Nakh peoples

Ethno-Linguistic groups in the Caucasus region.

Nakh or Vainakh is a collective term for several ethnic groups of the North Caucasus region who speak Nakh languages, including the Chechen, Ingush, Bats and Kist.

In some linguistic publications, the term Vainakh ("our people") has been restricted to the speakers of the Chechen and Ingush languages. Although Chechen and Ingush may be considered divergent dialects of the same language, the peoples are not close genetically, possibly indicating an episode of language shift.

A Nakh warrior from 19th century.

History

Prehistory

The early history of the Nakh peoples has been tentatively reconstruced from linguistic analysis and archaeological evidence.

10,000-8,000 BC

People speaking a language ancestral to the Northeast Caucasian languages migrated from the Fertile Crescent to the slopes of the Caucasus bringing domesticated animals, crops, and irrigation.

6000-4000 BC

Pottery was introduced to the region. Neolithic settlements near Ali-Yurt and Magas yielded clay dishes polished and drilled stones, and stone tools (such as axes and knives). Remains of settlements made out of clay bricks were found in the plains. Settlements with "cyclopean" stone walls and buildings were found in the mountains (at Doshkhakle, Kart, Tsecha-Akh, Orsoi, and other places), some of them dating to 8000 BC.

4th century BC-11th century

The mountain clans founded an association of clans called Dzurdzuketia, which survived into the early Middle Ages despite incursions by Khazars, Huns, Arabs, Persians, Mongols and others

7th-11th centuries

Kingdom of Serir

12th-14th centuries

Kingdom of Simsim

13th-14th centuries

Independence wars against Tatar-Mongol hordes and army of Tamerlane.

17th century to nowadays

independence war against Russia

Architecture

Towers

Vainakh military tower near settlement Chanta

Main article: Vainakh medieval towers

A characteristic feature of Vainakh architecture in the Middle Ages, rarely seen outside Chechnya and Ingushetia, was the Vainakh tower, a kind of multi-floor structure that was used for dwelling or defense (or both). Nakh tower architecture and construction techniques reached their peak in the 15th–17th centuries.

Residential towers had two or three floors, supported by a central pillar of stone blocks, and were topped with a flat shale roofing. These towers have been compared to the prehistoric mountain settlements dating back to 8000 BC.

Military ("combat") towers were 25 meter high or more, with four of five floors and a square base approximately six meters wide. Access to the second floor was through a ladder. The defenders fired at the enemy through loopholes and the top of the tower had mashikul – overhanging small balconies without a floor. These towers were usually crowned with pyramid-shaped roofing built in steps and topping with a sharpened capstone.

Buildings combining the functions of residential and military towers were intermediate in size between the two types, and had loop-holes and mashikiuls.

Nakh towers used to be sparingly decorated with religious or good-wishing petrographs, such as solar signs or depictions of the author’s hands, animals, etc.. Military towers often bore a Golgopha cross.

Sanctuaries, temples and mosques

The Vainakh pagan pantheon included a supreme god Dela and a goddess of fertility Tusholi. There were also phallic cults.

A whole number of peculiar monuments, natural and artificial, served as shrines for ritual services. Vainakhs chose mountains (such as the Tsei-Lam Range), lakes (Galanchozh-Ami) and some species of plants, pear-trees in particular, for exercising rituals. These shrines were places for prayers and for the sacrifice of domestic animals.

Necropolis in Itum Kale(Chechnya), and tower of Tsoi-Pheda protecting the peace of the dead

The most primitive shrines (sielingi) were low rectangular pillar-shaped stone structures with a niche for candles. These shrines were raised on the village outskirts and at the graveyards to protect both the living and the dead. Better known are shrines in the form of small houses topped with ridged step roofing, like Myatsil Sanctuary on Mat-Lam Mountain near the town of Vladikavkaz. Such a large range of shrines belonging to

Beginning from the 11th – 12th century, Georgian Christian influence on the Nakh tribes are attested, for example, by the Tkhaba-Yerdy Church consecrated to St. Thomas in Assa Valley, and extant churches in Ingushetia.

