Targim (Ingush. Thargam) is an ancient city in Ingushetia.
Located in the Dzheyrakh region. Now abandoned village,
administratively included in the rural settlement of Guli.
On
the territory of the city-settlement there is an architectural
complex "Targim", represented by many historical objects: ancient
cyclopean dwellings of a tower type, 4 battle towers, 4 semi-combat
towers and 16 dilapidated residential towers, as well as 19 crypts,
2 mausoleums and 5 sanctuaries. At present, these objects of Ingush
architecture and the entire territory of the settlement are included
in the Dzheyrakh-Assinsky State Historical-Architectural and Natural
Museum-Reserve and are under state protection.
Already from afar, four high towers open up, indicating that there
were four castles here in ancient times. Once upon a time, Targim was a
family settlement for four influential Ingush dynasties, and only they
had the right to build castles for their families, known as “vouv”. Such
structures included not only watchtowers and combat towers, but also
residential buildings, and burial grounds were located along the
perimeter of the main fortresses.
And although the Targim tower
complex today is a place abandoned by people, the towers are still
monitored, maintaining their condition, and interesting excursions are
organized for tourists. Targim is considered the "younger brother" of
two other auls, Egikal and Khamkhi. In each of them, tower settlements
similar to the Targim one were found, and the locals will gladly tell
you the legend of Elbred and his three sons: Egi, Khamkh and Targim,
who, having left their father's house, dispersed through these
territories and created three tower settlements. Historians argue that
such events may indeed have taken place around the 12th century. And it
was from here, from the place where Targim is located, that the
resettlement of the Ingush people began in other mountainous territories
of the modern Republic of Ingushetia.
Targim belongs to the
castle-type complexes, which means that it was not just a fortified
outpost, but also a place for housing entire families and clans. These
buildings were built around the 15th-17th centuries. The towers of
Targim still amaze architects with their grace. Their proportions are
observed so precisely that the width of the base of each tower is 1/10
of their height (about 28 m).
Just 300 meters from the Targim
tower complex is the Christian temple of Albi-Yerdy, or rather, only
what remains of it today: ruins and several walls restored to a small
height.
This temple was built in the 12th century, and this indicates
that the settlement of these territories began even earlier than the
tower complex itself was built. Today, both the temple and the towers
are under the protection of the authorities. But local residents still
manage to use the walls of the historical complex as cattle pens, as the
surrounding areas are rich in vegetation for grazing.
Practical
Information
It is not difficult to get to the Targim tower complex:
the village is located about 10 km from the district center Dzheyrakh in
the Guli rural settlement. Regular buses run to Dzheyrakh, and Targim
can be reached by car along the R-109 road, using the services of local
residents or ordering an excursion. The tower complex itself is located
in the Targim basin, on the right bank of the Assa River.
Address: Republic of Ingushetia, Dzheirakhsky district, Guli rural
settlement, s. Targim.
Located in the south of Ingushetia, near the border
with Georgia, on the right bank of the Assa River in the Targim
Basin. Height above sea level: 1080 m. The nearest settlements: in
the north-west - Egikal, in the south-west - Khamkhi, in the south -
Gureti, in the west Barkhane.
Geographically, Targim includes
the villages of Gureti and Ismail-koa, located on the road to the
Tkhaba-Yerdy temple.
On the territory of Targim, the remains of megalithic cyclopean
dwellings dating from the II-I millennium BC are recorded.
According to one version, the
name of the settlement was formed when the Ingush, leaving the
plains of Dakaste ("Land of the Fathers"), went to the mountains.
According to legend, the powerful castle fortresses Targim, Egikal
and Khamkhi in the Gqalgqai Koashke valley ("Galgai courtyards")
were founded by three brothers - the sons of the legendary Albi-erd
(in other sources Ga). The youngest of them was Targim (Thargam),
who settled beyond the Assa River, according to another version
Thargam is translated as "shield".
The following Ingush
surnames originated from Targim:
The largest in number;
Archakovs-10,100 men.
Temurzievs-9,500 men.
Bekovs - 5,600
men.
Kodzoevs-4,150 men.
Sultygovs-3,050 men.
Malsagov's
-2,500 men.
Plievs-2,300 men.
Ozievs-1,050 men.
Oscanovs-740 men.
The rest of the names; Gorbakovs, Goigovs,
Ugurchievs, Tutaevs, Gaisanovs, Pogorovs, Umarovs, Ganizhevs,
Eldievs, Medovs, Chemkhilgovs, Ganievs, Gamkartievs, Khabrievs,
Dzhugutkhanovs, Ezhievs, Arsamakovs, Aktemirovs, Naapyevs,
Bazakhievs, Tcharievs, Chamatievs, Byazakhievs Chabievs, Barakovs,
Gasarovs, Gatievs, Tazievs, Bakaevs, Yamievs, Vidigovs.
In
the late Middle Ages, Targim was territorially part of the Khamkhin
Shahar.
Koli was founded by a native of Khabr named Chamar,
and Guriti by the Timurzievs, Sultygovs and Joagortkhoana.