Legends of the Caucasus

In this book, David Hunt provides one hundred translated legends from the various Caucasian peoples. What you get from this book depends on how you read it. You could read them as just being stories for entertainment. While there is nothing wrong with this approach, a much better approach, and the one that Hunt intended, is to read them as insights into the culture of these peoples. Hunt points out that the difference between legends and other folk literature is that people used to believe that the legends were true (11). This makes them valuable in understanding these cultures. Each of the chapters has a theme which is explored through the legends given in that chapter.Just like the American myth about George Washington chopping down a cherry tree reveals that honesty is respected in American culture, these folk legends reveal the values of the various Caucasian societies. One common characteristic of heroes in these legends was the ability to recognize a turpul horse. Hunt points out that many Caucasian peoples believed that this ability was a sign that the individual was significant (64). This was a trait that Caucasian heroes often had, just look at legends two and thirty in the book for examples of this. The second legend also attributes the ability to recognize a magnetic sword to the son of Temir the Lame indicating that this was also a valued trait as Hunt suggests (64). It is also important to note that these traits were attributed to the son of an important historical figure which only strengthens the value of Hunt’s argument. From an understanding of the value of these traits, one can conclude that both horses and swords were valuable in Caucasian societies. This is just one example of the types of insights that this book provides. A close reading of these legends, with Hunt’s commentary, will provide a greater understanding of the values of these cultures. A deep reading of these legends will provide insights into Caucasian societies such as the practice of blood revenge along with a greater understanding of family relations and the various lifestyles of these peoples. Through the use of these legends, Hunt is able to provide a greater understanding of these societies and their cultures.

David Hunt’s Legends of the Caucasus provides a variety of tales from the Caucasus region, an area that is not typically known well. Hunt’s collection is conveniently divided into topics, giving the reader a guide as to what these legends count as important. Hunt’s chosen tales emphasize honor, ties to the land, and family, all of which take a distinct form for the culture of the peoples that inhabit the Caucasus. In addition, prior to each tale is a brief history, again helping the reader understand the story in right correct context. For those that do not have a deep knowledge of the Caucasus, it may seem like a land of brutes – uncivilized killers. Hunt’s book helps remove this impression. The legends included do have a recurring theme of violence and blood revenge, but there are cultural reasons behind these actions that help the reader understand the Caucasus better. In addition, some tales are adapted from other legends around the world, such as that of Prometheus. The inclusion of these stories again help to portray the differences in culture, but also show that the people of the Caucasus are still part of the overall human story. Hunt also includes the origin of each tale, whether it be Ingush, Chechen, Georgian, etc. It becomes apparent that these different groups have shared values, because many of the stories are almost the same, with some changes here and there. It is also interesting to see how the people of the Caucasus view outsiders, such as the Russians. In one story, a hero is praised for his unrelenting courage and honor, while the Russian tsar is painted in an evil and scheming light. Such descriptions directly from Caucasus legends are useful to determine where these people place themselves in relation to the rest of the world.

Interesting for understanding key values likely still held in the region

Interesting collection of legends from the Caucasus region. I brought this book along with me on a summer trip through the countries covered and found them to be quite informative. They help delineate deep cultural motifs and perspectives. Because the stories are very old they can sometimes be repetitive and slow, but if you approach the reading with the expectation of heavy material they are quite approachable.

The legends of the Caucasus are little known, mostly because of geographical isolation and the fact that the Caucasian traditions were preserved by oral culture--the languages of the Caucasus did not have alphabets until the 19th-20th centuries (with the exception of Georgian). The stories here range from heroic to humorous, all are stirring reminders that there is a world of mythic tales to be explored. David Hunt has done a wonderful job of tracking down old translations from elderly storytellers and presenting many of these legends for the first time in English

Quite an eye opener and a rare treasure.

nice