From K. Z. Chokayev Our Language - Our History, pp. 170-172. Translated from Chechen.
This myth was written down in 1940 in Zumsa by Ahmad Suleimanov from an old man whose name was Gela.
Note. Pkharmat and Pkhari (Pkhäri) are two variants of the same name. In another version of this myth, he is called Pkharmat. In the version below, his name is Pkhari (Pkhäri), but two times he is called Pkharmat.
Long time ago, it was very cold on the earth. People's life was difficult. They did not have fire. Sela [god of fire] had all the fire. Narth-Orstkhois are our ancestors. Narth-Orstkhois were tall people. They did not have any tools. However, they had consciousness and mind.
At that time, there lived a Nart whose name was Pkhari. He made bows, he made arrows, he made tools to soften leather. He was the most kind and strong. Pkhari had a good horse. It was called Turpal.
Pkhari put on warm clothes, took armor and told Narths: "I am going in order to bring you fire from Sela's hearth. Do not worry about me." Narths said: "Let your way be good!" They gave Pkhari oil, coal, and combs. "If Sela pursues you, scatter coal on the road, and there will be dark night between you and Sela. If Sela passes through the night, pour oil, and there will be mud between you two. Let your arm be like of a duck, let your leg be like of a stallion."
Seven days and seven nights Pkhari has been on his way. Pkhari passed through seven gorges and seven mountains. He reached Mount Bashlam [Mount Kazbek]. He rode on Mount Bashlam on his horse. There were beautiful herbs and flowers on this mountain. A white bird came to Pkhari. It spoke our language: "What are you doing, where are you going?"
"I am going in order to take a smoldering log from Sela's hearth. Help me, white bird," asked Pkhari.
"I will help you. However, you are in a danger. It is hard to argue with Sela. Sela is ruthless. Make your ear four times more sensitive, make your eye four times more clear!" told white bird Sela-Sata [goddess; the word "selasat" means "oriole"]. "Approaching Sela, stretch your arm to the hearth unnoticed!" "My arm is like of a duck, my leg is like of a stallion, my eye is clear like of a wolf, my ear is sensitive like of a deer!" replied Pkhari.
Sela-Sata said: "Let your horse Turpal strike its hoof and rush like a big cloud to Sela's favorite hearth. Slow it down and turn to the fire. Then, you will be able to stretch your arm to the hearth..." said bird Sela-Sata.
As the white bird Sela-Sata advised, Nart Pkhari's horse stroke its hoof and rushed like a big cloud. Having reached Sela's hearth, Pkhari slowed it down. Then, it stamped its hooves near the fire and ran like a big cloud. When it jumped high, Pkhari took a smoldering log with his hand. Horse Turpal ran swifter than wind.
Sela heard noise and woke up. He woke falcon Ida that fulfilled his errands, Uzha that had sickle-like teeth and one eye, and dragon Sarmak that spewed fire out of its mouth. Sela sent them to catch riding Pkhari.
Turpal said: "Someone follows me. Look who it is." "Uzha is reaching us!" replied Pkhari.
"Throw your comb," said Turpal. Pkhari threw his comb. A thick forest grew before Uzhu. Uzha stayed in the middle of the forest.
Turpal said again: "Look behind. I hear loud noise." Looking behind, Pkhari saw that Sarmak was reaching them.
"Pour your oil!" said Turpal.
Pkhari poured his oil. Mud appeared on Sarmak's way. The dragon got stuck in the mud.
"I hear loud noise behind me, like of splitting sky. Look what it is!" Looking behind, Pkhari saw that huge falcon Ida was reaching them.
"Huge dragon Ida is reaching us!" said Nart Pkhari. "Scatter your coal!" said Turpal.
Nart Pkhari scattered coal from his hands.
Dark night, like a wall that cannot be passed through, stood before the falcon. Ida became blind and stopped.
Sela got angry.
Sela threw smoldering logs to the courage Nart who stole fire from his hearth.
It seemed that sky burst, earth shook, and mountains crashed. White bird Sela-Sata was flying before the courage Nart and horse Turpal. Pkhari's body was not harmed and his horse's body was not harmed when Sela threw his smoldering logs and Pkhari threw himself to the ground.
Sela got angry even more. Then, he untied his sack with dark night. It became so dark that Pkharmat did not see ears of his horse and Turpal could not see even its reins. White bird Sela-Sata flied in front of them and showed them the way by her wonderful singing. Sela saw that dark night was unable to stop Pkharmat and his horse. Then, he untied his other sack with cold. Wind, cold and dark night together tried to stop and catch Nart Pkhari and his horse Turpal. They were unable to catch and stop courage Nart Pkhari and his horse Turpal.
"Do not come back to sky! Let sky not be calm for you!" Sela-Sata did not come back to sky.
Uzha that has a cup-like eye and sickle-like teeth, with chains took Pkhari to the summit of Mount Bashlam and put there. He gathered all the ice, snow, and cold there. Narts are unable to release Pkhari because they cannot approach him. Being angry at Pkhari that he stole fire, Sela ordered dragon to lie around Pkhari. The falcon tortures him. It has black wing, steel beak and steel talons.
It sits down on Pkhari's knees.
"Do you surrender, being defeated? Do you repent for what you have done?" asks falcon Ida.
"I do not surrender and am not defeated. I took a smoldering log from Sela's hearth for the sake of people. I do not repent for what I have done!" - replies Pkhari.
Ida wounds Pkhari with its beck in the most painful place. After that, it asks again:
"Do you surrender, being defeated? Do you repent for what you have done?" Pkhari answers in the same way as the first time.
Ida makes a bigger wound at Pkharmat's body. Ida wounds Pkhari's liver. Pkhari is said to suffer this way. He is said to suffer without groaning and without tears. Pkhari's horse Turpal is said to stand on this Baslam, being exhausted. It does not eat and does not drink.
Bird Sela-Sata is said to be very sad. It comes to Pkhari and sings its beautiful songs for him.
It is not white now, but yellow, red, black, blue because when Pkhari was caring a smoldering log from the sky, Sela threw smoldering logs that singed it.
Sela was once frightened, very frightened that people took fire.
The one who frightened him is honorable.
The one who frightened him for our sake is Pkhari. He is Pkharmat.
(This variant is different from Chechen variants and is influenced by Islam. It has some similarity with the myth about Amiran.)
Satanic jinns took away fire from the earth, locked it in a cave in a mountain, and put a heavy stone there. People began to freeze and die. Beasts stopped fearing people, people became their victims. Then, Pkharmat went to the mountain, took the stone away, and returned fire to people. Because of that, jinns chained Pkharmat to the mountain. A huge bird with an iron beak came to him. It tore away the hero's side and pecked his liver, causing him terrible pain. Pkharmat strived and his chains clattered. Ingushs stormed the mountain several times in order to release their hero. However, jinns made a thick fog in order to make our people to lose their way. Pkharmat's wounds ached and he suffered from thirst. The hero's fiancée Toi went to the mountain and took her dog Pursha. She almost reached the mountain top. Suddenly, she saw that the water in the ladle "slept." When somebody sees "sleeping" water, his desire will be fulfilled. Toi asked: "Let the three of us (Pkharmat, I, and Pursha) become stones so that my beloved would not suffer." It happened so. There, Pharmat is lying on his back, Toi is standing at the left, and Pursh is sitting at her feet. At the holy Friday night, they become living. There were people who heard how Toi called her beloved one, how Pkharmat's chains clattered, and then how Pursha barked three times.
