iberian and Mingrelian and contains a large number of foreign words. This is probably due to the fact that the Svans have been separated from these peoples for such a long time, and their numerals, pronouns and other words are similar to Mingrelian and Georgian.

Dwellings

Svan houses are built of stones without fixing mortar or of wickerwork coated with clay; they have no windows. Through a hole in the center of the roof light comes in and smoke comes out. The roof is made of thick beams laid horizontally on the four walls; the roof is covered with earth.

The whole family sleeps with the cattle on straw.

Cloth

The Svans do not have the custom of wearing shirts; they wear two or three narrow beshmets one on top of the other, leaving their chest, forearms and knees exposed. An apron replaces their trousers, and strips of cloth wrapped around their legs from ankles to thighs serve as stockings. They wrap the feet in raw leather, folding the front into a pointed toe. Some of them wear an Imeretian hat, although often their heads are not covered, and most of them never comb their hair.

Svan girls never wear anything on their heads, and women, when they get married, cover their heads with a red scarf, covering not only the crown and back of the head, but also the face, leaving only the ears open.

Svan women wear long narrow dresses, usually made of red linen, tied in the front; In winter they throw a cloak made of coarse cloth over their dresses, and in summer they wear capes made of red canvas.

Svanetki are considered very pretty, and their morals are not very harsh: it was once considered shameful for a woman if she did not have several lovers.

They cook very dirty, in ash. Bread is baked from wheat and barley, and in the summer it is replaced with very thick millet, boiled in water. The Svans have large herds of goats and a lot of poultry. Despite their uncleanliness and poverty of clothing, they all - both men and women - love to decorate themselves, as far as their means allow, with gold and silver chains. In every home and in every family there is, as a rule, only one drinking vessel, which is used by everyone together in turn; usually the vessel is silver. Their guns are decorated with silver plates, some more, some less.

The land of the Svans is rich in deposits of lead and copper, which they know how to smelt; the same cannot be said about iron. They make gunpowder themselves, having all the substances included in its composition, and sell it to the Karachais, from whom they receive salt in exchange, which they exchange in Russia. They produce coarse cloth, which they sell in Imeretin. They have everything necessary for life, with the exception of salt, but since they need both clothing and all kinds of haberdashery, they are forced to go in droves to Mingrelia and Imereti at the beginning of summer to offer their hands to work on the plain. They return after harvesting and bring as payment for their labor not money, which would be useless to them, but plates of copper, iron, cauldrons, linens, fabrics, carpets and salt.

Population

The population of Svaneti is generally about 25 thousand people, they can put up 3 thousands of armed infantry. The territory of Svaneti is divided into 4 districts, namely:

1. Tsioho - 7 thousand inhabitants.

2. Tatarkhan - 5 thousand inhabitants.

These two districts are ruled by two princes with the same names - Tsiokho and Tatarkhan - from the Dadeshkilyan family; the first of them submits to Russia, and the second is going to follow the example of the first, listening to the entreaties of the ruling prince of Mingrelia Dadiani.

3. Free Svans - 8 thousand inhabitants, some of whom again converted to Christianity in 1830. Prince Dadiani persuaded them to submit, and they sent a deputation to Tiflis to negotiate this.

4. Svans belonging to Mingrelia and called “Svans-Dadiani”, since they obey the ruling prince of Mingrelia Dadiani - up to 5 thousand souls.

New information about the Svans (received in April 1834): borders and location

The Caucasian massif in the direction from northwest to southeast forms, near Mount Elbrus, called Ingistav by the Svans, an angle, the top of which faces the Kuban, and the eastern side runs along the peaks of Naka and Parist, where it ends.

The branches of the ridge, connecting with the mountains Supis-ta, Kitlash, Kugub, etc., form the snow chain of the Caucasus and, resting on high mountain called Pazis-mta, are the north and south boundaries of the lands occupied by the Svans, and separate them from the Alanets, Karachais, Kabardians of the highlands (Balkars and Chegems) and Ossetians.

