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DOI: 10.23671/VNC.2020.74.57995

ON PRE-CHRISTIAN RELIGION OF THE ALANS.

Tuallagov, Alan A.
Izvestia SOIGSI. 2020. IIS 35 (74).
Abstract:
The article is devoted to the problem of determining the traditional, pre-Christian beliefs of
the Alans. Most of the previous studies were not based on the analysis of historical information
about the Alans, but rather on the data on Ossetian ethnography and linguistics, as well as on
the traditions of other Iranian-speaking peoples of antiquity. The conclusions thus drawn then
formed the basis for the interpretation of archaeological materials. Such an approach and its
static nature impede further scientific development. Currently, there is also a tendency to declare
the traditional beliefs of the Alans monotheistic. The current situation determines the scientific
relevance of the topic. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the analysis of the data of the
original written sources about the religion of the Alans and in determining the appropriate context
of archaeological data, some of which are brought in as such for the first time. While conducting
the study, the methods of textual research of the sources, inductive and logical analysis based
on the principle of historicism and systematic presentation were used. The main purpose of the
study is to determine the main features of the original religious beliefs of the Alans. As a result of
the study, it was possible to reveal a circle of written sources recording data on the pre-Christian
religion of the Alans. They testify reliably to the polytheism of the religious system of the Alans. An
integral part of this system was idolatry. Some data allows to reveal the images of gods which were
worshiped by the Alans. The complex of idolatry among the Alans turns out to be associated with a
funeral-memorial rites. This situation allows us to determine the circle of archaeological artifacts
from the Alanian complexes, which can clearly confirm the information of written sources. It is
proposed to recognize one of such confirmations as a specific form of figurines depicting male
characters.
Keywords: Alans, polytheism, idolatry, written evidence, archaeological data.
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