From K. Z. Chokayev Our Language - Our History, pp. 55-57. Translated from Chechen.
For a long time, it has been known that the Greek dramatist Aeschylus in his tragedy Prometheus used a narrative which there is in our [Chechen and Ingush] folklore.
Bats I. Tsiskarov told this narrative in 1847 in Tiflis [Tbilisi] in newspaper Caucasus in his article Pictures of Tushetia.
V. Svetlov in 1886 published in St. Petersburg Seven Sons of Snowstorm, telling Ingush legend that contains this narrative. On the basis of this work, Ingush writer Said Chahkiyev wrote his highly artistic poem Cup of Tears. In this work, Chahkiyev told Prometheus' narrative in highly qualified way.
Comparing this poem to the famous in the whole world work Bound Prometheus, we can find many similar traits.
1. In both works main heroes Greek Prometheus and Ingush Kurka resist gods (Zeus and Sela) and help people: Prometheus brings fire, Kurka brings water, bread, and rams.
2. Because of it, Sela (Greek Zeus) chained both heroes to the top of the mountain. They both were chained to a mountain in the Caucasus. Besides that, in both legends events are going on in a similar way.
In 1966, director of Urus-Martan secondary school Ahmed Suleimanov gave us two legends Pkhari and Pkharmat which he wrote down in 1937-1940 in Zumsa and Itum-Kale.
Both legends have similar contents and can be called two variants of the same legend. Their contents is following.
In ancient times, there were Narts. They did not have fire. There was a Nart among them whose name was Pkharmat (in another version Pkhari). He was upset and was thinking how to do good to Narts, how to bring them fire. However, fire was possessed by evil and cruel Sela and he did not give it to anyone.
Once, Pkharmat rode a horse in order to take Sela's fire. Narts' mother Sela-Sata was Sela's beloved one. She helped Pkharmat to steel fire from Sela's hearth. Learning about it, Sela sent a dragon after Pkharmat. However, it lost energy and left behind. Then, Sela made a black night in order to make Pkharmat to lose his way, but it did not happen. Sela made a snowstorm. However, Pkharmat went on until he reached the goal. Pkharmat brought fire to people. However, Sela punished Pkharmat. He tied him with iron chains to the main top of Bashlam. Sela gathered all the cold around him. A dragon lies around him in order to watch him. Bird Ida pecks his liver with it beck. Every day when it is going to peck, it asks Pkharmat: "Have you repented for what you did?" However, Pkharmat does not repent. Then Ida pecks his liver. This is legend about Pkharmat.
The contents of this legend is extremely close to the Greek myth about Prometheus. In these two works there are many similar details. They are:
1. The hero goes to take fire. 2. The possessor of fire is evil and cruel god of sky and lightnings Sela (Greek Zeus). 3. The hero is tied to the top of one of Caucasus mountains with chains. 4. His punishment is that a bird becks his liver, and so on.
Moreover, we made a research that indicated a hypothetic possibility that: 1) in the Greek variant of the legend god's name is Zeus, in the Wainakh variant god's name is Sela; they are similar and may have the same origin; 2) Greek Prometheus and Wainakh [Chechen and Ingush] Pkharmat (Pkhari) may have the same origin.
In folklores of other Caucasus nations (Georgians, Kabardians, Abhazs, Ossetins, Armenians, and others), there are legends about Prometheus. However, unlike the contents of Wainakh legends, their contents is not so close to the contents of the Greek legend. Legends of some nations (some Georgian and Armenian variants) do not mention fire. The hero harms people. In the beginning, he is strong, but then becomes powerless.
Nevertheless, for a long time, scientists, for example, M. Talpa, M. Chikovanis, S. Nutsubidze, and others say that Greeks borrowed this legend from our nations' folklores. M. Chikovanis and S. Nutsubidze say that they borrowed from Georgians. M. Talpa says that they borrowed from Kabardins. N. Y. Marr and V. Miller do not specify.
Scientists do not know when Wainakh legends about Prometheus came to existence. However, there is a possibility that the Greek myth originates from Wainkh folklore because the contents of the Greek myth is very similar. Materials support this our opinion regardless of our desire.
Here, there is a question: how and when Greeks borrowed this our legend?
First of all, in the ancient times, distant ancestors of Wainakhs and other Caucasus nations lived in Asia Minor. It is known that Greeks also lived there. Here, it is remarkable that Hesiod was the first one who wrote down the Greek myth, and his father was from Asia Minor.
Moreover, when Greeks came to Balkan peninsula, Pelasgians and Leleges lived there. They were nations, close to Caucasus nations.
Also, we know that there were Greek colonies in Caucasus. Their scientists and writers studied history of many Caucasus nations and culture of many regions where they traveled. Geographer and historian Strabo wrote about many Caucasus nations. His mother was from Caucasus. Later, he was there himself.
Moreover, as we already said, scientists found that the Greek language had words from Caucasus language, Greek culture and philosophy were related to Caucasus ones.
Let us remember that academician N. Y. Marr wrote: "In Greek, words such as "soul," "brother," "sea" are Japhetic (that is, Caucasian). Names of Greek gods, heroes, villages, rivers, and mountains are Japhetic." Moreover, Marr said that name Prometheus used to be name of god of fire in Caucasus.
A group of scientists wrote a paper where they state that Greek culture and philosophy were related to Caucasus ones. This is very important.
So, our folklore is related to the world folklore.
In one of the posts in this blog, I wrote that many Caucasian people have myths similar to the Greek myth of Prometheus. After learning more about these myths, I came to conclusion that, basically, there are four different myths which have some versions:
1. The myth about Sosruko (Circassian or Adyg version), Sasrykva (Abhaz version), Sosuruk (Karachai and Balkar version), and Soslan (Ossetian version). I translated the myth about Sosruko (Circassian version). Other versions are quite similar. According to this myth, when Sosruko's brothers were frozen, he shot into a star and it fell down. Then, he found a camp-fire and brought smoldering log to his brothers. However, before he did that, he had to kill a giant. This myth does not say anything about Sosruko being chained.
2. The myth about Amiran (Bats version), Amirani (Georgian version), and Abrskil (Abhaz version). I translated the myth about Amiran (Bats version). This version is not complete because Bats people do not have written language. Their language is close to Chechen and Ingush and they originally were a part of Vainakh nation. However, they moved to Georgia and are now losing their language, living among Georgians. I chose Bats version because it is very ancient and was not influenced by Christianity like Georgian versions. According to the Bats version, Amiran was chained because he took away a girl in order to marry her. This version does not say that he brought fire. He was chained in a cave of Speroza, a mountain in Tushetia, the region of Georgia where Bats people live. Not only God, but also people hate Amiran. Thus, Amiran rebelled against God, but did not do anything good to people. Georgian versions of the myth of Amirani were very much influenced by Christianity. They mention that he brought fire to people and also say about his being chained in a cave in a mountain. Abhaz myth about Abrskil does not say that he brought fire, but it says that he helped his nation. According to this myth, Abrskil was chained in a cave in Abhazia. Thus, Abrskil is identified with Amirani.
