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DOI: 10.46698/VNC.2024.93.54.004

THE PRIESTLY SUBCULTURAL COMPLEX AMONG THE OSSETIANS

Bagaev, Alan B.
Izvestia SOIGSI. 2024. IIS 54 (93). P.49-55.
Abstract:
Men’s units, typical for traditional society, played an important role in the life of society. To
a large extent, this applies to elite men’s communities, among which a special place is occupied by
associations formed on the basis of one or another type of activity. In traditional society, one of the
main purposes of these communities was the preservation and systematic reproduction, and, where
necessary, the transformation of socially significant experience. Ideological attitudes, features of
thinking and behavioral stereotypes that developed within the framework of the male union influenced
the whole society. Among many peoples, men’s associations in a relict form are preserved
to this day. Among the Ossetians, one of such elite men’s communities was made up of priests. The
relevance of the problem under consideration is determined by the special role of priests in the public
life of traditional Ossetian society. This paper examines the characteristic features of the behavior
and life of Ossetian priests. The scientific novelty of the study is determined by the fact that this
work is the first comprehensive study of the subcultural complex of priests, carried out on Ossetian
material. In developing the topic, data from written sources and ethnographic material were used.
In the course of the study, the main elements of the priestly subculture among the Ossetians were
identified; the main criteria necessary for obtaining the status of a priest were determined; the main
priestly functions were identified; two versions of the sacrificial rite practiced by the Ossetian priests
were described; the existence of a special form of priestly prayer was established; a rite used by
priests for the prevention of crimes and the identification of criminals was considered; characteristic
features of the priests’ behavior were revealed; distinctive features of priestly vestments were established.
The problem considered in the article requires further in-depth research.
Keywords: Ossetian male subcultures, priest, dzuarylag, sacrificial animal, sacrificial rite, sanctuary.
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For citation:: Bagaev, A.B. The priestly subcultural complex among the Ossetians // Izvestiya SOIGSI.
2024. Iss. 54 (93). Pp.49-55. (in Russian). DOI 10.46698/VNC.2024.93.54.004
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