From Mount Pazis-mta (this is the name in the Svan language, and in Ossetian Bassian-gog), where the sources of two significant rivers are located - Rioni and Inguri (ancient Singamis) - a large spur departs, which stretches to the southwest in the direction of almost parallel to the snow chain. Most high peaks this spur - Satskhen, Atskhi, Tabera, Lashkhet, Leshniul, Omiash and Namjogu; they are the southern border of the Svans and separate them from Mingrelia and Imereti; between them and the snowy ridge a wide and very deep gorge is formed, along the bottom of which the Inguri flows in the direction from east to west, then the river flows into the Black Sea near the Anaklia fortress. On the western side, the lands of the Svans are separated from Abkhazia by a large spur extending from the Caucasus Ridge in a southwestern direction and called the Jodesyuki ridge.

The steep slopes of the mountains, surrounding the country of the Svans on all sides, are cut by deep hollows and give rise to countless streams and streams that flow into the Enguri; the main ones flow from the right side of the river, following the flow - Shikhra, Dakhmara, Kedlera, Khene, Tubi, Tskhemara, Mailera, Geshterg, Maulash, Nikara, Chuber, Udi.

On the left side, Lakudra, Bakari, Marchkhob, Kumpurra, Makhashir, and Vedera flow into the Enguri.

Length

Svaneti stretches in length from Mount Pazis-mta to the Jodesyuki ridge (from east to west) for about 110 versts, in width (from north to south) from Mount Ingistav to Mount Leshniul - 50 versts; the total area of ​​the territory inhabited by the Svans is approximately 3,700 square versts. If we take into account the great height of the mountains of Svaneti, their slopes should occupy an area much larger than the bases, and therefore the ratio of the number of inhabitants and the area should not be considered only taking into account the territory occupied by the Svans, judging by the map.

Division

The Svans are divided into three tribes, namely:

1. The land of independent Svans, who call themselves “Upusta” (without masters), extends west of Mount Pazis-mta for 45 versts along both banks of the Inguri and borders on the territory of Tatarkhan Dadeshkilyanov. Here is a list of villages in this district: Latani, Lashli, Sola, Lensker, Mestia, Tsiormi, Mulakh, Muzhalua, Bograshi, Lagust, Lenja, Ipari, Mebzager, Kusroli, Zarglesh, Klal, Ushkul, Mumi-kur, Lessu, Lam, Enash, Lajusata, Chuanas.

The number of houses in these villages reaches two thousand.

2. The territory of Prince Tatarkhan Dadeshkilyanov is located between the lands of the free Svans and the lands of Prince Tsiokho Dadeshkilyanov, from which it is separated by a tributary of the Inguri - Khene. The length of this area does not exceed 17 versts, 30 villages are known here, here is a list of them: Iskari - is the residence of the prince, located near the left bank of the Upper Kedlera; Labekal, Magauder, Lezgara, Tuberi, Sut, Uebaddo, Kalyash, Ladrer, Lashher, Lanteli, Tselyanar, Pkhatrer, Ugval, Berge, Chalir, Moil, Kurash, Genut, Lyankuri, Kartvani, Debt, Chkhidonar, Ushkhanar, Nashtkol, Thebish, Bagdanat, Mazer, Gul, Keledkar.

There are up to 750 households in these settlements.

3. The territory of Prince Tsiokho Dadeshkilyanov occupies the westernmost part of Svaneti and is limited in the east by the Khene River, and in the south by Mingrelia. The Svans of Prince Tsiokho occupy an area of ​​2250 square versts on both banks of the Inguri, they have 21 villages. Here is a list of these villages: Pari - the residence of the prince on the right bank of the Tubi; Big Lakhmula, Small Lakhmula, Big Lykha, Malaya Lykha, Lamhera, Katskha, Supi, Lakuri, Geshtera, Khofua, Paleda, Kich-Hildash, Chuberi, Tsaleri, Lashkherash, Tavrar, Dzhukhrani, Geruhash, Kudano, Gaish.

There are about 500 households in these villages.

Population

Assuming that there are 7 people in each family, we can count 23,200 people in Svaneti, but the new data gives the number of inhabitants at 26,800 people, namely:

Svans Tsiokho Dadeshkilyanova - 7000

Svans of Tatarkhan Dadeshkilyanov - 5000

Free Svans -14800

Total: 26800

Note. There is also a fourth tribe of Svans numbering about 5,000 souls, but since they live in the high mountain valleys of Mingrelia, south of their relatives, and are dependent on the prince of Mingrelia Dadiani, we will talk about them, but not when describing this area.