3. Myth about Nasren (or Nasren-zhache) and Bataraz (Circassian or Adyg myth). I translated this myth. I just found another English translation of this myth. Both Nasren and Bataraz rebelled against god Pako who stole fire from people. Nasren tried to bring it back, but was chained. Bataraz released him and brought fire back to people. Nasren was chained on Elbrus (Oshkhomakho) which is near the border of of historical Circassia.
4. Myth about Pkharmat (Chechen myth). I translated this myth also. Pkharmat rebelled against god Sela. He took fire from him and brought to people. Due to that, Sela caused troubles to people. In order to release them, Pkharmat willingly came to Sela to be punished. Pkharmat was chained on Kazbek (Bashlam) which is near Chechnya. He suffered silently and never agreed to repent of his action.
The myths about Sosruko, Nasren and Bataraz, and Pkharmat are parts of Nart epic literature. Many people of the Northern Caucasus have myths about Narts who are described as giants and strong people and are considered to be ancestors of modern inhabitants of the Northern Caucasus. Modern Circassians highly appreciate Sosruko and he is depicted in the national emblem of the Republic of Adyghea (shown in the picture), one of the Circassian territories in Russia. Pkharmat (shown in the picture above) is depicted practically in the same way as Sosruko. The myth about Amiran/Amirani/Abrskil is not included into Nart epics.
Among all these myths, the myth about Nasren and Bataraz and the myth about Pkharmat are the most close to the Greek one. Nasren was released, but Pkharmat was not. In my opinion, the myth about Pkharmat has the highest level of morality. Pkharmat's intention was to help people. He was willing to suffer for people. He never regretted and suffered silently. So, to me, this is the most inspiring myth.
In Alzan gorge, near Tbatani, there is a mountain in the middle. There water from Badz pass joins river Alazan. Sakorn pass ends with a high rocky mountain. This mountain slopes are covered by forest and its top is rocky. Rams are unable to graze there and they are not driven there. This mountain is for mountain beasts: mountain goats and chamoises. At the end of this mountain, there is a small deep dip (a pass). From here, a rocky summit begins. It was not destroyed yet. This rocky summit is called Speroza summit.
There is a folk legend that at this summit a god tied ancient legendary Amiran with a chain. People hated him. Near him, a dog was left. This dog licks the chain in order to make it thinner and eventually to break it and release Amiran. The dog was there many years and licked the chain with its tongue.
However, in the weak of Easter, on Good Friday, blacksmiths make a feast. People eat only herb food. Entering the smithy, they just hit with a hammer against an anvil one time. Amiran's chain which is ready to break becomes new again. Amiran hates blacksmiths. If he were able to release himself, he would destroy them.
Amiran is said to have been a strong man. He did not leave anything unfinished. And he fought against monsters. There are songs about him among the mountain peoples.
Amiran made off with a girl. He was dragging her, but walking slowly. The girl knew that her parents followed them. They would start a battle and kill one another. She tells Amiran: "Amiran, go, go faster. You are said to have strong legs. Otherwise, my relatives will come and initiate a bitter war."
Amiran heard what the girl said, but did not listen. He replied, having peaceful heart: "Wait, girl Batsale. I will not run in the end of the way. I am not a she-duck to be caught by a hawk. I am not a trout to be caught by a fishing net. I am not a leaf of a tree to be taken away be a wind. I am sufficient for your relatives together with Bardit and Usup. If nothing works, I will test my head."
Girl's relatives caught Amiran. There was a war. Girl's father was wounded. However, the girl was following Amiran and was not looking at her relatives.
Her father was worried. He said: "Look at the girl who prefers her husband over her parents." He said: "Why did your mother raise you and lulled you to sleep?" The girl replied to her father: "My mother did not raise me and did not lull me to sleep. I was thrown to the wall. I lied down after I embraced father. When I began to cry, mother told me from a distance, Sleep."
There were many such things about Amiran in the ancient times.
At the foot of Speroza, at Didgvirg side, there is a big cave. It is said that in the ancient times, wild people lived there. After they died, there was beasts' winter dwelling place there. A hunter went there and stayed for night because the weather was nasty. This cave is called Kharebo cave. Kharbao took away somebody's wife and lived there.
From I. D. Tsiskarov Pictures of Tushetia, 1846 Russian text
From this side, there is an amazingly formed mountain called Amiran mountain which spontaneously attracts your sight. Tushins [Bats people] and some inhabitants of Kakhetia have a legend that in this mountain famous captive was imprisoned for some action against the Creator of the universe. Aborigines say that he is tied with iron chains which are angrily gnawed by his two faithful dogs. On the day of New Year, the only day when the doors of his mysterious habitation are open, the chains, gnawed by the dogs, are going to be teared. He tried to get a huge sword, lying nearby, and touches it with his finger ends.
"May God forbid it," story-tellers say. "Otherwise, the world would collapse!"
However, blacksmiths hit three times with hammers against iron and the chains get restored and regain their original strength.
It is not hard to recognize that this legend is a corrupted Greek myth about Prometheus or maybe Greeks adopted it from Caucasus people. Nearby, there is another mountain which is called Kite mountain. Probably, it is called after the kite who had to torment Prometheus' chest.
Amiran mountain is one of the most gloomy and most pyramidal mountains in the whole Caucasus. It is located at the edge of the deepest Tsiblon gorge and covered with rocks and pine-trees. It serves as a nest for huge eagles, a shelter for mountain goats, deer, and severe bears, and a trap for hunters. In spite of all the dangers, very agile they climb the steepnesses and often many pay a high price for their courage.
From M. Tabidze, B. Shavkheleshvili Reflection of the Sources of Historical Friendship in the Language and Its Motivation (in Folklore and Literature of Georgians and Vainaks) Russian text
When old people tell this legend, they try to expressively describe the place where Amiran was chained: "On the left side of our Speroza mountain, in front of the cave, there is a small glade. There Amiran was chained." It is interesting that Amiran's appearance is similar to the appearance of Tushins [Bats people] themselves. For example, the description of his eyes: "black eyes like tar", "falcon's look", "he slept with open eyes", etc.; the description of his physical strength: "he was able to lift a horse with one finger", "he was strong like a hyena", "his stature was like an old oak", "his shoulders were like raven's wings", "when he walked, the earth moaned", etc.
The dog that licks master's chain is of Caucasian guarding breed. It is large, has white shining hair, small bending tail (it is cut off at birth), and pricked up small ears. Its faithfulness to its master is manifested not only in its attempts to release him from chains, but also in its care for him: it brings water, food,and prevents all possible dangers. However, the most important thing is that it is able to think, that is, it experiences and analyzes its every step and ongoing events as a human being: "he is probably thirsty", "how shall I help him?", etc.
Translated from Narts. Kabardian Epic Literature, 1951 Russian text
Narts are riding in a campaign,
Narts are riding forward,
In order to avenge their enemies,
In order to crush the army of Chints.
They are riding for battle through steppes,
But they decided
Not to take Sosruko with them.
Terrible frost catches
Narts on their way.
How can they go forward?
Every horseman is attached
To this frozen earth.
