Photos

  • Дзивгисская крепость. Photo 1
  • Дзивгисская крепость. Photo 2
  • Дзивгисская крепость. Photo 3
  • Дзивгисская крепость. Photo 4

Description

The Dzivgis rock (cave, pre-cave) fortress (in the Ossetian language - Dzyvgyisy gænakh) is a complex of defensive structures of varying degrees of preservation, located in the almost empty North Ossetian village of Dzivgis. The complex consists of six caves of various sizes, to which stone fortifications are attached. In total, six pre-cave residential towers have survived. The base for the rock dwellings in Dzivgis were natural depressions formed in the limestone rocks as a result of the influence of water and wind.

The fortifications, built from local stone and covered with dense vegetation, blend harmoniously into the surrounding landscape, creating the impression of a single whole with the “mother” mountain Kariu-hoch, despite their clearly artificial origin. The caves are framed by walls made of stone, held together with durable mortar. The buildings are located at different levels, but are in the same plane. Some caves could accommodate at least a hundred people.

According to legend, in the 16th century, Dzivgis fortifications prevented the Persian Shah Abbas I from entering the Kurtatin Gorge.

The main fortification, which is of considerable size, is located on the lower level; It is accessed via a stone staircase. All other buildings have passages from adjacent rock-cut paths and hanging ladders, which could be removed if necessary. In this regard, during the battle, communication between the fortifications was difficult, and each of them became an autonomous center of defense. The cave ends in a deep “pocket”, which ends in a dead end at an altitude of 65 meters.

In 1912, the complex was visited by a group of researchers, one of whom, Captain F. S. Pankratov (known under the pseudonym Grebenets), left notes about his observations.

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