Islamic influence intensified in 18th and 19th centuries. Examples of Islamic architecture from that period are the tower-shaped mosques in the villages of Makazhoi and Khimoi.

Necropoles

Burial vaults or crypts remained from the pagan period in the history of Vainakhs, before they accepted Islam in the 16th century (partially, the entire region, Islam has spread only in the 17th century.). They were built either a bit deepening into the ground or half underground and on the surface. The latter formed whole “towns of the dead” on the outskirts of the villages and reminded sanctuaries from the outside, with a dummy vaults constructed of overlapping stones. The deceased were placed on the special shelves in the crypts, in clothes and decorations and arms.

The general Islamic rituals established burials with the further penetration of Islam inside the mountainous regions of Chechnya and Ingushetia. Stone steles, churts, inscribed with prayers and epitaphs, began to be erected at the graves and more prosperous mountaineers were honoured with mausoleums after death. The Borgha-Kash Mausoleum dating to the very beginning of 15th century and built for a Noghai prince is a good example of these.

Mythology

Main article: Vainakh mythology

Cole Thomas Prometheus Bound 1846-47

From Vainakh mythology came to our times only some little fragments. These fragments are names of deities peronifying elements of animist ideas, Nart saga, cosmogonic tradition, remnants of stock-breeding and landtilling, totemic beliefs and folk calendar.

Legends

The greatest samples of Nakh myhtology are legends of Pkharmat, Galanchozh Lake, epic war of Pkhagalberi(hare riders) Dwarves against Narts, Kezanoi Ami, myth about how sun moon and stars appeared.

Nakh myth of legendary Pkharmat that was shackled on Mount Kazbek by God Sela because he has stolen heavenly fire from him, shows some paralels with Greek Myth of Prometheus and Georgian Amirami. Legendary war of Pkhalberi(hare riders) dwarves against Narts compared to Greek "Crane and Pygmies war" by Said-Magomed Khasiev Golden Fleece myth seems to be binded to Nakh 11 years calendar tradition. In that ram skin was placed in oak frame "Jaar" for 11 years and to produce golden fleece named "Dasho Ertal".

Legend of Galanchozh Lake

A woman and her daughter decided to wash diapers in the holy lake Galanchozh. Supreme god Delas, the child of Tusholi, who lived in the lake, was upset with their insult and immedietly turned them in stone. But holy didn't wish to stay in its tainted bank anymore and transformed into a bull and invaded the settlements below. It crushed many things on its way until was tamed in settlement of Akki Teip. Akkis immedietly found use for the tamed animal. With its help they plowed on the Bull. In spring grew up cereal from that were water poured. In the end, water flooded the basin and it became new forbidden lake Galanchozh.

Cosmology and creation

In ancient Nakh cosmology universe was created by supreme god Dela. Earth, created in three years, was larger than heavens three times and was propped up on the gigantic bull horns. The realm of the Vainakh Gods was over the cloads. Ishar-Deela was the ruler of the subterranean world, Deeli-Malkhi. Deeli-Malkhi was larger than realm of the human, it took seven years to create it. Nakhs believed when sun sets in the west it goes to the netherworld and vice versa. Deeli-Malkhi wasn't an evil realm of dead or undead. It was almost similar to the upper world with some improvements in its social structures. There was no judgment in life after life. Dela-Malkh was sun god playing central role in religious celebrations. On 25 December Nakhs celebrated Sun Festival in honor of Sun Gods birthday.

The names of stars and constellations were also connected to myths. So Chechens know Milky Way as Cha Takhina Tacha (the route of scattered straw)

• Great Bear as Vorkh Veshin Vorkh Seda (the seven brothers’ seven stars)
• Gemini (constellation), known as Kovreghina Seda
• Sirius, Betelgeuse and Procyon, Nakhs named as Qokogseda meaning Tripodstar
• Orion, Märkaj Seda Evening star
• Capricornus known as Neghara Bhovnash
• Venus, Sadov Seda and Sahül Seda sunset star and sunrise star. The name of the star is Dilbat
• Neptune, Hay

Fairy tales

In Nakh faily tales can be found people with supernatural abilities, magic artefacts, mythic animals as dragons and winged horses and some journeys to another worlds and magic. Almost in all fairy tales good triumph over evil.

