Khadikova, Alina Kh.
Izvestia SOIGSI. 2023. IIS 49 (88).

Abstract:
The reason for this article was the publication of the three–volume edition “Encyclopedia of
the Ossetian Nartiada” (2022-2023). The encyclopedia is, on the one hand, a fundamental and
scrupulous generalization of the materials of the Ossetian Nart epic, and on the other hand, a
comprehensive and in–depth scientific analysis of this unique epic monument of world significance.
The article examines both the structure of the encyclopedia with its main characteristics and
specific achievements reflecting the years of research of many generations of Russian and foreign
scientists, including modern ones. A careful study of the publication leads to the conclusion that
this collective work not only advances scientific narthology far ahead, but, thanks to the research
approaches applied in the analysis of the vast material collected in the encyclopedia, significantly
expands the resources and prospects for the study of folklore as such. The publication, which provides
comprehensive and most diverse information about the Nart epic, at the same time strengthens and
develops the conceptual base of this scientific direction, which, of course, can become an incentive for
further scientific research. Particularly emphasized is the fact that the authors not only do not ignore
the issues that have become debatable in recent years, but on the basis of an analysis of sources, they
are deeply and in detail immersed in their analysis. Mostly, these are the problems of the formation
of the Nartiada cycles, its national versions, the connection of the epic with the processes of the
ethnogenesis of the peoples of the Caucasus, the chronology and stages of development of the Nart
epic, various theories of the origin of its ancient core. Among other things, various aspects of the
significance of this work are considered.

Keywords: scientific narthology, “Encyclopedia of the Ossetian Narthiada”, factual and conceptual framework, debatable problems, objective analysis.

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