And he trembles on his saddle
In these Kuma steppes.
World is in icy chains.
Woe to Narts' warriors,
Woe to Narts' horses!
Frost increased,
Man's strength decreased.
Old Narts are crying
In Kuma steppes.
On their eyes, there is snow,
In their voices, there is anger:
"Hey, Imys, do you have fire?"
"I do not have fire."
"Hey, Sosym, do you have fire?"
"No fire! No fire!"
"Hey, Khimish, do you have fire?"
"I do not have fire."
"Ashemez, do you have fire?"
"No fire! No fire!"
Bold Narts do not have fire.
Is it how they should go to champaigns?
Long-bearded Nasren
Told bold Narts:
"Our way became deadly,
We all will die in the wilderness:
Those who are old and those who are young.
Woe to Narts: deadly cold
Will kill us and make corpses!
We are so foolish, Narts.
Now, we will have a lesson:
We should have taken
Swarthy Sosruko with us,
The horseman whose name
Chints fear,
Whose footprints bring happiness,
Whose participation in battles
Releases from all the troubles,
Whose lance is ready for a battle
And paves a way to victory,
Whose high helmet shines
As our guiding star,
Whose noble bravery
Covers us like a chain-mail shirt,
Whose arrow fights against snowstorm,
Leads people away from trouble,
And finds a way in hard circumstances.
Brothers Narts, we made a mistake
That went without Sosruko!"
Bold Narts are upset:
They should have taken Sosruko!
Who is there in cold and fog
Appeared on a mound?
It is Sosruko coming:
Sosruko is where a danger is,
Where people need help!
On the stormy road,
Narts cried together:
"Hello, our terrifying warrior,
Our famous leader!
We are dying in frosty night.
Help us if you can.
If you can, kindle
Hot camp-fire as soon as possible!"
"I wish good luck to everyone,"
Replies Sosruko.
"Who saddles a horse to go
And rides to with wilderness without fire?"
I do not have even a little spark
Because I go without fire,
I do not fear cold.
Do not be upset, Narts,
I will get fire for you!"
He took an iron arrow
And shot it to a night star.
The night star fell down,
Scattering many sparks.
Horsemen praised Sosruko.
Narts stretched their arms
In order to get warm a little.
But their hearts were anxious again:
The star was put out soon
And melted in the wilderness.
Narts were upset again!
What shall Sosruko do?
Strong Sosruko decided
To release bold Narts
From their trouble.
Stubborn Sosruko sat down
On swift horse Tkhozhei.
Without fear, he rushed
To the top of Kharama.
Fearless Sosruko saw
Smoke that was coming out of
An ancient tower,
Spiraling and melting
And hiding in clouds.
He was happy that he saw smoke.
He came in a hidden way.
Sosruko saw
Seven barbed barriers.
This is Inyzh's home.
Sosruko came near
And saw high fire
Blazing inside of a circle.
One-eyed Inyzh
Was sleeping and snoring.
He was lying like a large circle:
His head was touching his knees.
He was enlightened by a smoldering log.
His mouth was open,
In it, a front tooth was missing.
And fire was still blazing
Inside of the large circle
And did not weaken even for a moment.
Sosruko asked
Tkhozhei as a friend:
"Narts need fire.
What shall we do, horse?"
The horse neighed seven times:
"Hey, warrior Sosruko,
Strong and handsome!
We will not go back,
But will come to Inyzh.
When we come near,
I will turn my swift horse's race
Into dog's pace.
When we come even more near,
I will not go like a dog,
I will sneak like a cat.
I was born from foam.
I will jump over walls
Of this ancient tower.
I will rear up
Over Inyzh without fear.
We will win without fight:
Bend to the fire
And take a smoldering log."
The horse, a constant adviser
Of daring Sosruko,
Rushed to the old tower.
When it came nearer,
It turned its swift horse's race
Into a dog's pace.
When it came even nearer,
It turned dog's pace
Into a cat's mild rustle.
When it reached the tower,
It rushed like a swift wind,
It leaped up like light dust
Over the ancient tower.
And fearless Sosruko
Bent to the fire
And took a smoldering log.
But he took it awkwardly:
A coal parted
And fell on Inyzh.
It burned his eyebrow,
His thick eyebrow was on fire.
The giant opened
His only eye.
He counted the smoldering logs.
One was missing.
Bold Nart with a smoldering log
Went far away.
The giant cried:
"Who robbed me?
Let my father punish
You, bitch's son!"
Inyzh did not get up,
But stretched his arms
And sticked them out of his tower.
He began to grope around.
He groped seven roads.
Sosruko rode
Seven days and nights,
But when he reached a river,
Tkhozhei was found
On Inyzh's hand!
The giant looked
At the one who dared
To go away with his smoldering log.
He saw that Sosruko was of steel.
Inyzh though:
"This small one is strong.
Although he is foolish,
He will substitute my missing tooth!"
Thus Sosruko found himself
In the giant's mouth.
Sosruko did not fear.
He took his lethal sword
And began to cut gums
Of the giant Inyzh.
The one-eyed giant
Could not bear strong pain.
He spitted Nart out.
Swarthy Sosruko
Was released!
Then, Inyzh said:
"Hey, small Nart,
The stealer of fire!
I have an enemy,
Swarthy Sosruko.
Answer quickly
Where is he, the son of Satanei,
Swarthy Sosruko?
Narts name Sosruko
As one of giants.
They say about him:
"He is stronger
All the horsemen on the earth.
Swarthy Sosruko
Is stronger than giants!"
Say quickly
Where is he, the son of Satanei,
Swarthy Sosruko?
Sosruko replied:
"At the mountain feet,
I am Narts' shepherd.
I did not see may things,
But I heard many things.
I did not see Sosruko,
But I heard about Sosruko.
I will not tell where he is,
But I will tell about him."
Inyzh replied:
"Since you, small Nart.
Were unable to tell me
Where Sosruko is,
Then, be able to show
How Sosruko plays!"
Sosruko gave a start,
Smiled, and said:
"There is no such a man
Among Narts who is able
To repeat Sosruko's games.
Narts believe that there is no
Giant who is able
To defeat Sosruko in games!"
The one-eyed got angry:
"Do not chatter, wimpish shepherd,
But begin to tell
About Sosruko's games!"
"I did not hear more pleasant
Game for Sosruko:
Our Sasruko Stands
At the mountain foot.
Narts throw a huge stone
From this mountain.
But steel Sosruko
Is a very strong man.
He pushes back the huge stone
With his forehead in flight!"
"Am I unable to do the same?
Come on, small shepherd,
Throw a stone from the mountain!"
Nart took a huge stone
And threw it from the mountain.
The giant catched the huge stone
With his forehead and pushed it with his forehead,
He returned it to the mountain top.
He said loudly: "Really,
This game is good!
After it, I want to eat,
But the work is good for the forehead:
It becomes stronger from blows!
I like this game,
But maybe you, shepherd, know
Harder game?"
Sosruko, where is your mind?
There is a trouble with the one-eyed one:
He does not die!
Sosruko leads
The giant farther.
He says to the giant:
"Narts say this way:
He whose name is Sosruko
Lies down on the ground
And opens his mouth.
People put arrows into his mouth.
Skillful Sosruko
Chews their ends.
