Study of orolatry among the peoples of Dagestan and the North Caucasus: a historiographical review

The article, based on the historical-typological, chronological and systemic methods of historical science, provides a historiographic review of pre-revolutionary, Soviet and modern historical and ethnographic sources and literature on the orolatry of the peoples of Dagestan and the North Caucasus. Orolatry (mountain cult) is one of the earliest forms of religious belief, dating back to the nature cult of primitive society. In the Caucasus, orolatry was regional in nature and has always been a focus of research. According to the author, the reason why a single cult center of orolatry did not emerge in the Caucasus, but only regional centers, was its fragmented state in ethnopolitical terms into feudal holdings and unions of free societies.
If the pre-revolutionary historiography of the mountain cult was descriptive in nature, then the description of orolatry by Soviet and modern authors was conceptual in nature – they clarified the content of this category and defined the types of its manifestations. The study of the mountain cult in Dagestan and the North Caucasus was carried out by D.N. Anuchin, B.K. Dalgat, G.F. Chursin, M.A. Aglarov, B.A. Krylov, and others. A particularly significant contribution to the study of orolatry was made by Soviet and Russian ethnologists L.Ya. Sternberg, L.P. Potapov, I.L. Kyzlasov, V.N. Toporov, and S.A. Tokarev. The survival of this early form of religion in Soviet and modern times can be explained by its importance in the system of mental values ​​of the population of the North Caucasus within the framework of the confession of “folk Islam” and “folk Christianity” in this region. Considering the importance of studying the everyday functioning of religion in the era of globalization, further research into orolatry among the peoples of the North Caucasus has research prospects in Russian Caucasian studies.

1. AGLAROV M.A. Yаzycheskoe svyatilishche na vershine gory Bahargan (k izucheniyu obshchinnyh i regional'nyh kul'tov v Dagestane) [Pagan sanctuary on the top of Mount Bakhargan (towards the study of communal and regional cults in Dagestan)]. In: Mifologiya narodov Dagestana: sbornik statej. – Makhachkala: Institute of History, Language and Literature Dag. branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1984. – Pp. 36–42. (In Russ.).

2. AGLAROV M.A. Iz verovanij narodov Zapadnogo Dagestana (bozhestvo CIob) [From the beliefs of the peoples of Western Dagestan (the deity TsIob)]. In: Problemy mifologii i verovanij narodov Dagestana: sbornik statej. – Mahachkala: Institut IYAL Dag. filiala AN SSSR, 1988. – S. 67–71. Makhachkala: Institute of History, Language and Literature Dag. branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1988. – pp. 67–71. (In Russ.).

3. AMIRHANOV H.A. Severnyj Kavkaz: nachalo preistorii [North Caucasus: the beginning of prehistory]. – Makhachkala: Publishing house «Mavraev», 2016. – 344 p. (In Russ.).

4. ANUCHIN D.N. Otchet o poezdke v Dagestan letom 1882 goda, sovershennoj pri sodejstvii Imperatorskogo Russkogo geograficheskogo obshchestva [Report on a trip to Dagestan in the summer of 1882, undertaken with the assistance of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society]. – SPb.: type. A.S. Suvorin, 1884. – 93 p. (In Russ.).

5. BAHTIN M.M. Tvorchestvo Fransua Rable i narodnaya kul'tura srednevekov'ya i Renessansa [The works of François Rabelais and the popular culture of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance]. – M.: Fiction, 1965. – 500 p. (In Russ.).

6. BULATOV A.O. Perezhitki domonoteisticheskih verovanij narodov Dagestana v XIX – nachale XX v. [Remnants of pre-monotheistic beliefs of the peoples of Dagestan in the 19th – early 20th centuries]. – Makhachkala: Dagestan Book Publishing House. 1990. – 266 p. (In Russ.).

7. BULATOV B.B., LUGUEV S.A. Duhovnaya kul'tura narodov Dagestana v XVIII–XIX vv. (avarcy, dargincy, lakcy) [Spiritual culture of the peoples of Dagestan in the 18th–19th centuries. (Avars, Dargins, Laks)]. – Makhachkala: Institute of AE DSC RAS, 1999. – 220 p. (In Russ.).

