The majestic strict Caucasus is an original nature, breathtaking landscapes, strict mountains and flowering plains. The peoples inhabiting its territory are just as strict, strong in spirit and at the same time poetic and spiritually rich. One of such peoples is people whose nationality is Avars.
Descendants of ancient tribes
Avars are the Russian name for the nation, which mainly inhabits the north of Dagestan. They call themselves “maarulal”, which translates very simply and accurately: “highlanders”. The Georgians called them "leks", the Kumyks - "tavlu". Statistics totals more than 900 thousand Avars, including 93% of them living in Dagestan. Outside the region, a small part of this people lives in Chechnya, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan. There is a community of Avars in Turkey. Avars are a nationality that is genetically related to Jews. According to the annals, the sultan of the ancient accident was the sibling of the ruler of Khazaria. And the Khazar khans, again according to the annals, were Jewish princes.
What does the story say?
In the first references in historical manuscripts, these North Caucasian tribes appear to be warlike and powerful. Their place of settlement high in the mountains contributed to a series of successful victories over the Khazars, who settled on the plains. The small kingdom was called Serir, later renamed Avaria by the name of the king respected in the district. The accident reached its heyday in the XVIII century. Subsequently, the Avars' Muslim nationality created the theocratic state of Imamat, which existed in this form before joining Russia. Today it is an independent Republic of Dagestan with its cultural, political and religious characteristics.
Language of the people
Avars are a nationality with its own language, which belongs to the Avaro-Ando-Tses subgroup of the Caucasian group. The southern and northern regions of the territory of residence are characterized by two of their dialects, which differ in some phonetic, morphological and lexical features. Both dialects have a number of dialects characteristic of certain regions of the republic. The literary Avar language was formed in the merger of the two main dialects, although the influence of the north became significant. Previously, Avars used the alphabet from Latin scripts, since 1938 the Avar alphabet is letters based on Russian graphics. The bulk of the nationality is fluent in Russian.
Nationality Avar: genotype characterization
The isolation of the place of residence, the spread of warlike tribes throughout the East European Plain, up to Scandinavia, led to the formation of external features of the Avars, significantly different from the main population of the Caucasus. For typical representatives of this mountain people, a purely European appearance with red hair, fair skin and blue eyes is not uncommon. A typical representative of this people is distinguished by a high slender figure, a wide, medium-profiled face, a high but narrow nose.
Strict natural conditions of survival, the need to conquer arable land and pastures from nature and other tribes have formed the persistent and warlike character of the Avars over the centuries. However, they are very patient and hardworking, excellent plowmen and artisans.
Life of the mountain people
Those whose nationality is Avars have long lived in the mountains. The main occupation was and remains in these areas and now sheep breeding, as well as all crafts associated with the processing of wool. The need for food forced the Avars to gradually descend into the plains and develop agriculture and livestock, which became the main occupations of the lowland population. Avars build their houses along turbulent mountain rivers. Their buildings are very interesting and unusual for Europeans. Surrounded by rocks and stones, houses look like their continuation. A typical settlement looks like this: one large stone wall stretches along the street, which makes it look like a tunnel. Different levels of height often make the roof of one house a yard for another. Modern influences have not bypassed this nationality either: current Avars are building large three-story houses with glazed terraces.
Customs and traditions
The religion of the people is Islam. Avars belong to the religious faith of Sunni Muslims. Naturally, the rules of Sharia dictate all the traditions and family rules that the Avarians strictly adhere to. The people here are generally friendly and hospitable, but they defend their beliefs and customs, issues of honor immediately. Blood feud in these places is a familiar thing to this day. The beliefs of the local population are somewhat diluted by some pagan rituals - this is often the case in territories whose peoples have long led a separate lifestyle. The husband dominates in the family, but with respect to his wife and children, his duty is to show respect and provide materially. Avar women have a persistent character that they do not hide from their men, and always seek their own.
Cultural values
Each Avar, whose people are very attached to their national traditions, reveres their ancestors. Cultural traditions are rooted in centuries. On mountain expanses, peculiar melodic songs, fiery dances and wise tales of Caucasian centenarians were born. Musical instruments of the Avar people - chagchan, chagur, paw, tambourine, drums. Traditional Avar culture is the source and fundamental principle for modern Dagestan art and painting. Living in a distance, far from trade routes and centers, the residents of the accident made household items, clothes, jewelry for themselves and at home with their own hands, from improvised materials. These handicrafts became real masterpieces, the basis for the current masters.