He chews and laughs
And spits the ends out!"
"Fill my mouth with arrows.
I do not fear this work!"
The giant with a big mouth
Smiled and immediately
Lied down on the ground
And opened his big mouth.
Sosruko filled it
With arrows.
Evil Inyzh was not harmed
By the tricks of young Nart!
The giant chewed the ends
And spitted the arrows out.
He laughed at Sosruko:
"Small shepherd of Narts! Really,
This game is good:
It makes saliva fierce
And teeth very strong!
But maybe you, shepherd,
Know harder game?"
Sosruko, where is your mind?
There is a trouble with the one-eyed one:
He does not die!
Sosruko leads
The giant farther.
He says to the giant:
"He whose name is Sosruko
Takes pleasure
In this daring game:
In front of him, the bold one,
Narts put a pot.
They fill this huge pot
With lead.
They put it on the fire
And melt lead
Ten days and nights.
This is a game of strong men!
Well, Sosruko
Is praised among Narts not in vain!
He sits down into lead
That boils, that melts.
And he sits in the pot
Like a horseman on a saddle.
He waits when, eventually,
Lead hardens!"
"Am I unable to do that?"
Inyzh replied, yawning.
"I am willing to sit into the pot!"
Young Nart made fire
And put pot on the fire.
Ten days and nights passed
And lead melted in the pot.
The giant sat down into lead
And hardened with it.
But he made a strong jerk
And separated his body from lead.
The one-eyed one exclaimed:
"I am satisfied with my action.
My body became a hundred times stronger.
I want to have dinner!
I like your game,
But maybe, shepherd,
You know a harder game?
If you do not know, you will be in trouble:
I will amuse myself,
I will melt you alive!"
Sosruko, where is your mind?
There is a trouble with the one-eyed one:
He does not die!
Swarthy Sosruko
Begins this speech:
"Hey, two-sinewed and two-headed one,
Do not hurry to have dinner
In order that I will be able to tell
About the last game:
In the place where
Flows of all the seven seas
Reach deep ocean,
The one whose name is Sosruko
Sinks into the deep.
He does not touch the bottom with his feet
And he does not take water into his mouth.
Old Narts blow and blow
Seven days and nights.
They freeze the sea.
They freeze the swarthy Sosruko
In the sea.
He spends seven days and nights
In the deep, covered with ice.
He waits for the sunrise,
Straightens up his shoulders,
Breaks the ice, and goes out."
"Am I unable to do it!"
Replied the one-eyed one.
Nart brought him to the place
Where flows of the seven seas
Join and reach
The deep and terrible ocean.
Giant Inyzh
Sinked into the deep, trying
Not to touch the bottom with his feet
And not to choke with water.
Sosruko made cold
And froze the giant
In the deep of the ocean.
He held the giant in this deep
Seven nights and days
And then said: "Come out!"
The giant was not offended.
The one-eyed one strained
And moved his strong shoulders.
Thick ice was immediately broken.
"Wait!" cried Sosruko.
I did not bought all the frosts,
I did not sealed up all the cracks,
Ice is not strong enough yet!"
Nart blew and made snowstorms
And severe frost.
Flows of the seven seas
Were frozen!
Nart froze the giant
In the deep of the ocean.
He froze the water with thick ice.
He cried to the evil monster:
"Hey, Inyzh, try to release yourself
From icy captivity!"
The one-eyed one strained
And straightened his shoulders again.
He strained his strength angrily.
Veins swelled on his forehead.
His only eye winked.
It was too late: in this thick ice,
The one-eyed one was frozen!
Taking swift sword out,
Nart Sasruko thought:
"I have tied the enemy firmly.
Now, I can amuse my soul
And cut off the giant's head!"
However, severe Inyzh blew
And threw Sosruko away
To a long distance.
Sosruko came back,
Approached him from the back,
Stopped Inyzh on ice
In order to cut off Inyzh's head.
However, his two-edged sword was unable to do it.
It could not cut even one hair
Or make a small scratch!
The one-eyed shouted:
"If I had not been stupid,
I would have guessed immediately
That I saw Sosruko
By your thin legs
And by your smart games.
Inyzh is going to die!
Hey, steel Sosruko,
Nart warrior horseman!
Do not labor in vain.
You will not cut off my head,
You will only blunt your sword!
Better, go to upstairs
To my tower.
On the door of my tower,
You will see a strong sword.
You will glorify this sword:
You will cut off Inyzh's head!"
Sosruko turned his horse
And rode to the giant's tower.
"Is there slyness, deception,
Trap in Inyzh's speeches?"
Having thought this way,
Nart Sosruko opened the doors of the tower.
However, he did not enter the tower,
But threw a log.
Immediately, a strong sword
Fell down and drove into the log.
Sosruko bent
And took the sword at handle.
Sosruko with Inyzh's sword
Came back.
The giant saw him
And cried loudly:
"Hey, Sosruko, warrior horseman,
Steel Nart, handsome warrior!
I was at peace, I thought
That my sword would
Cut off your head,
That I would be delivered from you forever.
I see the sword in your hands.
Now, Inyzh is going to die.
If so, in my death,
Find pleasure, Nart.
Cut my head off quickly.
Pull out sinew from my neck.
Girdle yourself
And you will gain a giant's strength.
Then, no Nart
And no giant
Will be able to defeat you!"
Sosruko replied him:
"I came not to listen to your sea stories.
I came to kill you.
I came to get fire for Narts,
To rescue friends from death.
I do not need your sinew,
Full of poison.
Only man's strength
Is worthy to be praised on the earth!"
Having said this, Nart Sosruko
Cut off the giant's head.
He led his horse to the friends,
Having taken Inyzh's fire.
Because of frost and snowstorm,
Strong Narts and swift horses
Were frozen and attached themselves to one another.
They cried bitterly.
Sosruko reached the friends
And made hot fire.
He warmed horses and Narts.
Narts sweared in the wilderness:
"From now on, without Sosruko
We will go nowhere:
Neither to war campaigns nor to raids.
We swear in this forever!"
Nasren was an intelligent and noble leader. He comforted people in trouble and cheered them in feasts. He was an irrepressible and invincible Nart. However, he was hated by one enemy. Pako, god of evil, did not get along with Nasren. Pako hated Narts from the ancient times. He cursed Narts and burdened them. People had a time of sorrow. Pako sent thunders on their country. He bent oaks like vines. He lifted sea waves higher than sky. He robbed them of bread, millet, and barley. He flooded their land with unceasing rains. He make their fields dry by hot dry wind. Upset Narts told Pako: "The one who have authority, why do you torment us? You do not give us rest from frost and heat. You cause evil and sorrow in our native land."
When Pako had heard indignant speeches, He destroyed Narts' hearths. He quenched put out life-giving fire everywhere. He took away even coals. Poor Narts were deprived of fire. They told Nasren: "What shall we do? Our leader, deal with the evil one. We will die without fire and light." "Do not worry," replied long-bearded Nasren. "I will take away fire from evil Pako." He put on golden chain-mail shirt, Saddled the horse, and rode. He reached Oshkhomakho mountain And looked boldly to the mountain slope. A voice like a thunder sounded from the mountain summit, It sounded as if the sky was split, It was Pako speaking: "Hey, a tiny one, If you do not leave, I will kill you!"
