 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Svans" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(July 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 Distribution of the Svan language in relation to other Kartvelian (South Caucasian) languages. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| c. 14,000[1]–80,000[2] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Georgia | 14,000[1]–30,000[2] |
| Languages | |
| Svan,Georgian | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly†Eastern Orthodox Christianity (Georgian Orthodox Church) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Georgians,Laz andMingrelians | |
TheSvans (Svan:შვანარ,Shvanar;Georgian:სვანი,Svani) are an ethnic subgroup of theGeorgians (Kartvelians)[3][4][5][6][7] living mostly inSvaneti, a region in northwestGeorgia. They speak theSvan language and are mostly bilingual also inGeorgian. Both these languages belong to theKartvelian (South Caucasian) language family. In the pre-1930 Soviet census, the Svans were categorized as a separate ethnic group (natsionalnost).[8] The self-designation of the Svan isMushüan, which is probably reflected in the ethnonymMisimian of the Classical authors.[9]
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(July 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
.jpg)
| Part of a series on |
| Georgians ქართველები |
|---|
 The Kartvelian people |
| Nation |
| Georgia |
| Ancient Kartvelian people |
| Subgroups |
| Culture |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Symbols |
| History of Georgia |
The Svans are usually identified with theSaani mentioned byGreekgeographerStrabo, who placed them more or less in the area still occupied by the modern-day Svans.[citation needed]
In the Russian Empire and early Soviet UnionMingrelians and Svans had their own census grouping, but were classified under the broader category of Georgian in the 1930s. They areGeorgian Orthodox Christians, and were Christianized in the 4th–6th centuries. However, some remnants of pre-Christian beliefs have been maintained.Saint George (known asJgëræg to the locals), apatron saint ofGeorgia, is the most respected saint. The Svans have retained many of their old traditions, includingblood 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.
Typically bilingual, they use bothGeorgian and their own, unwrittenSvan language. Prior to the 19th century, many Svans were monolingual, only knowing the Svan language.[10]
The most commonY-chromosomal haplogroup among the Svans isG2a (90%), in the second place is the Y-chromosomal haplogroupR1a (5%), in the third place is the Y-chromosomal haplogroupJ2a1 (about 3%). Among mitochondrial haplogroupsH (17.9%),K (15.8%),W6 (13%),T (9.24%),U1 (7.61%),X2 (6, 52%),U2 (5.98%) are common haplogroups.[11]
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(July 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Up to the 19th century, many Svans were monolingual,
| Caucasian (areal) |
|  | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indo- European |
| |||||||||||||||||
| Turkic |
| |||||||||||||||||
| Others | ||||||||||||||||||
Cultural area ofChristian traditions that developed sinceEarly Christianity in theMiddle East,Eastern Europe,North andEast Africa,Asia Minor,South India, and parts of theFar East. | ||||||||
| Main divisions |
| |||||||
| History |
| |||||||
| Scriptures | ||||||||
| Theology | ||||||||
| Worship | ||||||||
