Vainakh religion

K. Sikhuralidze proposed that the peoples of the Caucasus region shared a single, regional culture in ancient times. Careful study of the Nakh and Kartvelian mythologies reveals many similarities. Jaimoukha (2005) adduces comparison with the Circassians, but also more generally with the Iron Age mythology of western Indo-European cultures, especially emphasizing parallels to Celtic polytheism, such as the worship of certain trees (including, notably, a pine tree on the winter solstice, supposedly related to the modern Christmas tree, reconstructed calendar festivals such as Halloween and Beltane, veneration of fire, and certain ghost related superstitions). ==Pantheon==

Jaimoukha (2005) on page 252 gives a list of reconstructed "Vainakh deities". • Dela (Chechen), Däl (Ingush), or Dala – The supreme god. Equivalent to Greek Zeus, Roman Jupiter, Germanic Wodan and Circassian Theshxwe. • Deela-Malkh – Sun-god and patron of cattle breeders. • Hela – God of darkness. • Seela or Sela – God of stars, thunder and lightning. • Sata or Sela Sata – either wife or daughter of Seela, according to different versions; a goddess of artisanship and especially female crafts, corresponding to Northwest Caucasian Satanaya. Her face is described as shining like the sun with beauty. She had a holy day, Tusholi's Day, on which women would bring offerings of the horns of red deer, bullets and candles to her sanctuary on Mount Deela T'e (which non-priests could enter only with the explicit permission of the priesthood and within which it was forbidden to fell her trees). Nowadays her day is considered "Children and Women's day." The hoopoe, known as "Tusholi's hen" was considered "her" bird and could not be hunted except with permission from the high priest and for strictly medicinal purposes. • Dartsa-Naana ("Blizzard mother") – Goddess of blizzards and avalanches. • Mokh-Naana – Goddess of the winds. • Mozh – Evil sister of the sun and moon. Mozh devoured all their other relatives in the sky, and now constantly chases her celestial siblings. Eclipses occur on the rare occasions when she catches up with them and takes them prisoner. Mozh will consent to release the sun and the moon only after it has been so requested by an innocent first-born girl. • Bolam-Deela – Not much is known about him/her. He/she may or may not have been equivalent to Deela-Malkh. • Khagya-Yerdi or Maetskhali – Lord of the rocks. • Mattir-Deela – Another little known deity. • '''P'eerska''' – (Friday) The keeper of time. == Supernatural creatures and heroes ==

• Pkharmat (), demi-god Nart who stole fire from the cruel god Sela. Equivalent of Greek Prometheus, and Georgian Amirani. He is also equivalent to the Circassian Pataraz. • Pkhagalberi tribe. Mythological dwarf race, Pkhagalberi translated as "Hare-riders". They were invulnerable to any kind of weapons their enemies the Narts had. ==See also==