The Ossetians

The Ossetians is a small people of some 600 000 living mainly in the central part of the Caucasus mountain range. They are an an Indo-European ethnic group. They speak Ossetic, an Indo - European language. Physically, Ossetians were good-looking, slender, firm and strong. Blue eyes, fair and chestnut hair are frequent among ossetians; black hairs very rare, which are similar to Europeans. Today, The Ossetians mostly populate North Ossetia-Alania in Russia, and South Ossetia (part of Georgia). The Ossetians are mostly Christian followers, with a large Muslim minority.

The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania was part of the Russian SFSR. It is located in the northern Caucasus. The territory of North Ossetia - Alania covers 8,000 square kilometres.Vladikavkaz is the capital of North Ossetia-Alania. North Ossetia is a presidential republic. The Ossetian population of North Ossetia is predominantly Christian with a large Muslim minority, speaking Ossetic and Russian. Ossetians make up 62.7% of the republic's population.Then, Russians (23.2%), Ingush (3.0%), Armenians (2.4%), Kumyks (12,659, or 1.8%), Georgians (10,803, or 1.5%), Ukrainians (0.7%), and Chechens (3,383, or 0.5%). North Ossetia - Alania, definitely the most russified and secularised republic in Caucasus region.

While, South Ossetia is a region in the South Caucasus. South Ossetia is a part of Georgia. South Ossetia covers an area of about 3,900 km² on the southern side of the Caucasus, So, this region separated by the mountains from the more populous North Ossetia. Tskhinvali is the capital of South Ossetia. two-thirds of the population of South Ossetia was Ossetian and 25-30% was Georgian. Although South Ossetia is a part of Georgia, but more than 70% of the South Ossetia citizens had Russian citizenship.

The family is the greatest value for Ossetians, and relatives are the ones they can always rely on. Respect for parents is also very important; the parents' will must not be opposed, especially in matters such as marriage. There is also a clear division of roles within a family: a man earns the living and a woman keeps the house, cooks & cleans. In their tradition, the eldest son should live with his parents and take care of them as long as they live.

The Ossetians were reputed to be fierce warriors, both in their engagements against outside invaders and in internal fights against each other. Looting was a way of life, along with herding and cultivating the soil. They taught everybody to care about their honor and dignity more then about their life and death. An Ossetian was also very sensitive and intolerant to someone verbally offending his mother, sister, or wife. About 190 Ossetians were granted the highest military award of pre-revolutionary Russia, - the "St. George Cross".

By tradition, the Ossetians have had good relations with Russians and were regarded as loyal citizens. Thats why, Today, Russia has thrown its enthusiastic support behind the South Ossetia independence.