Sacralisation of the Adygs grave structures

The article focuses on the most apparent signs of sacralisation in Adyghe funeral buildings. This feature of the people’s funeral and burial culture has received relatively little attention in national Caucasian studies. The work is based on traditional legends and the author’s field materials. The investigation revealed that providing magical characteristics to barrows and tombstones, commemorating the graves of heroically dead individuals slain by lightning, and so on occurred throughout the historical territory of Adyghe habitation. The identification and analysis of several rites performed earlier around graves by both western and eastern Adyge allows us to draw conclusions about the people’s spiritual culture and the common worldview of its representatives. The custom of honouring of grave structures has its roots in antiquity, but many of its echoes are found today, perceived as part of the new monotheistic religion.