The self-name of the Ingush “GIalgiai”, according to some researchers, is etymologized as a “builder”, “resident of towers”. This is confirmed by the ethnogenetic traditions of neighboring peoples, as well as the design features of architecture that emphasize the unity of their origin. Famous Caucasian scholars E.I. Krupnov, I.V. Shcheblykin, V.I. Morkovin believe that the ancestors of tower construction in the mountainous zone covering the territories of modern Ingushetia, Chechnya, North Ossetia and the mountainous part of Eastern Georgia are the Ingush ancestors.
The Ingushes called people who knew how to skillfully handle the stone, “togovzanche”, (literally, “knowing the tricks of the stone”). The secrets of construction skills were carefully stored in families and passed down from generation to generation. The builders had a special status in Ingush society, they did not fall even under blood feud, as they were considered especially significant for society people (mehknah). Building towers required high skill, experience, knowledge and technical skills.
Recognized and famous master builders of the Middle Ages were Yand from the villages. Erzi, Dugo Akhriev, Dyatsi Lyanov and Khazbi Tsurov from villages. Furtog, Baki Barkhanoev from the villages. Barkhane, Erda Dudarov from the villages. Upper Huli, Arsamak Evloev from the villages. Yovli, Hing Haniyev from the villages. Khani, Tet-Batyk Eldiyev from the villages. Targim, Barkinhoevs from the villages. Upper, Middle and Lower Ozdik.
The works of these masters amaze with their monumentality even now.
Among scientists there is no unity in the question of their dating, but presumably these architectural structures are attributed to the XIII-XIV centuries. The well-known Caucasian expert E.I. Krupnov wrote: “Ingush battle towers are in a true sense the pinnacle of architectural and construction skills of the ancient population of the region, they amaze with the simplicity of form, monumentality and strictness of the city.
grace. Battle towers of Ingushetia - high samples of engineering and construction art of that time
Various legends remained about the construction of many family towers, which are recorded in Ingush legends and legends. So, there is a legend about the construction of the tower, which was photographed in different angles by Yuri Karpov in 1989. Ingush legend says that Chur and his four sons lived in Jerakh. The brothers agreed to build a battle tower. They laid the cup and began to build the tower. The builder they hired was from Galgayev. He agreed to build a tower for sixty bulls and cows, who were three or four years old. The master built the tower,
He placed a final castle stone over her and said that he would not come down until he was given another cow over and above the agreed payment.
His request was granted, for if he had been kept on the tower for a long time, he might have weakened, fallen and broken. According to custom, in such cases, the owners were responsible for the deceased during construction and could be subjected to blood feud. Having received consent, the master demanded that everyone move to the other side of the gorge, and on this side left the cows laid for his work. The Master’s request was fulfilled and allowed him to leave in peace. It should be noted that only strong Ingush families had their own towers, so their construction was treated with all responsibility.
The construction of the tower had to be completed within one year, otherwise the clan was considered weak and lost respect in society.
Rich tower architecture of mountain Ingushetia and monuments of the pagan period. The sanctuary of Myattsili is located on top of the table mountain in the south of Ingushetia, at an altitude of 3000 m above sea level.
The sanctuary was erected in honor of the god of fertility, great abundance, prosperity and justice Mat-tsel.
In mountain Ingushetia there are many crypts, and this is not surprising. The ancestors of the Ingush said: “A man needs a tower in life, and after death a crypt.” All Ingush families had their own battle towers and crypts. In the crypts, only representatives of a kind were buried, strangers were taken to where they lived. The burial in the crypts was made approximately until the middle of the XIX century. Known crypts of various types - underground, semi-underground and ground.
Traditions of stone processing are still alive today. In each village of the flat part of Ingushetia you can see houses and fences built of rock by masters of stone architecture.
The Ingush people carefully preserve the unique monuments of Ingush architecture, using in whole or in part some elements of the decoration and composition of the material culture of their ancestors.
(From scientific publication M.S.-G. Albogachieva, M.T. Bezhitashvili)
"Tower Architecture of Mountain Ingushetia" (based on materials of the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Museum of Georgia)