Svans

This article is about a people in the Caucasus. For other uses, see Svans (disambiguation).

Svans
Svan: შვანარ shvanar
Georgian: სვანი svani

Distribution of the Svan language in relation to other Kartvelian (South Caucasian) languages.
Total population
c. 14,000–80,000
Regions with significant populations
Georgia	14,000–30,000
Languages
Svan, Georgian
Religion
Predominantly † Eastern Orthodox Christianity (Georgian Orthodox Church)
Related ethnic groups
Georgians, the Laz and Mingrelians

The Svans (Svan: შვანარ, Shvanar; Georgian: სვანი, Svani) are an ethnic subgroup of the Georgians (Kartvelians) living mostly in 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 (South Caucasian) language family. In the pre-1930 Soviet census, the Svans were categorized as a separate ethnic group (natsionalnost). The self-designation of the Svan is Mushüan, which is probably reflected in the ethnonym Misimian of the Classical authors.

History

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

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

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. 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. 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.

Language

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.

Genetics

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.

Famous Svans

• Temur Babluani (born 1948), film director, script writer, and actor
• Géla Babluani (born 1979), Georgian-French film director
• Mikheil Gelovani (1893–1956), actor who primarily portrayed Stalin
• Otar Ioseliani (1934–2023), film director in Georgia
• Mikheil Kurdiani (1954–2010), philologist, linguist, writer, poet and translator
• Sopho Gelovani (born 1984), singer
• Tariel Oniani (born 1952), mafia boss
• Yaroslav Iosseliani (1912–1978), Soviet Navy submarine commander
• Nana Ioseliani (born 1962), chess player
• Otia Ioseliani (1930–2011), Georgian writer
• Tengiz Kitovani (1938–2023), Georgian politician