Nart

Nart refers to a collective of legendary heroes in Caucasian folklore, central to the Nart sagas or Nart epic. The name and the roster of characters vary by language and tradition, but the core concept is a group of valorous figures said to have lived in the lands of the Narts. The tradition is largely oral and has been preserved in multiple Caucasian languages, including Ossetian, Circassian (Adyghe and Kabardian), Chechen, Ingush, and Abkhaz, with later written versions.

The sagas cover a wide range of themes, from the founding of settlements and clan feuds to battles with giants, monsters, and magical beings. They emphasize virtues such as courage, hospitality, loyalty, and cunning, and they weave in elements of metalwork, warfare, and mythic order. Episode details and character names differ by tradition, but figures such as Sosruko (in some traditions also rendered as Soslan), Batraz, and Uruzmag appear in various versions. The narratives often blend historical memory with legend, creating a shared Caucasian mythic landscape that spans several cultures.

Historically, the Nart cycle is among the oldest attested literary traditions of the Caucasus and is considered foundational to Circassian, Chechen, and Ingush oral literature, with significant Ossetian contributions. The material has influenced modern Caucasian literature, folklore studies, and national cultural revivals. Scholars study the cycle for its cross-cultural motifs, its reflection of social norms, and its preservation of pre-Islamic-era storytelling in the region.