The noble Nart replied from downstairs: "Hey, good, you are said to be kind! Why did you took away fire from Narts? We, earthly people, are dying with fire?"
"Go away, unwise Nart, I will not spare your foolish head! You, poor Narts, forgot about me. You do not give me what you owe at your earthly feasts. At the feast of harvest, you sit around three-legged tables And drink wine without me. You gather millet from the rich field, But do not give a portion to your god. When you come back from battle as a proud army, Who shares glory with me? Are you seeking a way to Oshkhomakho [mountain of happiness] In order to rebel against god? You will be punished today, rebel. I will chain up you on the top of the mountain. At the high mountain, you will be lonely, You will be my captive until your very death."
He tied iron chain around Nasren And firmly chained him to Oshkhomakho. Pako had an eagle, blood-thirsty predator. Gloating Pako released it. The eagles' wings are so big that gorge is not enough for them. The eagle is flying around like black snowstorm. The predator attacks the leader of Narts And tears his chest with its beak. It drinks blood from the heart of proud Nasren And fiercely pecks his liver with its beak.
Rivers and seas flows in the world, But there is no drop of water for Nasren. Under the mountain, there are fountains, But the captive wishes to drink a little water. He is thirsty there on Oshkhomakho. He is covered with ice. Heavy iron presses on his legs and arms. He groans because of bitter torments. Wind makes his groans heard at a long distance. Narts' hearts ache.
* * *
Narts gathered together for their council without their leader. They need to decide how to rescue him. Narts remember their former exploits, Their youth, their former strength. Here, there are Imys, Arykshu, and fervent Sosruko. They are thinking what they should do with the trouble and their enemy. They are considering. Pako threatens them. Severe Pako is threatening and invincible. Narts decided that the leader's daughter Will be the wife of the one who rescues her father. In addition, he will receive the best armor. This person will receive pleasure and joy. Everyone wishes that somebody would be willing to rescue Nasren. Everyone wishes that somebody would go to this fearful way.
No one is going. The fiancée is ashamed. "Let's go all together!" say Narts. Narts are going through mountains and gorges. They are seeing Oshkhomakho covered with ice. On the snow top, the leader suffers. There is a barrier between them, there is no road to him.
Pako sees Narts. He gathers his servants And sends them to gorges from the icy summits. The servants came down, they are near Narts, And in front of them, the eagle is flying in the sky. Whirlwinds moan in gorges. Snowstorm whirls stones and grass. The sky is covered by a flock of eagles. Their wings cover up the day light. It is dark like late at night. Predators peck Narts' heads. Narts cannot see anything and are dying. Nart Panuko is dying because an eagle tears him. Narts cannot see anything. Bold Badynoko Lost his horse because of darkness.
Survived Narts gathered together. Narts' blood is flowing to the gorge. Narts are riding in silence. They bowed their heads. There is sorrow in their native land. "Narts do not have fire because Pako took it away. We do not have the leader because he is dying in chains. Narts, what shall we do, where can we find rescue? We were unable to bring fire back to our hearths. We were unable to rescue wise Nasren. Narts, what shall we do? How shall we live?"
Then, fearless Bataraz said: "I will regain our fire. I promise you: our wise leader Will be with us again. I will rescue him." Bataraz saddled his horse Karaptsa, put on his warrior's clothes, And was riding as he used to ride. Here is Oshkhomakho. He stood at its foot. "Hey, god who shamed his god's title! Why are you hiding in the gorge as a coward? It is not hard to hide, but come out to fight! You took away fire from Narts And chained Narts' leader. I am Narts' messanger, I am their rescuer. I will deliver people from you, destroyer. If you are not a coward, do what I tell you. Let your greedy eagle come down from the summit."
The sky was darkened. Black darkness became thick. It was because the eagle came down from the mountain. When it waved with its wings, everything became dark around. Even the horse was frightened. "Hey, horse Karaptsa, What's wrong with you? Are you frightened by its wings? Or you have not seen a stronger enemy? Did not we have troubles? Are this whirlwinds new to you?" He beats Karaptsa three times with a belt And is going to shoot the eagle with an arrow.
At this moment, a dragon, hungry more than a wolf, Is coming down to them from the mountain top, And the eagle makes a whirlwind with its wings. The tired horse is unable to stand. "Karaptsa, why are you frightened? You were my faithful friend, but you became a coward now?" Bataraz again beats Karaptsa. It teared along to the sky. Bataraz began to fight against the eagle And continued the battle on the mountain ice. The eagle's wings made darkness, But Bataraz pierced a wing with his lance. Suddenly, it became light as if a window was open. The sun gave light through the eagle's wing. The sun began to shine to rocks and gorges. The eagle's voice was heard in the sky. Bold Bataraz pierced the eagle again with his lance. Nart defeated the mountain ruler.
He brought the predator on the lance to the mountain foot And cut off the eagle's head with his sword. Pako heard when the eagle cried before dying. Death's bodyguard also heard this cry. This bodyguard came down to Bataraz And was killed in severe battle. Death began to fight with the man, But the living Nart was not scared by Death. He killed Death by cutting her. Death groaned and fell down. Mountains were shaken at her fall. A bird flied above her like a black shadow.
Nart did many mighty acts at this day. A dragon was crawling and crushing everything on its way. Fearless Bataraz cut off the dragon's head With his shining sword. Bataraz on Karaptsa was rushing to the mountain top. Pako in fear left his place. Bataraz reached the chained Nart And cut off the chains with his lance. He cut off the chains and released The wise Nasren and brought him home.
At that day, there was fire in Narts' hearths. Narts had a feast and joyful noise. They cut rams and shared with shepherds. Narts drank sano [Narts' drink] with shepherds: all people were equal. At this day, Narts began to drink sano. Look at them: Narts are on horses. They play games and sing songs. There never have been a better feast. Ardent Sosruko granted his friend Bataraz His precious chain-mail shirt that he had worn. Narts praised and glorified Bataraz. Shepherds from far mountains came to the feast.
Old Vakva saw her son: "Did I not raise a giant for you!" Bataraz was given the first cup. He was cheerfully crowned with glory. Narts said many good words. They asked him to drink sano and told him: "Beloved Bataraz, invincible Nart, You restored our souls, you brought fire back. You released Nasren from the iron chains. You are our rescuer, you are our best friend." Bataraz thankfully drank the cup And said: "Let our fire be eternal!"
There was sano drinking and joy For forty days and nights. Far places heard clatter of horses. In the field, arrows were shot and reached the target. Narts let the wheal Zhan-Sherkh [mysterious wheel] down from the ancient mound And threw it upward. They called Bataraz the best Nart, They called him the best of men.
Chechen myth (translated from Chechen Tales collected and edited by Zulai Hamidova) Chechen and Russian texts This myth was written down in 1937 in Itum-Kale by Ahmad Suleimanov from Sulim Murtazaliyev.
May God do good to you, may you live long with good, may evil not come to you, may good come to you! I will tell you a tale, I will tell you a wonder. Make your ears attentive like ears of a deer, make your eyes attentive like eyes of a wolf!
