This tale, therefore, depicts an ancient view of the world as dichotomized into benevolent and hostile forces, much as in the later Zoroastrianism, with the benevolent ones living in man’s midst and the hostile ones removed to dangerous, uninhabitable zones.  It is the supreme role of the hero, whether titan or mortal, to assert control and possession over the necessary benevolent powers.

What is remarkable is that this myth has survived as a living and elaborate tale among the Circassians down to the present day, more than two thousand years after it was codified by the peoples of ancient Greece and India and one thousand years after it was written down by Norsemen, who had recently been converted to Christianity from their paganism.  This is only one tale showing parallels with other mythic traditions of Eurasia.  The Circassian Nart sagas show many more.  Further work on this invaluable oral treasure should shed light upon many aspects of Eurasian mythology and history.

A professor of anthropology at McMaster University, John Colarusso has published articles and books on linguistic theory, Caucasian languages, and comparative mythology. He is currently preparing two volumes of Nart saga translations and commentaries, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Colarusso was aided in this translation by Rashid Dahabsu and Hisa Torkacho, Cirassians born in the Caucasus who now live in New Jersey.