Last modified: 2005-02-19 by ivan sache
Keywords: south ossetia | ossetia | snow lion | secessionist | coat of arms: south ossetia |
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![[South Ossetian flag]](../images/g/ge-so.gif)
by Ivan Sache
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Status: Self-proclaimed independence from Georgia, which whom conflict continues.
Despite their loyalty to the Soviet state, Communist
divide-and-rule policies dictated the division of Ossetians lands
into two regions. A North Ossetian Autonomous
Region was created in 1924, two years after a
South Ossetian Autonomous Region. To
further complicate matters (as it was surely intended to), North
Ossetia was part of Russia and South Ossetia part of Georgia.
This ethnic time-bomb duly exploded when Georgia became a separate
state. Ossetians in South Ossetia, desiring union with their kinsmen
in the north, declared their republic a part of Russia rather than
Georgia in 1989. A year later (Georgia having abolished the
autonomous status of the region) South Ossetia declared independence
and armed conflict, which has still not been resolved, erupted.
The Ossetians are said to be descendents of the Sarmatians, a Central
Asiatic people who migrated westwards into the region in the VIIth
century BC.
Stuart Notholt, 5 October1995
The historical homeland of Ossetian people is and can be only so
called North Ossetia or simply Ossetia (local name Alania).
There are almost inaccessible mountains on its south (higher than
Mont Blanc) and it is quite impossible for a people to form on both
slopes of such range.
Only about a few centuries ago, some tribes of Ossetians, pursued by
their stronger Muslim neighbours, began to move through Caucasus
range, looking for a safer place.
Historically, there has never been some Ossetian state. The territory
of present-day South Ossetia always belonged to Georgia and in many
conquests always shared the fate of neighbouring Georgian
territories. Before Bolshevik revolution in Russia nobody used the
term 'South Ossetia' and it was always regarded as part of Kartli,
one of main historical regions of Georgia. However, the Georgian
population in that hostile mountain territory was sparse, so
Ossetians who had no choice became the majority there during the
XIXth and XXth centuries. This was the reason to proclame first an
autonomous region and then, after the collapse of USSR, a
republic.
But, in any case, it was not some kind of deliberate decision
'intended to complicate matters' and create inter-ethnic tensions or
example of 'divide-and-rule policies' simply because there was
nothing to divide.
Alexander Morozov, 6 May 1999
The flag of South Ossetia has similar colours to North Ossetian, but different proportions. Red is said to stand for military virtue; white for intelligence and the spiritual life of the nation; and yellow for the well-being of the people.
Stuart Notholt, 5 October 1995
The flag was prescribed by the Constitution of 26 November 1990 (article 155) and confirmed by the Regulation on the National Flag of 30 March 1992.
Victor Lomantsov, 12 October 2002
![[Arms of South Ossetia]](../images/g/ge)so.gif)
by Nozomi Kariyasu & Ivan Sache
Click on the arms to see a larger image.
On a red round escutcheon a golden snow leopard with black spots, walking on a golden ground, behind it seven silver mountains. A white border, black ornaments around all, inwards black marginal inscriptions "Republic of South Ossetia" in Cyrillic letters РЕСПУБЛИКА ЮЖНАЯ ОСЕТИЯ (Russian, top) and РЕСПУБЛИКӔ ХУССАР ИРБІСТОН (Ossetian, beneath), between the two inscriptions a round emblem consisting of three segments in the colours silver, yellow and red (counterclockwise). The inscriptions and the ornament are separated by a thin circle.
Source: 19 May 1999, Folder 'State symbols of the Republic South Ossetia' issued by the Government of the Republic South Ossetia on 19 May 1999 - German version forwarded by Nozomi Kariyasu and translated by Marcus Schmöger, 13 July 2002
The coat of arms is identical, except the inscription, to the one of
North Ossetia.
It was designed by the Georgian scientist Prince Vakhushti Bagrationi in 1735. Its original copy is held in the Georgian Manuscripts Collection in Tbilisi.
David Gigauri, 13 July 2004
Former coat of arms of South Ossetia
The arms of the independent government of South Ossetia headed by President Ludvig Chibirov are shown on Soslan Tabuev's website, with the following description:
According to the ancient Ossetic myths (Nartian epos) all those
things were given by God to the Narts,the legendary forefathers of
the Ossetians since ancient times.
Hop is a symbol of finding the eternity.
Ears of wheat stand for peace and prosperity.
The word Wasamonga translates from Ossetic as "Teaching the holy". In the Nartian epos (Narty Kadgita) the Wasamonga cup proclaimed truth and exposed lies. The cup (for every Ossete) is the symbol of Justice and Equality of all before the laws of morality.
These colors are the national colors of Ossetia and are on the flag of both South and North parts of the land.
Chris Kretowicz, 27 March 2001