Svans

E9015

Svans are a distinct subethnic group of Georgians known for their unique Svan language, highland culture, and traditional communities in the Svaneti region of the Caucasus.

Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Svanuri ena 1

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf ethnic group
subethnic group
alsoSpeak Georgian language
country Georgia
culturalRegion Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti
surface form: Lower Svaneti

Svaneti
surface form: Upper Svaneti
cultureType highland culture
ethnicRelation related to Laz
related to Mingrelians
related to other Kartvelian peoples
ethnonymLanguage English
haveDistinctCostume yes
haveDistinctCustoms yes
historicalLifestyle clan-based society
historicalReputation fierce mountain warriors
relative isolation from lowlands
knownFor Svan language
polyphonic singing
tower-house architecture
traditional blood-feud customs (historically)
languageBranch Svan language
surface form: Svan (Northwest Kartvelian)
languageEndangermentStatus endangered (Svan language)
languageFamily Kartvelian languages
languageStatus unwritten or minimally written language
locatedIn Caucasus
mainReligionDenomination Georgian Orthodox Church
modernCitizenship citizens of Georgia
musicTradition Georgian polyphony
nativeName Svaneti
surface form: სვანები
nativeNameLanguage Georgian
partOfState Kingdom of Georgia
surface form: Kingdom of Georgia (historically)
populationTrend declining in highland villages due to migration
primaryLanguage Svan language
religion Eastern Orthodox Christianity
pre-Christian folk beliefs (syncretic)
subgroupOf Georgians
traditionalArchitecture medieval stone towers (Svan towers)
traditionalEconomy cattle breeding
horse breeding
mountain agriculture
pastoralism
sheep herding
traditionalHabitat Lesser Caucasus
surface form: Greater Caucasus Mountains

northwestern Georgia
traditionalRegion Svaneti
traditionalSettlementType mountain villages
UNESCOWorldHeritageContext Svaneti
surface form: Upper Svaneti cultural landscape
useWritingSystemForLiturgy Georgian script

Referenced by (12)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Laz people ethnicRelation Svans
Georgians ethnicSubgroup Svans
Kartvelebi ethnicSubgroup Svans
this entity surface form: Svanuri ena
subject surface form: Upper Svaneti
subject surface form: Western Georgia
subject surface form: Mestia
Imeretians relatedGroup Svans
Kartlians relatedGroup Svans