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DOI: 10.46698/VNC.2023.87.48.003
KUVD, THE OSSETIAN CEREMONIAL FEAST, IN E. G. PCHELINA’S MANUSCRIPTS
Darchiev, Anzor V.
Izvestia SOIGSI. 2023. IIS 48 (87).
Abstract:
An important part of Ossetian traditional culture is the Kuvd, a ceremonial feast. Its comprehensive
study contributes to a more complete reconstruction of archaic festive rituals of the Ossetians and
therefore represents an urgent scientific task. The unpublished materials of E. G. Pchelina, an
outstanding ethnographer and researcher of Caucasus are of great importance for this purpose. The
article examines the Kuvd section within the third chapter of Pchelina’s unfinished monograph about
the Rekom sanctuary in North Ossetia. The objective of the work is to determine the degree of reliability
of Pchelina’s positions and conclusions, which is necessary for their further full‑fledged use in the study
of this matter. Such an analysis would also be necessary for the ongoing preparation of the mentioned
monograph by Pchelina for publication. It has been established that in examining the ritual of sacrifice,
the researcher found interesting analogies with ancient cultures, which no other experts noticed before
or after her. Some information, for example, about a rare method of prediction by means of a pendulum,
is contained only in Pchelina’s monograph as opposed to any other ethnographic sources. At the same
time, the article using data from various sources (ethnographic and folklore sources) shows that some
of Pchelina’s claims are not correct, in particular, Ossetian religious festivals never had certain types
of sacrifice (fire sacrifice, fish offerings, etc.). Despite these inaccuracies, Pchelina’s materials contain
valuable ethnographic information that expands our knowledge of the Ossetian ceremonial feasts.
The questionable assertions of Pchelina also have a certain positive value, as they encourage a more
thorough study of the issues they touch upon.
Keywords: ritual feast, prayer, sacrificial ritual, fire sacrifice, ritual incense, divination, kurisdzau, “those who follow the sheaf”, Eugenia Pchelina.
Download the full text  For citation:: Darchiev, A. V. Kuvd, the Ossetian ceremonial feast, in E. G. Pchelina’s manuscripts //
Izvestiya SOIGSI. 2023. Iss. 48 (87). Pp. 81‑92. (in Russian).
DOI 10.46698/VNC.2023.87.48.003
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