Svans

The Svans (Georgian: სვანი, Svani) are an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians (Kartvelians)[4][5][6][7][8][9][10] living mostly in Svaneti, a region in northwest Georgia. They speak the Svan language and are mostly bilingual also in Georgian. Both these languages belong to the Kartvelian (South Caucasian) language family. In the pre-1930 Soviet census, the Svans were afforded their own "ethnic group" (natsional'nost) category.[11] The self-designation of the Svan is Mushüan, which is probably reflected in the ethnonym Misimian of the Classical authors.[12]

Svans
Svan: შვანარ shvanar
Georgian: სვანი svani
Distribution of the Svan language in relation to other Kartvelian (South Caucasian) languages.
Total population
c. 14,000[1]–80,000[2]
Regions with significant populations
 Georgia14,000[1]–30,000[2]
 Russia45 (2010)[3]
Languages
Svan, Georgian
Religion
Predominantly † Eastern Orthodox Christianity
(Georgian Orthodox Church)
Related ethnic groups
Georgians, the Laz and Mingrelians

History
Svan with dagger and long smoking pipe. Mestia (~1888–1900)
Part of a series on
Georgians
ქართველები
The
Kartvelian
people
Nation
Georgia
Ancient Kartvelian people
Subgroups
  • Adjarians
  • Ingiloy
  • Mingrelians
  • Svans
Culture
  • Music
  • Media
  • Sport
  • Calligraphy
  • Cinema
  • Cuisine
  • Dances
  • Chokha
  • Calendar
  • Architecture
  • Mythology
Languages
Religion
Symbols
  • St George's Cross
  • Grapevine cross
  • Bolnisi cross
  • Borjgali
History of Georgia

The Svans are usually identified with the Sanni mentioned by Greek geographer Strabo, who placed them more or less in the area still occupied by the modern-day Svans.

In the Russian Empire and early Soviet Union Mingrelians and Svans had their own census grouping, but were classified under the broader category of Georgian in the 1930s. They are Georgian Orthodox Christians, and were Christianized in the 4th–6th centuries. However, some remnants of pre-Christian beliefs have been maintained. Saint George (known as Jgëræg to the locals), a patron saint of Georgia, is the most respected saint. The Svans have retained many of their old traditions, including blood revenge, although this tradition has been declining over time and as law enforcement takes hold. Their families are small, and the husband is the head of his family. The Svan strongly respect the older women in families.

Language

Typically bilingual, they use both Georgian and their own, unwritten Svan language. However, Svan is being largely replaced by Georgian, which is the language of culture and education in Georgia.

Genetics

The most common Y-chromosomal haplogroup among the Svans is G2a (90%), in the second place is the Y-chromosomal haplogroup R1a (5%), in the third place is the Y-chromosomal haplogroup J2a1 (about 3%). Among mitochondrial haplogroups H (17.9%), K (15.8%), W6 (13%), T (9.24%), U1 (7.61%), X2 (6, 52%), U2 (5.98%) are common haplogroups.[13][14]

Famous Svans
  • Temur Babluani (1948-), film director, script writer, and actor
  • Géla Babluani (1979-), Georgian-French film director
  • Mikheil Gelovani (1893–1956), actor who primarily portrayed Stalin
  • Otar Ioseliani (1934-), film director in Georgia
  • Mikheil Kurdiani (1954-2010), philologist, linguist, writer, poet and translator
  • Sopho Gelovani (1984-), singer
  • Tariel Oniani (1952-), mafia boss
  • Yaroslav Iosseliani (1912-1978), Soviet Navy submarine commander
  • Nana Ioseliani (1962-), chess player

References
  1. Project, Joshua. "Svanetian, Mushwan in Georgia". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  2. "Svan/Udi/Tsova-Tush - DOBES". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  3. "Russian census 2010". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  4. Stephen F. Jones. Svans. World Culture Encyclopedia. Retrieved on March 13, 2011: «The Svans are one of the dozen or so traditionally recognized ethnic subgroups within the Georgian (Kartvelian) nation.»
  5. The Svans Kevin Tuite Université de Montréal 1992: «The Svans are one of the dozen or so traditionally recognized ethnic subgroups within the Georgian (Kartvelian) nation.»
  6. Britannica. Caucasian peoples: «The Caucasian peoples ... The southerners, comprising the Georgians, the closely related Mingrelians and Laz, and the Svan, make up the Republic of Georgia and live in western Transcaucasia (the Laz live in Turkish territory).»
  7. R. Wixman. The Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook (p.181): «Svan ... The Svanetians are one of the Kartvelian peoples of the Georgian SSR»
  8. Levinson, David. Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1998. p 35
  9. "СВАНЫ - это... Что такое СВАНЫ?". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  10. "Сваны - это... Что такое Сваны?". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  11. "Демоскоп Weekly - Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей". demoscope.ru. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  12. History of Georgian Mountein Regions / R. Topchishvili. Available at The National Parliamentary Library of Georgia
  13. Yardumian A. et al. Genetic diversity in Svaneti and its implications for the human settlement of the Highland Caucasus, 2017
  14. Генетический портрет сванов на фоне народов Южного Кавказа
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