8. BULATOVA A.G. Lakcy: Istoriko-etnograficheskoe issledovanie (XIX – nachalo XX v.) [Laks: Historical and Ethnographic Research (19th – early 20th centuries)]. – Makhachkala: Publishing house of the Dagestan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2000. – 387 p. (In Russ.).

9. VIRSALADZE E.B. Gruzinskij ohotnichij mif i poeziya [Georgian hunting myth and poetry]. – M.: Nauka, 1976. – 360 p. (In Russ.).

10. VOVK O.V. Znaki i simvoly v istorii civilizacii [Signs and symbols in the history of civilization]. – M.: “Veche”, 2005. – 383 p. (In Russ.).

11. GADZHIEV G.A. Doislamskie verovaniya i obryady narodov Nagornogo Dagestana [Pre-Islamic beliefs and rituals of the peoples of Nagorno-Dagestan]. – M.: Nauka, 1991. – 182 p. (In Russ.).

12. GOLAN A. Mif i simvol [Myth and symbol]. – M.: Russlit, 1993. – 375 p. (In Russ.).

13. DALGAT B.K. Pervobytnaya religiya chechencev i ingushej [Primitive religion of the Chechens and Ingush]. – M.: Nauka, 2004. – 240 p. (In Russ.).

14. ZOLOTARYOV A.M. Perezhitki totemizma u narodov Sibiri [Remnants of totemism among the peoples of Siberia]. – L.: Publishing house of the Institute of Peoples of the North of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR, 1934. – 52 p. (In Russ.).

15. ISMAILOV G.I. Tatuirovki dagestanskih zhenshchin: u poroga tajny [Dagestani Women's Tattoos: On the Threshold of Mystery]. – Makhachkala: Publishing house «Dagpress Media», 2011. – 188 p. (In Russ.).

16. IHILOV M.M. Narodnosti lezginskoj gruppy: Etnograficheskoe issledovanie proshlogo i nastoyashchego lezgin, tabasarancev, rutulov, cahurov, agulov [Peoples of the Lezgin group: An ethnographic study of the past and present of the Lezgins, Tabasarans, Rutuls, Tsakhurs, and Aguls]. – Makhachkala, 1967. – 369 p. (In Russ.).

17. KRYLOV A.B. Religiya i tradicii abhazov (po materialam polevyh issledovanij 1994–2000 gg.) / Otv. red. R.G. Landa [Religion and Traditions of the Abkhazians (based on field research from 1994–2000) / Ed. R.G. Landa]. – M.: Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, 2001. – 405 p. (In Russ.).

18. KUEK A.S. Otrazhenie kul'ta gory i kamnya v adygskoj mifologii [Reflection of the cult of the mountain and stone in Adyghe mythology]. In: Vestnik Adygejskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta [Bulletin of Adyghe State University]. – 2012. – Issue 1 (96). – P. 42–47. (In Russ.).

19. KUPER DZH. Enciklopediya simvolov [Encyclopedia of Symbols]. – M.: «Golden Age», 1995. – 401 p. (In Russ.).

20. KYZLASOV I.L. Gora-praroditel'nica v fol'klore hakasov [The Progenitor Mountain in Khakass folklore]. In: Sovetskaya etnografiya [Soviet ethnography]. – 1982. – No 2. – P. 83–92. (In Russ.).

21. L.Z. 1875 – L. 3. Poezdka g. Bekkera po YUzhnomu Dagestanu [Mr. Becker's trip to Southern Dagestan]. In: Sbornik svedenij o kavkazskih gorcah. – Tiflis, 1875. – Issue 9. – Section 4. – Pp. 30–51. (In Russ.).

22. LUGUEV S.A., MAGOMEDOV D.M. Didojcy (cezy). XIX – nach. XX v.: Istoriko-etnograficheskoe issledovanie [Didoians (Tsezians). 19th – early 20th centuries: Historical and ethnographic research]. – Makhachkala: Institute of AE DSC RAS, 2000. – 206 p. (In Russ.).