Climate, economic activities and crafts

The climate of Svaneti is very harsh, since this region is one of the highest in the Caucasus and is surrounded by mountains, some of which are covered with eternal snow, while others are open to cold, merciless winds. Fogs here are very frequent and so thick that a pedestrian suddenly caught in the fog does not dare to continue on his way for fear of falling into the abyss, but is forced to stop and stand until the winds clear the clouds.

From all of the above, we can conclude that nature here is not very generous with its gifts. Winter begins in October and lasts until May, when the Svans sow barley, in June they cultivate the fields of millet and flax, in August they lay wheat on the threshing floor, and in early September - the rest of the grains. Without having the slightest idea about agriculture and from childhood, accustomed to poverty, the Svans grow only the amount of wheat that is necessary for the meager nutrition of the family; they are so accustomed to hunger that one libre of bread a day is enough for them, and when they go on a campaign, one small loaf of bread (churek) is enough for them to eat for three days.

Field work in Svaneti is very difficult both in summer and winter; All transportation of grain, timber and other things is carried out using sleighs, similar to the sleighs of our peasants. They plow the land with a plow drawn by oxen, but happy is he who owns such a plot of land where the oxen can pass, since the rest must cultivate small patches of land with their own hands.

The severe cold that reigns in Svaneti most of the year prevents residents from actively raising livestock, however, they sell it to Mingrelia and Imereti, receiving salt and iron in exchange. They also exchange cloth that they make themselves for silver.

The princes of the Svans are almost as poor as their subjects, but they sometimes have the right to sell one of the people under their control. They charge 200 sheep for a man, and beautiful woman- 300 sheep. Some of the sheep are used for food, and the other is sold in Mingrelia, where silk fabric and other luxury items are bought in exchange.

The free Svans are richer than the subjects of the Dadeshkilyanov princes, since they often organize predatory raids on their neighbors. Those of the free Svans who come on trade to the village of Lenteli on the territory of the Mingrelian prince Dadiani, instead of tax, give a two-calibre measure of gunpowder and several sheep.

Mount Lakura on the territory of Prince Tatarkhan Dadeshkilyanov is rich in lead; several times ingots of native silver were found there, which the Residents use to decorate their weapons. Mount Latli on the territory of the free Svans has the same properties.

Ingistav produces sulfur, and the Svans make good quality gunpowder.

The appearance and character of the Svans

The Svans are similar in face to the Russians, most of them have blond hair, they leave it on and do not shave it off their heads, as do the Circassians, whom they resemble in the way they dress. On their checkmen, on each side of the chest there are twelve tubes for inserting cartridges. Their weapons are the same as the others, and of excellent quality.

The Svans are brave, their morals are rude and they are characterized by unbridled licentiousness, which makes them courageous and enterprising. They dedicate themselves to achieving their goals. The Svans are ready to take revenge for the slightest insult inflicted on them, and often some trifle causes the death of an entire family and its neighbors; In addition, Svans are secretive and deceitful by nature:

Having cultivated his field, the Svan takes part in some kind of robber raid or develops a plan for it and spends his days dreaming of happy times when he was not afraid to meet Russian bayonets and was allowed to kidnap people and then sell them wherever he wanted.

Svans consider it shameful to sit near their wives; they do not even like talking about the fair sex and, as a result, do not know the way of life of women in the family circle.

Svans build their homes like huts from horizontal beams and untreated stones. Their houses are pressed against some protruding cliff or are placed under a rock that hangs low and serves as a roof. In the houses you can find only the most necessary furniture, but in the poorest hut there is an excellent gun, decorated with silver, a good saber, a pistol and a dagger - their integral weapons, always attached to a belt around the Svan’s slender waist.

The steep and rocky mountains of Svaneti do not allow the use of horses, and the Svans are able to walk 60-70 versts a day without much fatigue, and this along a path that always runs along deep gorges, where fast streams constantly block the path, threatening to carry the traveler away with their rapid currents. Inguri.

Like other mountain peoples, the Svans do not store hay for the winter; at this time of year they leave their flocks of sheep to graze at the southern foot of Elbrus, where the animals find their own food along with the herds of Karachay sheep and goats.

