Svans
Encyclopedia
The Svans are a group of Georgians
that mostly live in Svaneti
, a region of Georgia
speaking the Svan language
. The self designated Svan is Mushüan, known to the ancient authors as Misimian.
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Strabo
, who placed them more or less in the area still occupied by the modern-day Svans.
Until the 1930s, Mingrelians and Svans had their own census grouping, but were classified under the broader category of Georgian thereafter. They are Georgian Orthodox
Christians, and were Christianized in the 4th-6th centuries. However, some remnants of old paganism have been maintained. Saint George
(known as Jgëræg to the locals), a patron saint
of Georgia
, is the most respected saint. The Svans have retained many of their old traditions, including blood revenge
(although this tradition has been declining over time, as law enforcement takes hold). Their families are small, and the husband is the head of his family. The Svan strongly respect the older women in families.
and their own, unwritten Svan language
, which together with the Georgian, Mingrelian, and Laz
languages constitute the South Caucasian
or Kartvelian language family. The Svan language is being largely replaced by Georgian.
Georgians
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
that mostly live in Svaneti
Svaneti
Svaneti is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of the country. It is inhabited by the Svans, a geographic subgroup of the Georgians.- Geography :...
, a region of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
speaking the Svan language
Svan language
The Svan language is a Kartvelian language spoken in the Western Georgian region of Svaneti primarily by the Georgians of Svan origin...
. The self designated Svan is Mushüan, known to the ancient authors as Misimian.
History
The Svans are usually identified with the Soanes mentioned by Greek geographerGeography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
, who placed them more or less in the area still occupied by the modern-day Svans.
Until the 1930s, Mingrelians and Svans had their own census grouping, but were classified under the broader category of Georgian thereafter. They are Georgian Orthodox
Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church
The Georgian Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church is an autocephalous part of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since the 4th century AD, Georgian Orthodoxy has been the state religion of Georgia, and it remains the country's largest religious institution....
Christians, and were Christianized in the 4th-6th centuries. However, some remnants of old paganism have been maintained. Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
(known as Jgëræg to the locals), a patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, is the most respected saint. The Svans have retained many of their old traditions, including blood revenge
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
(although this tradition has been declining over time, as law enforcement takes hold). Their families are small, and the husband is the head of his family. The Svan strongly respect the older women in families.
Language
Typically bilingual, they use both GeorgianGeorgian language
Georgian is the native language of the Georgians and the official language of Georgia, a country in the Caucasus.Georgian is the primary language of about 4 million people in Georgia itself, and of another 500,000 abroad...
and their own, unwritten Svan language
Svan language
The Svan language is a Kartvelian language spoken in the Western Georgian region of Svaneti primarily by the Georgians of Svan origin...
, which together with the Georgian, Mingrelian, and Laz
Laz language
The Laz language is a South Caucasian language spoken by the Laz people on the Southeast shore of the Black Sea...
languages constitute the South Caucasian
South Caucasian languages
The Kartvelian languages are spoken primarily in Georgia, with a large group of ethnic Georgian speakers in Russia, the United States, the European Union, and northeastern parts of Turkey. There are approximately 5.2 million speakers of this language family worldwide.It is not known to be related...
or Kartvelian language family. The Svan language is being largely replaced by Georgian.
Culture
Svan culture survives most wonderfully in its songs and round dances. Svaneti boasts archaic three part polyphony, known as chordal unit polyphony, with strong dissonant harmonies. Traditional Svan poetry is still not separated from song and has no rhymed poetry. Svans are skillful artists and as Svaneti was widely regarded as the most inaccessible region of Georgia, many items of medieval Georgian state treasury (including the rare manuscripts of the bible) are still stored in Svaneti.Famous Svans
- Mikheil Khergiani - alpinist, rock-climber
- Yaroslav Ioseliani - seaman, captain of submarine 1942-1944
- Otar IosselianiOtar Iosseliani- Filmography :* Akvarel * Sapovnela * April / Ap'rili* Tudzhi * Falling Leaves, / Giorgobistve* Georgian Ancient Songs / Dzveli qartuli simgera...
- director - Mikheil GelovaniMikheil GelovaniMikheil Gelovani was a Georgian-Soviet actor, known for his many portrayals of Joseph Stalin in cinema.-Early life:Mikheil Gelovani was a descendant of the old Georgian princely house of Gelovani. He made his stage debut in a theater in Batumi during 1913. From 1919 to 1920, he attended the Drama...
- Georgian actor
External links
- http://www.svaneti.ru/
- http://centerarch.tripod.com/
- http://www.svanetitrekking.ge/
- http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/Georgia/West/Samegrelo_and_Zemo_Svaneti/
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVtxMB3zGF4&feature=related