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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, 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

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Part of a series on
Georgians ქართველები
The Kartvelian people
Nation
Georgia
Ancient Kartvelian people
Colchians Iberians
Subgroups
Adjarians Dvals Imeretians Gurians Tushetians Kakhetians Ingiloy Lechkhumians Mingrelians Meskhetians Mtiuletians Mokheves Svans Rachians Pshavians Kartlians Khevsurians Javakhians
Culture
Music Media Sport Calligraphy Cinema Cuisine Dances Chokha Calendar Architecture Mythology
Languages
Writing system Dialects Grammar Sign language
Religion
Georgian Orthodox Church Christianity Catholic Church Islam Judaism Saint George Saint Nino
Symbols
St George's Cross Grapevine cross Bolnisi cross Borjgali
History of Georgia
v t e

The Svans are usually identified with the Saani 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

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• Ilia Topuria (born 1997), UFC Featherweight Champion
• 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

References

1. ^ Project, Joshua. "Svanetian, Mushwan in Georgia". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
2. ^ "Svan/Udi/Tsova-Tush - DOBES". Retrieved 18 August 2017.
3. Stephen F. Jones. Svans. World Culture Encyclopedia. Retrieved on March 13, 2011: «The Svans are one of the dozen or so traditionally recognized ethnic subgroups within the Georgian (Kartvelian) nation.»
4. The Svans Kevin Tuite Université de Montréal 1992: «The Svans are one of the dozen or so traditionally recognized ethnic subgroups within the Georgian (Kartvelian) nation.»
5. Britannica. Caucasian peoples: «The Caucasian peoples ... The southerners, comprising the Georgians, the closely related Mingrelians and Laz, and the Svan, make up the Republic of Georgia and live in western Transcaucasia (the Laz live in Turkish territory).»
6. R. Wixman. The Peoples of the USSR: An Ethnographic Handbook (p.181): «Svan ... The Svanetians are one of the Kartvelian peoples of the Georgian SSR»
7. Levinson, David. Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1998. p 35
8. "Демоскоп Weekly - Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей". demoscope.ru. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
9. History of Georgian Mountein Regions / R. Topchishvili. Available at The National Parliamentary Library of Georgia
10. Tuite, Kevin. "Svan and its speakers" (PDF). Université de Montréal. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022. Up to the 19th century, many Svans were monolingual,
11. Yardumian, Aram; Shengelia, Ramaz; Chitanava, David; et al. (2017). "Genetic diversity in S vaneti and its implications for the human settlement of the H ighland C aucasus". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 164 (4): 837–852. doi:10.1002/ajpa.23324. ISSN 0002-9483.

External links

v t e Ethnographic subgroups of Georgians
Ethnic Georgians	Adjarians Gurians Heretians Imeretians Imerkhevians Ingiloys Javakhians Kakhetians Kartlians Khevsurians Lazs Lechkhumians Meskhetians Mingrelians Mokheves Mtiuletians Pshavians Rachians Svans Tushetians
See Also: Ethnic groups in the Caucasus

v t e Ethnic groups in the Caucasus
Caucasian (areal)	Kartvelian Georgians Adjarians Dvals Gurians Imerkhevians Ingiloys Javakhians Kakhetians Meskhetians Colchians/Zans Lazs Mingrelians Svans Northeast (Caspian) Avar–Andic Andis Akhvakhs Avars Bagvalals Botlikhs Chamalals Godoberis Karatas Tindis Lezgic Aguls Archin Budukhs Jeks Kryts Lezgins Rutuls Tabasarans Tsakhurs Udis Nakh Bats Chechens Kists Aukhs Ingush Tsezic (Didoic) Bezhtas Hinukhs Hunzibs Khwarshis Tsez Others Dargins (Kaitags) Khinalugs Laks Northwest (Pontic) Abazins Abkhazians Sadz Circassians Abzakhs Adygeans Besleneys Bzhedugs Chemirgoys Cherkess Kabardians Natukhajs Shapsugs Ubykhs
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Turkic	Kipchaks Balkars Karachays Kumyks Nogais Oghuz Turks Azerbaijanis Ayrums Karadaghis Shahsevan Bayats Karapapakhs Küresünni Meskhetian Turks
Others	Assyrians in Armenia in Georgia Jews Abkhaz Jews Armenian Jews Azerbaijani Jews Georgian Jews Mountain Jews Kalmyks
Ethnic minorities in Armenia Ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan Ethnic minorities in Georgia Ethnic minorities in Russia

v t e Eastern Christianity
Cultural area of Christian traditions that developed since Early Christianity in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, North and East Africa, Asia Minor, South India, and parts of the Far East.
Main divisions	Communions Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Churches Eastern Catholic Churches Assyrian Church of the East Ancient Church of the East Independent Churches/Communions Old Believers Spiritual Christianity True Orthodox churches Tolstoyans Protestantism Eastern Protestantism	Christ Pantocrator (circa 1261) in Hagia Sophia
History	Christianization of Armenia Christianization of Georgia Roman Empire/Byzantine Empire Copts Proto-orthodoxy Ecumenical council Heresies Nestorianism Iconoclasm Paulicianism Bogomilism Church of the East China Sichuan India Mongols Oriental Orthodox Churches Council of Chalcedon Saint Thomas Christians/Malankara Church Arab Christians Antiochian Greek Christians Melkite Ghassanids Christianization of Bulgaria Christianization of Kievan Rus' Turkic Christians Eastern Orthodox Church East–West Schism Raskol Moscow–Constantinople schisms 15th–16th centuries schism 1996 schism 2018 schism
Scriptures	Canon Old Testament New Testament Deuterocanon Septuagint Peshitta
Theology	Hesychasm Icon Apophaticism Filioque clause Miaphysitism Dyophysitism Nestorianism Theosis Theoria Phronema Philokalia Praxis Theotokos Hypostasis Ousia Essence–energies distinction Metousiosis
Worship	Sign of the cross Divine Liturgy Iconography Asceticism Omophorion

• Ethnic groups in Georgia (country)
• Svaneti