Language

The language of the Svans does not have the slightest resemblance to any of the dialects of the mountaineers North Caucasus; its pronunciation is very difficult, but, in any case, the Svan language has something in common with Georgian language. Svans trading in Mingrelia and Imereti speak Georgian in order to be understood, but very few of them speak it well, since in general the Svans maintain little relations with the regions subject to Russia.

Religion

Although the Svans consider themselves Christians and they have churches (from the time of the Georgian Queen Tamara), they do not have the slightest idea about the tenets of religion. During the division of the Georgian kingdom in the middle of the 15th century, the Svans finally separated from Georgia, and, being surrounded on three sides by pagan peoples who later converted to Islam, they escaped the influence of fanaticism and actually now have practically no religion.

Svan can marry as many times as he wants, but does not have the right to have several wives at the same time. He must send away his previous wife if he takes a new one. Svans do not know either baptism or communion, they do not observe any sacraments of religion. Nevertheless, among them there are priests, chosen by common consent, they read some prayers on holidays, but the flock behaves in a peculiar way, and does not even cross themselves.

Form of government

The Svans cannot recognize higher power without disgust, and although the princes Tatarkhan and Tsiokho have arrogated to themselves the right to life and death of their subjects, they cannot do anything without the general consent of their subjects. Disputes not related to blood feud are settled by princes or elders, who are universally respected.

Free Svans on important occasions turn to Prince Dadiani from Mingrelia; with matters of lesser importance they come to the Dadeshkilyanov princes. In general, their form of government is a mixture of despotism and republic.

Warriors

Since the Svans have few horses, they could never make long marches, but the location of Svaneti is very advantageous for a defensive war and is excellent for creating all kinds of obstacles to the enemy, and no one has yet dared to attack them in their almost inaccessible gorges. In case of danger, a quarter of the population is ready to take up arms and defend the initial boundaries of their mountain settlements.

Communication routes

From everything that is said here about Svaneti, we can conclude that communication here is extremely difficult and its means are represented only by narrow paths, suitable only for pedestrians.

Note. Information about Svaneti was collected on the spot by captain General Staff Prince Shakhovsky and handed over to the author by the Chief of the General Staff of the Caucasian Corps, Mr. General Volkhovsky.

The section is very easy to use. In the field provided, just enter the right word, and we will give you a list of its values. I would like to note that our website provides data from different sources– encyclopedic, explanatory, word-formation dictionaries. Here you can also see examples of the use of the word you entered.

Meaning of the word Svans

Svans in the crossword dictionary

Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. D.N. Ushakov

Svans

Svanov, units Svan, Svan, m. Caucasian people inhabiting the western part of Georgia (Svaneti).

Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. S.I.Ozhegov, N.Yu.Shvedova.

Svans

Ov, units Svan, -a, m. Ethnic group of Georgians who make up indigenous people Svaneti is a historical region in Western Georgia.

and. Svanka, -i.

adj. Svan, -aya, -oe.

New explanatory dictionary of the Russian language, T. F. Efremova.

Svans

A people living in the mountains of western Georgia (in Svaneti).

Representatives of this nationality.

Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998

Svans

in Art. Georgians.

Svans

ethnographic group of Georgians; live in the Mestia and Lentekhi regions of the Georgian SSR. Svan tribes, who in ancient times occupied a vast territory on the southern slopes Greater Caucasus(see Svaneti) and partly on the northern slopes (mainly in the upper reaches of the Kuban River), together with the tribes of Karts and Mingrel climbers (Chans), formed the basis for the formation of the Georgian people. S. speak the Georgian language, and in everyday life they also speak the Svan language. In the past, they were characterized by local features of culture and life (original forms of tower architecture, developed alpine economy, remnants military democracy and etc.).

Wikipedia

Svans

Svans- people of the Svan group of Kartvelian language family. Self-name "lushnu", units "mushwan". They speak the Svan language, which is part of the northern branch of the Kartvelian language family, separate from the Georgian branch. Until the 30s of the 20th century, they were distinguished as a separate nationality (1926 census), but then subsequent censuses did not distinguish them separately and included them (as today) as part of the Georgians. In addition to their native language, all Svans speak Georgian. Svan surnames end in “ani”.

Examples of the use of the word Svans in literature.

However, she was curious who was being hosted Svans, and she asked the Marquis de Norpois a question about who he met there.

