Dagger as an important attribute of the Dagestan military culture

Omarov Abdulkadyr Isaevich, Magomedov Ruslan Muhumaevich

This article attempts to show the significance and role of the dagger as an essential element of the Dagestan military culture. A certain place is occupied by the analysis of the socio-psychological, sacred aspects of the use of the dagger during the period of hostilities, the role of the dagger in the daily life of the Dagestanis. In addition, factual material is provided that allows us to consider the geography and centers for making daggers on the territory of Dagestan, to characterize the activities of the gunsmiths who worked in these centers. On the basis of materials from the funds of the Derbent Museum-Reserve, various types of daggers that were used on the territory of Dagestan are considered, the value judgments of the Russian military about the Caucasian edged weapons in general, and the Dagestan dagger in particular, are given. A review of major exhibitions where the works of Dagestan daggermakers were exhibited allows us to get a certain idea of ​​the degree of popularity of the production of the considered type of edged weapons, to reveal its significance not only in the everyday life of the mountain peoples, but also its exhibition, ceremonial and demonstration level, the degree of art of Dagestan gunsmiths.

Keywords:dagger, dagger, gunsmiths, weapons centers, dagger-kama, dagger-bebut, attribute, Dagestan military culture, Derbent Museum-Reserve.