Who are the Ossetian People?
The Ossetian people, also known as Ossetes, are an ethnic group who live in the Caucasus Mountains between Russia and Georgia. They are divided among two territories, North Ossetia-Alania, an autonomous republic in southern Russia, and South Ossetia in central Georgia.
History of the Ossetians
The Ossetians are believed to be a mix of people primarily descending from the Sarmatians, a group of nomadic people related to ancient Iranian peoples. From the 7th to the 1st century BCE, what is today Ossetic territory was controlled by the Scythian-Sarmatian peoples. Sometime around the 4th or 5th century CE, one Sarmatian tribe, the Alans, became the dominant group. The Alans are believed to be the direct ancestors of today's Ossetians.
In the 13th century CE, the Mongol empire extended its control into Ossetia, leading the Alans to migrate to the mountains. They settled in Georgia throughout the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1905, the Ossetians lived in a single national district, but their borders have since undergone many changes.
The Russian Empire began to colonize Ossetian territory in the 18th century, incorporating the Ossetians into Russia. In 1918, following the demise of the Russian Empire, Ossetian territory was divided between the Russian Federation and Georgia (Georgia was an independent republic from 1918 until its absorption into the Soviet Union in 1921). Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of the USSR's Communist Party, designated South Ossetia as an autonomous region in 1922. North Ossetia became an autonomous Soviet republic in 1936.
Today, there are still two Ossetias. North Ossetia is still part of Russia, and South Ossetia is still part of Georgia. Ossetians continue to oppose this territorial division, preferring instead for the Ossetian people to live in a unified territory.
Post-Soviet Conflict
Since Georgia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, there has been ongoing conflict between the Ossetians and Georgians.
In the late 1980s, Georgia's desire for independence from Russia and the resulting Georgian nationalism led to increasing tension with the Ossetians. The Ossetian people believed they were being discriminated against when Georgia passed laws to strengthen the status of the Georgian language in 1989.
Ossetian Culture
The people of Ossetia have unique religious practices, music, and folklore. Their traditional arts and crafts include pottery, metalworking, weaving, and knitting.
Although the Ossetian people today mostly practice Christianity or Islam, both of which were adopted in the mid-19th century, their ancient faith was a form of paganism. Two of their important gods were Khitsau, the God of Gods, and Wastyrji, the patron of men and warriors. Many families also had totem animals, such as deer or wolves. The Ossetian people protected their totem animals and celebrated them with annual feasts in their honor.
Ossetian Language
The Ossetian people speak the Ossetian language, part of the North Iranian group of the Indo-European language family. However, Ossetian speakers do not necessarily understand Farsi or Persian, the languages of Iran, and vice versa.
Characteristics of the Ossetian People
Historically, the Ossetian people wore traditional Ossetic dress, although today they are more likely to wear Western-style clothes. Traditional Ossetian women wore long dresses with flowing skirts and sleeves and a tight, high-necked bodice. The dresses were elaborately embroidered. Women also wore a long veil draped over a pillbox hat, though the veil did not cover their faces.
Lesson Summary
The Ossetian people are an ethnic group living in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia and Georgia. They live in two separate republics, North Ossetia-Alania, which is part of Russia, and South Ossetia, which is part of Georgia. The Ossetians are descended from the Alans, a nomadic pastoral people who settled in the region sometime around the 4th or 5th century CE. Ossetian territory was colonized by the Russian Empire in the 18th century. Joseph Stalin divided the territory into what is still today North and South Ossetia. South Ossetia has been engaged in on-and-off conflict with Georgia since the late 1980s as many South Ossetians seek independence and reunification with North Ossetia.
The Ossetian people are predominantly Christian, although some practice Islam. Some integrate rituals and practices from their pagan past, such as the veneration of Wastyrji, the patron of men and warriors. They have traditional folktales known as Narty, which tell stories of giant heroes. The duadastanon, or the Alano-Ossetian harp, is one of the oldest musical instruments in the region. The Ossetian people speak the Ossetian language as well as Russian or Georgian. Although they typically wear Western-style clothing now, traditionally, women wore long dresses and men wore loose pants with belted jackets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the Ossetians from?
The Ossetians are from the Caucasus Mountains between Russia and Georgia. They live in two territories, North Ossetia-Alania and South Ossetia, located in Russia and Georgia, respectively.
In what countries is Ossetian spoken?
Ossetian speakers live in both Russia and Georgia. The Ossetian language spoken in Russia's North Ossetia-Alania includes the Digor and Iron dialects, while the Ossetian spoken in Georgia's South Ossetia includes the Tual and Iron dialects.
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