Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
Mashtots Chair in Armenian Studies, Harvard University
announce a lecture by
Prof. John Colarusso,
McMaster University
THE NARTS OF THE CAUCASUS
The Nart sagas are a body of heroic tales found among he peoples of the
North Caucasus. While of recent attestation (mid-19th century) they
appear, as does much in the Caucasus, to be highly conservative and to
preserve a mixture of local themes blended with elements of great
antiquity. This lore shows parallels with that of the Irish, the Norse,
the Russians, the Greeks, and the host of Indo-Iranian peoples, as well
as some Altaic and Semitic themes. This rich comparative nexus is the
direct result of geography: the peoples of the North Caucasus, until
recently stable residents of the region, must have had contact with
virtually every branch of Indo-European, including the original
community itself.
Monday 4 December 2006
4 P.M.
Semitic Museum (6 Divinity Ave.), room 201.
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