23. LYAUSHEVA S.A. Svyashchennoe v religioznom soznanii adygov [The sacred in the religious consciousness of the Adyghe]. In: Mir kul'tury adygov (problemy evolyucii i celostnosti) / Sost. i nauch. red. R.A. Hanahu. – Maykop: GURIPP «Adygeya», 2002. – P. 139–146. (In Russ.).

24. MEGRELIDZE I.V. Arheologicheskie nahodki v Dido [Archaeological finds at Dido]. In: Sovetskaya arheologiya. – 1951. – No 16. – P. 281–291. (In Russ.).

25. POTAPOV L.P. Kul't gor na Altae [Mountain cult in Altai]. In: Sovetskaya etnografiya. – 1946. – No 2. – P. 145–160. (In Russ.).

26. RABINOVICH E.G. Boginya-mat' [Mother Goddess]. In: Mify narodov mira: Enciklopediya. V 2-h t. 2-e izd. / Gl. red. S.A. Tokarev. – M.: Russian Encyclopedia, 1994. – V. 1. – P. 178–180. (In Russ.).

27. RAMAZANOVA Z.B. Etnoekologicheskaya kul'tura narodov Dagestana (XIX – nachalo XX v.) [Ethnoecological culture of the peoples of Dagestan (19th – early 20th centuries)]. – Makhachkala: Institute of AE DFIC RAS; Aleph, 2022. – 280 p. (In Russ.).

28. SEFERBEKOV M.R. Orolatriya v Dagestane: peshchera «Dyurh» [Orolatry in Dagestan: the Dyurkh Cave]. In: Vestnik Dagestanskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. – 2014. – No 4. – P. 181–186. (In Russ.).

29. SEFERBEKOV M.R. Kul't gor u narodov Kavkaza [Mountain cult among the peoples of the Caucasus]. In: Vestnik Dagestanskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. – 2015. – No 4. – P. 24–31. (In Russ.).

30. SEFERBEKOV M.R. Notes on Mountain Cults in Dagestan. In: Iran and the Caucasus. – Leiden: Boston: BRILL, 2016. – No 20. – P. 215–218. (In Eng.).

31. SEFERBEKOV M.R., MAGOMEDOV M.A. Iz mifologii, fol'klora i obryadovoj kul'tury didojcev: sinkretizm tradicionnyh verovanij i islama [From the mythology, folklore and ritual culture of the Dido people: syncretism of traditional beliefs and Islam]. In: Islamovedenie. – 2016. – No 1. – P. 67–80. (In Russ.).

32. SEFERBEKOV M.R. Kul't gor u narodov Dagestana: vidy i formy proyavleniya [Mountain cult among the peoples of Dagestan: types and forms of manifestation]. In: Lavrovskij sbornik: Materialy XL Sredneaziatsko-Kavkazskih chtenij 2016 g. Etnologiya, istoriya, arheologiya, kul'turologiya / Otv. red. M.S-G. Albogachieva, M.E. Rezvan. – SPb.: MAE RAS, 2017. – P. 193–202. (In Russ.).

33. SEFERBEKOV M.R. «Holm vlasti»: k interpretacii odnogo sakral'nogo lokusa dargincev federacii Akusha-Dargo [«The Hill of Power»: Towards an Interpretation of a Sacred Locus of the Dargins of the Akusha-Dargo Federation]. In: Istoriya, arheologiya i etnografiya Kavkaza. – 2024. – T. 20. – No 4. – P. 899–907. (In Russ.).

34. SEFERBEKOV M.R. Orolatriya v Dagestane: kul'turnoe soderzhanie i proyavleniya [Orolatry in Dagestan: cultural content and manifestations]. In: XVI Kongress antropologov i etnologov Rossii (g. Perm', 02–06 iyulya 2025 g.): Tezisy dokladov. – St. Petersburg: Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2025. – P. 70–71. (In Russ.).

35. SYRTYNOVA S.-H.D. Toponimiya sakral'nyh ob"ektov Bajkal'skogo regiona [Toponymy of sacred sites in the Baikal region]. In: Etnograficheskoe obozrenie. – 2008. – No 4. – P. 141–146. (In Russ.).