But I was not very observant, in most cases I did not know what the things that were in front of my eyes were called or what they were - I was sure of one thing: since they were used Svans, which means this is something extraordinary, and therefore I did not realize that, telling my parents about their artistic value and I’m lying about the ladder being brought.

Just recently Svans They introduced her to the Duchess of Vendôme - she was pleased with this, and at the same time she believed that this was in the order of things.

Is it because, as I knew, Svans were in the immediate surroundings of all these objects, I turned them into something like emblems privacy Svanov, into something like emblems of Svan customs - customs from which I was so far away for so long that they still seemed alien to me, even after I was allowed to join them?

Not only that Svans took me to the Zoological Garden and to a concert - they showed me an even more valuable favor: they did not exclude me from their friendship with Bergotte, and yet this friendship gave them charm in my eyes even at a time when I, without being knew Gilberte, I believed that thanks to her closeness to the divine elder, she could become my most desirable friend, if the contempt that I apparently inspire in her had not taken away from me the hope that someday she would invite me to visit with him in his favorite cities.

Thus, Svans no more than my parents - but, it would seem, exactly Svans and had to oppose me in various cases of life - they interfered with my happiness: happiness to look at Gilberte as much as I wanted, if not with a calm soul, then, in any case, with adoration.

Having said goodbye to the owner of the store, I again got into the carriage, and since Svans lived close to the Bois de Boulogne, the coachman, naturally, did not go the usual way, but through the Champs-Elysees.

Drivers, former locals Svans, now live in the city, and when their fellow countrymen meet them, they subject them to jealous scrutiny at the table.

Even Svans Those standing by the car heard his voice and fell silent for a few moments.

Alpine meadows, where several of our valley collective farms move their cattle, these Svans are considered controversial because they themselves live here nearby, and they are very convenient for them.

By the time the collective farms recovered, Svans We are accustomed to consider these meadows ours.

It's all here Svans, including the driver and Geno on the other side, began to roar with cross-eagle screeching sounds.

, Mingrelians, Lazy

Svans(self-name ლუშნუ, Georgian სვანები) - the people of the Svan group of the Kartvelian language family. Self-name "lushnu", units "mushwan". They speak the Svan language, which is part of the northern branch of the Kartvelian language family, separate from the Georgian branch. Until the 30s of the 20th century, they were distinguished as a separate nationality (1926 census), but then subsequent censuses did not distinguish them separately and included them (as today) as part of the Georgians. In addition to their native language, all Svans speak Georgian. Svan surnames end in “ani”.

Settlement

The territory of settlement of the Svans - Svaneti - is one of the highest historical regions of Georgia. It is located on the southern slopes of the central part of the Main Caucasus Range and on both sides of the Svaneti Range, in the northern part of Western Georgia. Upper Svaneti (Zemo-Svaneti) is located in the gorge of the Inguri River (at an altitude of 1000-2500 meters above sea level), and Lower Svaneti (Kvemo-Svaneti) is in the gorge of the Tskhenistskali River (at an altitude of 600-1500 meters above sea level). In the southeast, Svaneti borders on the historical regions of Racha and Lechkhumi (east and southwest of the edges of Racha-Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti, respectively), in the west - on Abkhazia, Imereti and part of the territory of Megrelia adjoin to the south. In the north, the border of Svaneti runs along the Main Caucasus Range, on the other side of which are Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkaria.

Based on historical, folklore and toponymic information, some scientists believe that in a certain period (XVII-XVIII centuries) the Svans lived on the other side of the Caucasus Range, in the Elbrus region.

Language

Life and culture

The history of the Svan people goes back several thousand years. The Svans never had serfdom, and the nobility was conditional. The Svans never waged aggressive wars, this is evidenced by historical facts, one of which is the construction in ancient times of watchtowers and defensive towers called “Svan towers”. Since ancient times, the Svans have traditionally been fond of creating picturesque products from copper, bronze and gold. Famous Svan blacksmiths, stonemasons and woodcarvers made dishes and various household utensils from silver, copper, clay and wood, as well as Svan caps - the national Svan headdress and unique “kanzi” from tur horns.

