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Svans

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This article is about a people in the Caucasus. For other uses, see Svans (disambiguation).
Svans
Svan: შუ̂ანა̈რ shwanær
Georgian: სვანები svanebi
Dadeshkeliani family, 19th c.
Total population
c. 14,000[1]–80,000[2]
Regions with significant populations
Georgia14,000[1]–30,000[2]
Languages
Svan, Georgian
Religion
Predominantly Georgian Orthodox Church

The Svans (Svan: შუ̂ანა̈რ, romanized: shwanær; Georgian: სვანები, romanized: svanebi) are an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians[3][4][5][6][7] indigenous to 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 languages. In the pre-1930 Soviet census, the Svans were categorized as a separate ethnic group (natsionalnost).[8] The self-designation of the Svan is Mushwan, which is probably reflected in the ethnonym Misimian of the Classical authors.[9]

History

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The Svans are usually identified with the Soanes mentioned by Greek geographer Strabo, who placed them more or less in the area still occupied by the modern-day Svans.[10]

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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13]

Language

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Typically bilingual, they use both Georgian and their own, unwritten Svan language. Prior to the 19th century, many Svans were monolingual, only knowing the Svan language.[14]

Genetics

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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.[15]

Famous Svans

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Svan with khanjali (dagger) and long smoking pipe. Mestia (~1888–1900)

References

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  1. ^ a b Project, Joshua. "Svanetian, Mushwan in Georgia". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Svan/Udi/Tsova-Tush - DOBES". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  3. ^ 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.»
  4. ^ 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.»
  5. ^ 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).»
  6. ^ 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»
  7. ^ Levinson, David. Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1998. p 35
  8. ^ "Демоскоп Weekly - Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей". demoscope.ru. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  9. ^ History of Georgian Mountein Regions / R. Topchishvili. Available at The National Parliamentary Library of Georgia
  10. ^ Kaukhchishvili, Tinatin (1957). Strabo's Geography: Information About Georgia. Tbilisi: Georgian SSR Academy of Sciences. p. 15.
  11. ^ (in Russian) ССР ГРУЗИЯ (1926 г.) Archived 8 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Javakhishvili, Ivane (1979). History of the Georgian Nation. Tbilisi. pp. 87–88.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. ^ "სვანური ტრადიციები, რომელთა ისტორია და რეალური მნიშვნელობა ბევრმა არ იცის". Svaneti News. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  14. ^ Tuite, Kevin. "Svan and its speakers" (PDF). Université de Montréal. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022. Up to the 19th century, many Svans were monolingual,
  15. ^ Yardumian, Aram; Shengelia, Ramaz; Chitanava, David; et al. (2017). "Genetic diversity in S vaneti and its implications for the human settlement of the H ighland C aucasus". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 164 (4): 837–852. doi:10.1002/ajpa.23324. ISSN 0002-9483.
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