36. TAJLOR E.B. Pervobytnaya kul'tura / Per. s angl. D.A. Koropchevskogo, predisl. i prim. A.I. Pershica [Primitive Culture / Translated from English by D.A. Koropchevsky, foreword and notes by A.I. Pershits]. – M.: Politizdat, 1989. – 573 p. (In Russ.).

37. TAJMAZOV A.I. Ajnikab 1: stoyanka oldovana na Severo-Vostochnom Kavkaze [Aynikab 1: An Oldowan site in the Northeastern Caucasus]. – Makhachkala: Mavraev Publishing House, 2021. – 288 p. (In Russ.).

38. TOKAREV S.A. O kul'te gor i ego meste v religii [On the cult of mountains and its place in religion]. In: Sovetskaya etnografiya. – 1982. – No 3. – P. 107–113. (In Russ.).

39. TOKAREV S.A. Posleslovie [Afterword]. In: Frazer D.D. The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion / Translated from English by M.K. Ryklin. – Moscow: Politizdat, 1980. –Pp. 794–804. (In Russ.).

40. TOKAREV S.A. Rannie formy religii [Early forms of religion]. – M.: Publishing house of political literature, 1990. – 623 p. (In Russ.).

41. TOPOROV V.N. Gora [Mountain]. In: Mify narodov mira: Enciklopediya. V 2-h t. 2-e izd. / Gl. red. S.A. Tokarev. – M.: Russian Encyclopedia, 1994. – Vol. 1. – P. 311–315. (In Russ.).

42. TOPOROV V.N. Drevo mirovoe [World tree]. In: Mify narodov mira: Enciklopediya. V 2-h t. / Gl. red. S.A. Tokarev. – M.: Russian Encyclopedia, 1994. – Vol. 1. – P. 398–406. (In Russ.).

43. FREZER D.D. Zolotaya vetv': Issledovanie magii i religii / Per. s angl. M. K. Ryklina [The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion / Translated from English by M. K. Ryklin]. – M.: Politizdat, 1980. – 832 p. (In Russ.).

44. HALIDOVA M.R. Mifologicheskij i istoricheskij epos narodov Dagestana [Mythological and historical epic of the peoples of Dagestan]. – Makhachkala: Institute of Nuclear Languages, Dagestan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1992. – 275 p. (In Russ.).

45. CHURSIN G.F. Amulety i talismany kavkazskih narodov [Amulets and talismans of the Caucasian peoples]. – Makhach-Kala: Publishing House of the Association of North Caucasian Mountain Local History Organizations, 1929. – 64 p. (In Russ.).

46. CHURSIN G.F. Materialy po etnografii Abhazii [Materials on the ethnography of Abkhazia]. – Sukhumi: Abkhaz State Publishing House, 1957. – 265 p. (In Russ.).

47. CHURSIN G.F. Avary: Etnograficheskij ocherk. 1928 g. / Nauch. red. R.I. Seferbekov [Avars: Ethnographic essay. 1928 / Scientific editor R.I. Seferbekov]. – Makhachkala: Institute of AE DSC RAS, 1995. – 92 p. (In Russ.).

48. SHAHNOVICH M.I. Issledovanie sovetskoj naukoj problem proiskhozhdeniya religii i ee rannih form [The study of the origins of religion and its early forms by Soviet science]. In: Voprosy nauchnogo ateizma [Questions of scientific atheism]. – M.: Izd-vo «Mysl'», 1967. – T. 4. – S. 242–266. (In Russ.).

49. SHTERNBERG L.YA. Pervobytnaya religiya v svete etnografii: Issledovaniya, stat'i, lekcii / Pod red. i s predisl. YA.P. Al'kora [Primitive Religion in Light of Ethnography: Research, Articles, Lectures / Edited and with a preface by Ya. P. Alcor]. – L.: Publishing house of the Institute of the Peoples of the North, 1936. – 572 p. (In Russ.).

50. ELIADE MIRCHA. Svyashchennoe i mirskoe / Per. s fr., predisl. i komment. N.K. Garbovskogo [The Sacred and the Profane / Translated from French, foreword and commentary by N.K. Garbovsky]. – M.: Moscow State University Publishing House, 1994. – 144 p. (In Russ.).