In this Book
- Tales of the Narts: Ancient Myths and Legends of the Ossetians
- Book
- 2016
- Published by: Princeton University Press
The Nart sagas are to the Caucasus what Greek mythology is to Western civilization. Tales of the Narts presents a wide selection of fascinating tales preserved as a living tradition among the peoples of Ossetia in southern Russia, a region where ethnic identities have been maintained for thousands of years in the face of major cultural upheavals.
A mythical tribe of tall, nomad warriors, the Narts were courageous, bold, and good-hearted. But they were also capable of cruelty, envy, and forceful measures to settle disputes. In this wonderfully vivid and accessible compilation of stories, colorful and exciting heroes, heroines, villains, and monsters pursue their destinies though a series of peculiar exploits, often with the intervention of ancient gods.
The world of the Narts can be as familiar as it is alien, and the tales contain local themes as well as echoes of influence from diverse lands. The ancestors of the Ossetians once roamed freely from eastern Europe to western China, and their myths exhibit striking parallels with ancient Indian, Norse, and Greek myth. The Nart sagas may also have formed a crucial component of the Arthurian cycle.
Tales of the Narts further expands the canon of this precious body of lore and demonstrates the passion and values that shaped the lives of the ancient Ossetians.
Table of Contents
- Title Page, Copyright
- pp. i-iv
- Commentary
- pp. xv-xviii
- A Short Biography of the Translator
- pp. xix-xx
- Guide to the Names and Terms
- pp. xxi-xxviii
- Introduction: The Ossetian Epic "Tales of the Narts"
- pp. xxix-lxviii
- Part 1. Warkhag and His Sons
- 2. Akhshar’s Sword
- pp. 4-7
- 3. The Apple of the Narts
- pp. 7-8
- 4. The Beauty Zerashsha
- pp. 9-11
- 6. The Birth of Urizhmag and Khamis
- pp. 14-16
- Part 2. Urizhmag and Shatana
- 8. The Birth of Shatana
- pp. 21-22
- 10. Urizhmag and Kharan-Khuag
- pp. 25-27
- 11. Urizhmag and the One-Eyed Giant
- pp. 27-33
- 12. How Urizhmag Parted from Shatana
- pp. 33-34
- 13. The Nameless Son of Urizhmag
- pp. 34-46
- 14. Shatana’s Son
- pp. 46-52
- 15. Who Won the Black Vixen?
- pp. 53-61
- 17. How Black Beer Was Brewed
- pp. 63-64
- 18. Urizhmag’s Last Campaign
- pp. 64-70
- Part 3. Shoshlan
- 22. Shoshlan and the Goomag Man
- pp. 82-85
- 23. Shoshlan in the Land of Goom
- pp. 86-92
- 25. Shoshlan and the Sons of Tar
- pp. 97-109
- 26. How Shoshlan Wed Kosher
- pp. 110-113
- 27. How Shoshlan Slew Telberd’s Three Sons
- pp. 113-115
- 28. Shoshlan’s Campaign
- pp. 116-118
- 29. Nart Shoshlan and the Giant, Bizhgwana
- pp. 118-121
- 30. Why Shirdon Became Shoshlan’s Enemy
- pp. 121-122
- 31. Little Arakhzau, Son of Bezenag
- pp. 122-134
- 32. The Death of Arakhzau
- pp. 134-140
- 33. How Shoshlan Wed Vedukha
- pp. 140-148
- 35. Shoshlan and Totraz
- pp. 151-160
- 36. Shoshlan in the Land of the Dead
- pp. 160-181
- 37. The Death of Shoshlan
- pp. 181-192
- 38. Aishana
- pp. 192-196
- 39. Aishana and Shainag-Aldar
- pp. 197-200
- Part 4. Shirdon
- 40. The Birth and Marriage of Shirdon
- pp. 203-204
- 41. A Nart Expedition
- pp. 205-214
- 42. How the Twelve-Stringed Harp Appeared
- pp. 215-219
- 43. Shirdon Again Deceives the Narts
- pp. 219-220
- 44. How Shirdon Tricked the Giants
- pp. 221-222
- 46. Why Shirdon Was Called a Liar
- pp. 223-225
- 47. Your Cloth Is in Your Hands
- pp. 225-226
- 48. Who Deceived Whom?
- pp. 226-228
- Part 5. Khamis and Batraz
- 49. Khamis and Batraz: Arkizh’s Tooth
- pp. 231-234
- 50. How Khamis Was Wed
- pp. 234-240
- 51. The Birth of Batraz
- pp. 240-241
- 52. How Batraz Was Lured Out of the Sea
- pp. 241-243
- 53. The Games of Young Batraz
- pp. 243-247
- 56. How Batraz Hardened Himself
- pp. 251-253
- 57. How Batraz Saved Urizhmag
- pp. 253-257
- 58. How Nart Batraz Found Burazag
- pp. 257-260
- 59. Batraz and Tykhyfyrt Mukara
- pp. 260-263
- 62. How Batraz Saved the Eminent Narts
- pp. 269-271
- 63. Nart Uraz and the Giant Akhshualy
- pp. 271-275
- 64. Batraz and the Aldar
- pp. 275-276
- 65. How Batraz Stormed the Khizh Fortress
- pp. 276-278
- 66. Batraz and the Narts’ Bowl, Wasamonga
- pp. 278-279
- 67. The Narts’ Round-Dance, the Shimd
- pp. 279-288
- 68. How Batraz Beat the Spirit of Fertility
- pp. 289-290
- 69. Who Is Best among the Narts
- pp. 290-297
- 70. The Death of Khamis
- pp. 297-299
- 71. How Batraz Avenged His Father’s Death
- pp. 299-307
- 72. The Death of Batraz
- pp. 307-310
- Part 6. Asamazh
- 73. Asamazh and the Beauty Agunda
- pp. 313-323
- 74. Nart Shidamon and the Giant Shkhuali
- pp. 323-328
- Part 7. Shauwai
- 75. The Birth of Shauwai
- pp. 331-346
- Part 8. Various Stories About the Narts
- 76. The Narts and Wadmer’s Bones
- pp. 349-352
- 77. Nart Shibals, the Son of Warkhtanag
- pp. 352-356
- 78. Washtirji and Nart Marguz the Noseless
- pp. 356-365
- 79. Nart Zili and His Sons
- pp. 365-373
- 80. Alimbeg’s Daughter and the Alita Family
- pp. 373-380
- 81. The Beauty Wazaftau, Daughter of Adakizh
- pp. 380-386
- 82. The Nart Named Solitary
- pp. 386-392
- 84. The Elder and the Younger Share
- pp. 398-403
- 85. Nart Bzhar and His Son
- pp. 403-410
- 86. How Nart Eltagan Was Wed
- pp. 410-413
- 87. The Narts and the Black-Headed Giants
- pp. 413-417
- 89. The Downfall of the Narts
- pp. 421-424
- Appendix of Names
- pp. 427-436
- Bibliography
- pp. 437-444