Mosque "The heart of Chechnya" in Grozny.

Religion

In Middle Ages Vainakh society felt a strong Byzantine influence that expanse to the adoption of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in some parts of the country. However, Christianity did not last long. After the devastation of the country by Tamerlane, Christianity was banned and gradually Nakh peoples have returned to their native pagan beliefs. Islam began to spread on Nakh peoples lands from 16th and 17th centuries.

Vainakhs are predominantly Muslim of Shafi`i school of thought of Sunni Islam. Biggest part of Chechen (approx 1.5 million) and Ingush (500.000 people) people are Muslim of Shafi`i school. Kists (about 7.100 people) are partly Sunni Muslims and Georgian Orthodox when Bats approx. 3.000 people are Christian (Georgian Orthodox)

Some of the modern Chechen rebels are Salafis.

However, as is also the case with other Caucasian groups, such as the Georgians, Abkhaz, and Circassians, Islam did not wipe out all traces of the native religion. Many Chechens and Ingush even refer to the God of the Muslim religion (usually "Allah", from Arabic) as "Dela", who is the head god of the original Nakh pantheon (parallel to how Georgians refer to the Christian God as Ghmerti, their original main god). The Nakh interpretation of Sharia often is more resemblant of the adat than of sharia as practiced in other Muslim countries, though some note that this may actually be closer to the original intent in some ways. There is a common saying that "Muhammad may have been an Arab, but Allah is Chechen for sure", emphasizing this attitude towards the restrictive Islam of the Middle East that is often imagined in the West as representing the behavior and culture of all Muslims. Despite syncretism, most Nakh peoples are often regarded as either "Muslim people" (in the case of Ingush, Kists and Chechens), or as "Orthodox Christian people" (Batsbi). Nonetheless, worship of the original pantheon, with the exception of Dela, for the most part has no modern continuity and was replaced by Islam, despite some syncretism.

Social Structure

Main articles: Teip and Tukkhum

Vainakh social organization scheme.

Traditionally Nakh peoples known as a society with a highly developed and complex clan system. In which individuals are united in family groups called "Tsa" - house. Several Tsa's are part of the "Gar" -branch or "Nekh"-road, a group of Gar's is turn in to a Teip. Teip is a unit of tribal organization of Vainakh people. Teip's has its own council of elders and unites people from the political, economic and military sides. All cases teips left solely to the democratically elected representatives of houses ie. "Tsa". Number of participants of Teipan-Khelli depends on number of houses.

Most teips made unions called Tukkhum. Tukkhum is a military-economic or military-political union teips. Tukhums governed by a Board of Representatives of Teips, Teipan-Khelli. Teips counsil of elders choose one or several people to submit their Teip in Tukkhum-Khelli (Counsil of Tukkhum). New Teip were taken in tukhums depending on its geographical location and on depends on the harmonization of Tukkhum Counsil Elders. Joining a Tukhum depended on desire to own Teip. No one could force a teip to join a Tukkhum.

To address issues of national scale worked Mexk-Khel, the People's Council. Representatives of the Council were elected by each Tukkhum Counsil and had an enormous influence on the destiny of the people. Could start a war or prohibit any or tukhum or Teip prevent war. As it was forbidden Akkhis to fight against the Kabardian Kings in 14 century. Orstkhoys Tukhum was banned for their disobedience, when they were going to completely destroy north-Daghestan Vainakh clans of Aukh. For disobedience of its orders Mekhk-Khel could raise an army from all parts of Chechnya and Ingushetia. Mexk-Khel, could gather in different places at different times. It was gathering in Terloi Moxk and Äkkhi Moxk's Galanchozh region. In Galainchozh still stands giantic Mexk-Kheli stone, around which Mexk-Kheli members solved issues.