It was a long time ago, when those icy mountains were higher than they are now, when there was no show and ice in their summits, but instead there were various flowers, good smelling grasses, when in the deep gorges and on the mountain slopes, there were snow and ice that never melted.
I will tell you since what time there is snow in that summit of Bashlam, I will tell you since what time in the fields and in mountain slopes, there are pleasant smelling grasses and various flowers.
In those times, our ancestors Nart-Orstkhos lived in deep gorges, high towers, and caves. They were very tall, like these mountains. Their horses also were large. Nart-Orstkhos were strong like bears, courageous like wolves, agile like tigers, and cunning like foxes. They could easily tear pieces from mountain rocks and throw them, they could make heavens tremble with their voices, but they still were powerless because they did not have fire.
However, mighty Sela (god of fire) was merciless and ruthless. He was the owner of the heavens and fire was his property. Why power is needed if it is useless for people? What is the use of power if people suffer because of it?
In order to demonstrate his power to Nart-Orstkhos, Sela would sit in fire chariots and drove above the heavens, making terrible noise as if the heaven was crushed and broken in pieces.
Wow! How he surprised people! Wow! How he terrified the earth!
Sela's heavenly dwelling place was always covered with black clouds. Sela filled clouds with rain and sent them to the earth. Rain like hail and ice fell on the earth, causing people even more sorrow and calamity. He shoot lightnings on the earth, using a bow made of rainbow and fire. Sela had authority over both good and evil.
Sela was generous to give evil, but mean to give good. People could hardly get good from him, but Sela himself gave evil. There was eternal enmity between the heavens and the earth! There was eternal fight between Sela and people!
The more Nart-Orstkhos were upset by sorrow and calamity, the more Sela was happy. The more Sela was happy, the more upset was Sata, Sela's beloved one and mother of Nart-Orstkhos. Sata very much wanted to help Nart-Orstkhos, but was afraid of Sela.
At that time, in the mountains, there lived a mighty Nart Pkharmat. Pkharmat was a very skillful blacksmith. He made swords, shields, and chain-mail shirts of cold bronze for Narts, asking only for a good word. Good word is very valuable in the mountains. Be happy! Be lucky! Be victorious! Be free! Pkharmat was a modest, generous, and strong Nart. He spoke little, but thought a lot. He thought how to help people, how to get fire. Sela did not give it. Since Pkharmat was born, he accumulated all the good human attributes: strength, dexterity, keen mind, knack, and patience.
His horse Turpal walked around freely in the mountains. "Horse becomes stronger when horse-man rides him, and man becomes stronger in labor and fight! Then, why does your Turpal always walk freely?" asked Narts. Pkharmat replied: "My horse is strong enough. There will be time when he takes a smoldering log from heavenly hearth!" Nart-Orstkhos sincerely laughed at Pkharmat's words. But Pkharmat thought how to help people.
Pkharmat called his Turpal. At of this cry, Argun's gorge thundered, mountains trembles, and mighty Sela woke up and turned to another side.
Turpal that was grazing far away in the mountains heard his master's call and neighed in reply. It cause waves of Argun to hide themselves in mountains and waters of Argun to pour out of their marble riverbanks. Animals in the mountains were frightened and stood still. Turpal came to his master with a speed of a lightning.
Pkharmat took a mace into his hands, attached a shield of bison leather to his elbow, hanged a bow on his neck, attached quiver filled with arrows at his side, put on a chain-mail shirts, attached a sword to his belt, and took a spear into his hand. He saddled his horse Turpal, drank a full horn of mountain goal filled with yay (Chechen national beer), saying: "Let a foot be stable as in tar, let a hand be stable as in dough." He sat on the horse and went to the place where nobody had gone and from where nobody had come back.
Nart-Orstkhos scattered millet on the road where Pkharmat was going to go in order that he would be lucky and they put a vessel filled with millet so that he would go light and empty and come back heavy and full! Pkharmat was riding for a long time. He was on the way seven days and seven nights. He passed through seven mountains and seven gorges. Eventually, he came to the foot of that highest mountain Bashlam that reaches the heavens where Sela lives. Pkharmat took a long and hard way, climbing to the top of the mountain. His way was through is hard slopes. On the top of the mountain, there were pleasantly smelling herbs, various flowers, and beautifully singing birds.
From time to time, sun-like Sata, Sela-Sata, Sela's beloved one and Nart-Orstkhos' mother came to the top of the mountain to rest. She took an image of a bird and came to Pkharmat. She spoke, using human language: "Hey, mighty Nart, you came to the top of Bashlam with some purpose." "This is right, generous bird, I came to the top of Bashlam with some purpose. I came to take smoldering log from the heavenly hearth and will not come back without it," - Pkharmat replied. "The one who has a good intention will be lucky. I will help you. Is your horse swift?" - Sela-Sata asked. "My horse is more swift than wind." "Is your horse strong?" "My horse is strong. Where it hits with its hoof, this place becomes a fountain." "Are you strong yourself?" "In my hands, cold bronze becomes softer than tar and wax," - Pkharmat replied to Sela-Sata.
Sela-Sata told Pkharmat how and in what way it is possible to come to Sela's hearth and how to take a smoldering log from it.
"Sela is sleeping now. Let your horse, running like a wind, jump over the hearth. At that time, bend down, take a smoldering log, and drive your horse to the top of Bashlam. Be careful! Sela is terrible and cruel! If he wakes up, you will not be able to come back alive and bring fire."
Pkharmat did as Sata advised him.
Pkharmat's horse swiftly jumped over Sela's hearth. At that moment, Pkharmat bent down, took a smoldering log from the hearth, and went to the top of Bashlam. Due to horse Turpal's swiftness, a fire tail followed Pkharmat. Sela woke up because some sparks got into his nostrils.
He saw a brave Nart bringing fire from heavens to the earth for people.
Sela got very frightened because he knew that if people got fire, they would become strong and brave and would try to rebel against him.
He started a terrible pursuit of a brave Nart.
Sela untied a sack with dark night. It became so dark that Pkharmat did not see his fingers and ears of his horse. Both Nart and his horse could not see anything. They could easily fall into precipice. However, wonderful bird Sela-Sata flied in front of them and showed them the way by her wonderful singing. Sela saw that dark night was unable to stop Pkharmat and his horse. So, he untied another sack with a terrible storm. Terrible storm and dark night were going to destroy brave Nart and his horse. However, the wonderful bird showed them the way by her beautiful singing.
The brave Nart saw that the storm was going to put out his smoldering log. Without hesitations, he hid the fire in his bosom. Due to strong wind, Argun's waters came out of their course. Large oaks were take out of the ground with their roots and were tossed in the sky like straw.
Sela saw that dark night and terrible storm could not stop Nart and his horse and that he was not damaged be his heavenly pursuit. So, Sela untied his third sack with coldest frost. The coldest frost caused rocks to crack, making terrible noise, and mountains to become smaller. However, fearless Nart Pkharmat and his horse Turpal moved on.
Sela was very frightened. He saw that the brave Nart and his horse were near the foot of Bashlam and that they were going to hide themselves in a cave. He took his bow made of fire and light and began to shoot lightnings toward Nart. The lightnings caused the mountains to tremble, frozen fountains to melt, and the waves of Argun to go to mountain slopes. High mountains trembled as if they were alive.