Beekeeping was traditional for the Svans - ancient occupation of many peoples, including the mountainous regions of Western Georgia. But the most respected and revered professions for Svans are hunting and mountaineering. The Svans were and remain professional hunters and climbers. Hunting for the Svans is actually equivalent economic activity, and mountaineering - national species sports of Svaneti.

Svan holidays

Famous representatives

• Leila Mushkudiani

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Notes

An excerpt characterizing the Svans

A week later, Pierre gave his wife power of attorney to manage all the Great Russian estates, which amounted to more than half of his fortune, and alone he left for St. Petersburg.

Two months have passed since news was received in Bald Mountains about Battle of Austerlitz and about the death of Prince Andrei, and despite all the letters through the embassy and all the searches, his body was not found, and he was not among the prisoners. The worst thing for his relatives was that there was still hope that he had been raised by the inhabitants on the battlefield, and perhaps was lying recovering or dying somewhere alone, among strangers, and unable to give news of himself. In the newspapers from which I first learned old prince about the Austerlitz defeat, it was written, as always, very briefly and vaguely, that the Russians, after brilliant battles, had to retreat and carried out the retreat in perfect order. The old prince understood from this official news that ours were defeated. A week after the newspaper brought news of the Battle of Austerlitz, a letter arrived from Kutuzov, who informed the prince of the fate that befell his son.
“Your son, in my eyes,” wrote Kutuzov, with a banner in his hands, in front of the regiment, fell as a hero worthy of his father and his fatherland. To my general regret and that of the entire army, it is still unknown whether he is alive or not. I flatter myself and you with the hope that your son is alive, for in otherwise among the officers found on the battlefield, about whom a list was submitted to me through the envoys, and he would have been named.”
Having received this news late in the evening, when he was alone. in his office, the old prince, as usual, went for his morning walk the next day; but he was silent with the clerk, the gardener and the architect, and, although he looked angry, he did not say anything to anyone.
When, at ordinary times, Princess Marya came to him, he stood at the machine and sharpened, but, as usual, did not look back at her.
- A! Princess Marya! - he suddenly said unnaturally and threw the chisel. (The wheel was still spinning from its swing. Princess Marya long remembered this fading creaking of the wheel, which for her merged with what followed.)
Princess Marya moved towards him, saw his face, and something suddenly sank within her. Her eyes stopped seeing clearly. She saw from her father’s face, not sad, not murdered, but angry and unnaturally working on himself, that a terrible misfortune hung over her and would crush her, the worst in her life, a misfortune she had not yet experienced, an irreparable, incomprehensible misfortune. , the death of someone you love.
- Mon pere! Andre? [Father! Andrei?] - Said the ungraceful, awkward princess with such an inexpressible charm of sadness and self-forgetfulness that the father could not stand her gaze and turned away, sobbing.
- Got the news. None among the prisoners, none among the killed. Kutuzov writes,” he shouted shrilly, as if wanting to drive the princess away with this cry, “he has been killed!”
The princess did not fall, she did not feel faint. She was already pale, but when she heard these words, her face changed, and something shone in her radiant, beautiful eyes. It was as if joy, the highest joy, independent of the sorrows and joys of this world, spread beyond the intense sadness that was in her. She forgot all her fear of her father, walked up to him, took his hand, pulled him towards her and hugged his dry, sinewy neck.
“Mon pere,” she said. “Don’t turn away from me, we’ll cry together.”
- Scoundrels, scoundrels! – the old man shouted, moving his face away from her. - Destroy the army, destroy the people! For what? Go, go, tell Lisa. “The princess sank helplessly into a chair next to her father and began to cry. She now saw her brother at that moment as he said goodbye to her and Lisa, with his gentle and at the same time arrogant look. She saw him at that moment, how he tenderly and mockingly put the icon on himself. “Did he believe? Did he repent of his unbelief? Is he there now? Is it there, in the abode of eternal peace and bliss?” she thought.
- Mon pere, [Father,] tell me how it was? – she asked through tears.
- Go, go, killed in the battle in which they were ordered to kill the Russians the best people and Russian glory. Go, Princess Marya. Go and tell Lisa. I will come.
When Princess Marya returned from her father, the little princess was sitting at work, and with that special expression of an inner and happily calm look, characteristic only of pregnant women, she looked at Princess Marya. It was clear that her eyes did not see Princess Marya, but looked deep into herself - into something happy and mysterious happening within her.