All Vainakh Counsils also bore responsibility and respect for law and order. The problem is not solved in Teip council could move to Tukkhum counsil and further even to Mekhk-Khel. That was called "Mexkidaqqar" meaning "to make a state matter" and "bringing to Mexki". Mexk-Khel name come from Nakh word Moxk, the state. On the top of the social structure stands nation which is refered to in most Nakh languges something resembling "Kham"

Political Structure

Many observers, including Russians such as Leon Tolstoy, have been very impressed by the democratic nature of the indigenous Chechen governments prior to Russian conquest. According to Western Ichkerophile Tony Wood, the Vainakh people, in particular the Chechens (as the Ingush and the Batsbi have fallen under foreign domination much more frequently and as a result, the indigenous system and democratic values are less deeply ingrained), could be described as the one of the few nations in the world with an indigenous system highly resemblant of democracy (others cited are often Scots, Albanians and Basques; notably, all three, much like the Vainakh peoples, are mountain dwelling peoples with a clan-based social organization and a strong attachment to the concept of freedom). Even more interestingly, in the 19th century, a couple of Circassian tribes overthrew their traditional aristocracy and established a democratic, egalitarian society, with some adoptions from the Nakh system. Of course, this advance, which may have spread eventually to all of the Circassian tribes, was halted by their political state being annihiliated by Russian conquest, a fate later shared by the rest of the Caucasus.

It is notable especially that the Chechen and Ingush systems, as well as the system later adopted from them by some Eastern Circassian tribes, is resemblent especially of the Western democratic republic. It has a central government with a legislative body (the Mexk-Kel), a body resemblent of an executive branch (the Council of Tukhum) as well as a judicial branch (the other councils). The adat and other bodies have served as the constitution. The members to all three of the main national councils of the nation were, in fact, elected, making the inherent indigenous democracy of the Nakh peoples even more striking.

During the Soviet Union period as well as currently during the tyrannical reign of the Russian puppet Ramzan Kadyrov, the Taip-Council system has been heavily criticized by Russian governments and their local puppets in Chechnya and Ingushetia, who view it as an attack on what they view as the truly natural system (that is, Russian-styled autocracy). They claimed that such a system was illustrative of the anarchic nature of the Caucasian ethos, despite espousing Socialism (which could be considered much more compatible, if its original ideals were followed, with the Chechen system than with the brutal oligarchic rule of the Communist Party) at the same time .

The democratic and egalitarian nature and democratic values of freedom and equality of Chechen society has been cited as many as a major reason why their persistence in resistence to Russian rule has been so intense (as well as the fact that there was no elite to be coopted by Tsarist authorities, as Wood notes).

Observance of sacred duties of hospitality with regard to the taip system

According to Nakh ethos and moral codes such as the adat, hospitality is considered extremely important, less important only than freedom (considered of first importance) and equality (second importance). The Chechens and Ingush have housed many refugees from persecution in the past: notably, much of the Armenian diaspora, strong in both Chechnya and Ingushetia until the recent war, originated from the Chechens and Ingush agreeing to house them as they were fleeing genocide on the part of the Anatolian Turks. The Armenian diaspora in the Caucasus was, until the recent two wars, much stronger in Chechnya and Ingushetia than in either of their neighbors, Daghestan and even Ossetia (which shared the Christian religion with the Armenians) for this reason.

As the third most important value to the moral code, it has a profound effect on the functioning of the teip system. Several times, originally foreign groups have been completely integrated into the teip system, becoming there own teip. A notable example is the Germans who lived among the Chechens during their exile in Kazakhstan and Siberia: during even as short a period of 13 years, the Germans decided to join the teip system, and the new "German" taip was founded by M.Weisert, whose relatives still lived mainly in Germany. There have also been several periods where Jews living in Chechnya founded their own teips (teip Dzugtoi), many of which are still in existence and regarded (possibly incorrectly), though have shrunk considerably due to the flight of people from Chechnya due to the brutal war. There are also teips that were formed, sometimes temporarily, by Russians (teips Orsi, Arsoi), Poles or Ukrainians. These taips are often eventually viewed as integral parts of the nation, despite their foreign origin.

References

• Jaimoukha, A., The Chechens: A Handbook, London and New York: Routledge, 2005.

See also

• Peoples of the Caucasus
• Nakh languages