Jeyrakh-Assin Reserve
Jeyrakh-Assin Reserve

The Jeyrakh-Assin historical, architectural and natural museum-reserve is located within the boundaries of the Jeyrakh district of the Republic of Ingushetia on the northern slopes of the foothills of the Central part of the Greater Caucasus Range. The reserve was established on June 2, 1988. The area of the reserve is slightly more than 627 square kilometers. The activity of the reserve is aimed at ensuring the preservation, restoration and study of territorial complexes of cultural and natural heritage, material and spiritual values in their traditional historical (cultural and natural) environment. On the territory of the museum-reserve there are 122 ancient architectural complexes, including more than 2,670 objects of cultural significance, including defensive and residential towers, burial crypts, Christian and pagan sanctuaries and temples. The oldest buildings of the megalithic type belong to the middle of the second millennium BC. Every year, significant scientific discoveries are made on the territory of the reserve, new objects are identified, archaeological expeditions are constantly working, scientists from all over the world come. Since 1996, the reserve has been a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Significant value in the reserve is given to work on creating conditions for the development of organized tourism, its educational and service component.

One of the most interesting objects of the tower settlement Goust is a core-shaped mausoleum, located on the south-western outskirts of the village and dating from the end of the XVII - the beginning of the XVIII centuries.

Among the old-timers of the Jeirakhov gorge, the object is called Salam-Kash (The Tomb of Salam), since, according to legend, it was erected over the grave of the heroically fallen leader of the military squad named Salam from the Akhilgovy family.

It is associated with some fragmentary and very interesting plots of Ingush heroic-historical songs "illi", as well as various legends. According to these sources, recorded by Dautova and Chakhkiev in different years, an idealized hero named Salam once lived in the tower village of Goust (no more than 250-300 years ago), who was a representative of the nascent feudalizing (primarily military) stratum of Ingush society of the late Middle Ages.

Salam is drawn in folklore sources by the leader of a small military squad, who became famous for his numerous military victories, personal courage, courage and nobility.

It is reported that usually he, capturing rich prey, allegedly shared it or sometimes gave everything to poor and large widows. He was tall, powerful, and possessed inhuman strength. But in the end, Salam heroically fell on the battlefield, not even having time to get a family.

“He was buried with great honors in a tomb specially built for him in his native village of Goust. Subsequently, in the mausoleum began to bury their dead representatives of two related surnames – Achilgov and Tsitskiev.

The monument was first described by D.Y. Chakhkiev in 1985. They note that the burial chamber of the mausoleum contained the remains of more than 50 deceased with abundant and diverse accompanying inventory. Separate burials were in wooden (sometimes richly ornamented) coffins.

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