Caucasus etymology

Etymology:

The word "Caucasus" comes from the Greek word "Kaukasos," which is derived from the Scythian word "kauka" or "kava," meaning "snow-white."

Meaning:

Caucasus means "shining with snow" or "land of snow." This name is fitting, as the Caucasus Mountains are known for their snow-capped peaks and glaciers.

Origin:

The Scythians, an ancient Iranian-speaking nomadic people, are believed to have given the name "Kauka" to the mountains. The Scythians inhabited the area north of the Caucasus Mountains, and they would often refer to the mountains as "the shining ones" due to their snow-covered peaks.

The Greek playwright Aeschylus was the first to use the name "Kaukasos" in his play "Prometheus Bound." In the play, Prometheus is chained to a mountain in the Caucasus as punishment for stealing fire from the gods. Since then, the name "Caucasus" has been used to refer to the mountain range that forms the border between Asia and Europe.

In modern usage, the Caucasus refers to the entire region that includes the Caucasus Mountains and the surrounding areas. The region is divided into three main geopolitical entities:

• South Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia
• North Caucasus: Part of the Russian Federation
• West Caucasus: Krasnodar Krai and Adygea in Russia

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