Abstract

In the abundance of epigraphic monuments and their historical and cultural significance, the ancient Aghul village of Richa stands out among other mountain villages and auls of Dagestan. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the study of Arabic inscriptions found in the village of Richa. More than twenty previously unknown inscriptions in various genres of epigraphy – construction, ownership and vital records, epitaphs and religious texts – have been for the first time introduced into modern linguistics. Notable among them are the most ancient monuments of Arabic Kufic writings, paleographically dated the XI-XII centuries, which testifies to the early popularization of Islam in Richa. In addition, the authors propose a new way of reading some of the Richa inscriptions that are already known to science. The presence of Kufic inscriptions on the walls of three mosques in Richa, as well as Naskh inscriptions dated 1242 on the walls of another mosque, suggest that mosques had existed in Richa even before the Mongols came here in 1239. Researchers have revealed the oldest dated epitaph in Richa (1300–01) in which the term alim (scholar) was used for the first time in the epigraphy of Dagestan. New valuable data have been obtained on the history of construction and reconstruction of Muslim places of worship, mausoleums, sanctuaries, and public buildings. Names of many local craftsmen, carvers and calligraphers have become known. The inscriptions contain valuable information on representatives of the medieval religious elites and Sufi figures. The rich social and professional terminology used in the newly identified Richa inscriptions is also of interest: sultan, shaykh, pir, murid, alim, qadi, ustad (usta), qatib, nakir, sahib, gulam, kavha. Translations of the texts are accompanied by scientific comments.

Highlights

  • Научное изучение эпиграфики Рича началось еще в 1848 г., когда в селении побывал российский востоковед Н.В

  • The aim of this paper is to present the results of the study of Arabic inscriptions found in the village of Richa

  • К тому же, нет полной уверенности и в том, что эта надпись была обнаружена именно в Рича55

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Summary

Introduction

Научное изучение эпиграфики Рича началось еще в 1848 г., когда в селении побывал российский востоковед Н.В. Что надпись не имеет даты, она уверенно датируется последней третью XVII в., поскольку профессиональный мастер-строитель Мухаммад, сын Касая из Рича упоминается в другой, уже датированной строительной надписи. Минарета в селении Хнов19 и в недатированной надписи (предположительно, XVII в.) о строительстве мечети в селении Хутхул20. Что строитель этого мавзолея ‘Али, сын ‘Умара принимал деятельное участие в работах по ремонту Джума-мечети Рича.

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