The strongest frost, the terrible storm, the dark night, and the lightnings could not stop or lead astray fearless Nart Pkharmat and his horse Turpal.
They entered the cave where Narts were waiting for them.
"Take it! Here is fire for you!" - Pkharmat said to amazed Nart-Orstkhos. "In every tower, in every cave, in every house, light fire! Let there be much fire, warm, and light in every home! Let there be happiness with you!"
At that time, there was a terrible noise. The heaven proclaimed eternal enmity toward the earth. In turn, people proclaimed about their eternal fight toward heaven.
"Be happy!" - the fearless Nart said again.
At that time, there was a terrible noise in the mountains because of heavenly thunder and lightnings.
"People, be happy! I have to undergo eternal torment! I will undergo torment in order to deliver you from Sela's anger! Do not be upset about me!"
Leaving the cave, the fearless Nart Pkharmat went to the mountain Bashlam through lightnings, cold, dark night, and storm. Above his head, there were lightnings, storm tossed him around, his arms and legs got stiff because of cold, dark night surrounded him. It was because Sela, being angry, expressed his malice.
Seeing the brave Nart Pkharmat who was going to the dome of heaven, to the top of Bashlam, Sela slowly put the storm, cold, and night into his sacks. Gradually, snow and ice were moving higher from the valleys, gorges, and mountain slopes to the top of Bashlam, following Pkharmat.
The summit of Bashlam got covered with snow and ice. It put a white, snowy cap on its head forever.
Sela shouted: "Let you eternally long for the fire that you brought out from the heavens. Let you eternally long for warm!"
Sela sent his faithful servant one-eyed Uzhu with bronze chains to Pkharmat.
One-eyed Uzhu tied Pkharmat to the icy summit of Bashlam with bronze chains. Sela cursed him. Since then, everything good is cursed by god, and everything cursed by god is approved by people! There is an eternal enmity between the heavens and the earth! There is eternal fight between people and Sela!
Every morning, the queen of all the birds Ida comes to the tied Pkharmat.
She sits on his knees and every time asks the same question: "Hey, miserable Pkharmat! Hey, pitiful Pkharmat! Do you repent for what you did? If you repent, I will not touch you. If you do not repent, I will peck your liver!"
In spite of the terrible torment that he is going to undergo, Pkharmat always gives the same answer: "No, no! I did not repent. I gave warm and light to people! I should not repent of a good action that I did."
Ida sharpens her steel beak with a rock and pecks Pkharmat's liver.
Nart Pkharmat does not utter a sound. His eyes never becomes wet. He undergoes this great torment and pain with a great courage and patience. Since this time, as Wainakhs [Chechens and Ingushs] say, Nart-Orstkho men never cry! Since this time, there is snow on the summit of Bashlam. Sela gathered all the snow and ice from valleys, gorges, and mountain slopes to the summit of Bashlam where Pkharmt is tied in order to increase his desire for warm and fire.
Since this time, it is warm in valleys, gorges, and mountain slopes. This warm is from the fire brought by Pkharmat from the heavens. Since this time, at the foot of the mountain and in valleys, there are pleasant smelling herbs and various flowers. Beautiful, wonderful birds live there. However, at the summit of Bashlam, there is cold, eternal storm, and never melting hard ice. Pkharmat is tied there. He will be in eternal torment. However, he will never die. He will live forever!
Probably, most people believe that the Greeks were the authors of the myth of Prometheus. However, many Caucasus nations have similar myths. According to the North Caucasus myths, Prometheus was chained either to Elbrus or to Kazbek - two of the highest mountains in Caucasus. According to the Greek myth, Prometheus was chained to a mountain in the Caucasus. This is quite remarkable. Greeks had their colonies around the Black Sea including the area of the Caucasus Black Sea coast. By now, scientists came to conclusion that Greeks borrowed this myth from Caucasus nations.
Many Caucasus nations have myths similar to the myth of Prometheus. Abhazs have a myth of Sasrykva. According to this myth, when Sasrykva's brothers were frozen, he shot into a star and it fell down. Then, he found a camp-fire and brought smoldering log to his brothers. However, before he did that, he had to kill a giant. Adygs have a myth about Sasruko. This myth is very similar to Abhazs' myth about Sasrykva. Karachais and Balkarians have a myth about Sosuruk which is also very similar to the myths about Sasrykva and Sasruko. However, neither of these myths says about sufferings for bringing fire to people.
Abhazs have a myth of Abrskil who rebelled against god and was chained, but he did not bring fire to people. Adygs have myths about Nasren-zhache and Bataraz. They both rebelled against god who stole fire from people. Nasren-zhache tried to bring it back, but was chained. Bataraz released him and brought fire back to people.
Georgian myth about Amirani is quite similar to Abhaz myth of Abrskil. In some versions of this myth, Amirani brought fire to people. However, unlike, the Greek myth, he was chained in a cave, not on the mountain.
Among the Caucasus versions of this myth, the version which is the most similar to the Greek version is the Chechen version. Even Chechen name for Prometheus is similar to the Greek one. In Greek, "Prometheus" means "prophet." The Chechen name for Prometheus is Pqharmat. This word is from Chechen "pqhar" which means "blacksmith" or "master". According to both Chechen and Greek versions, Prometheus was a blacksmith. There is a version that Pqharmat means "master of the land" or "master of the language." "Qh" is a sound missing in Greek and other European languages. Greeks usually dropped the sounds that they could not pronounce. "-eus" is a Greek ending. Greek "th" and Chechen "t" are pronounced in the same way. This means that the consonants in Chechen and Greek words for Prometheus are the same. In most languages, consonants are more stable than vowels. For example, English vowels were changed much more than consonants.
In the Greek version Prometheus eventually was released after he revealed the secret to Zeus as he demanded. In the Chechen version he has never agreed on Sela's conditions, was never released and is still suffering. In the Greek version, Prometheus complained and cursed Zeus. In the Chechen version, he kept silent and never complained. In addition, in the Chechen version, Pqharmat willingly came to Sela (Chechen god of fire, thunder, and lightning - equivalent of Zeus) in order to suffer. Chechens consider him as one of their ancestors.
What is the main idea of this myth? Some consider Prometheus as a symbol of scientific search. I do not think this is the main idea. When I was a child, I watched a performance on the Greek version of this myth. Zeus asked Prometheus, "Why did you do that?" His reply was, "I wanted to help people." The stress was made on this point. I believe this is correct. I think the main idea of this myth is altruism and self-sacrifice for other people.
When I was reading the Greek version, I was puzzled why Prometheus eventually revealed the secret to Zeus as Zeus demanded. I was not satisfied that he fulfilled the will of Zeus. In the Chechen version, Pqharmat did not fulfill Sela's will. He did not complain and did not curse anybody. He was willing to suffer. I definitely prefer the Chechen version of this myth and believe that this is the original version.
Pqharmat portrays some character traits which are highly appreciated in Chechen culture - altruism, independence, dignity, courage, and patience.
Long time ago, it was very cold on the earth. People's life was difficult. They did not have fire. Sela [god of fire] had all the fire. Narth-Orstkhois are our ancestors. Narth-Orstkhois were tall people. They did not have any tools. However, they had consciousness and mind.
