Vladikavkaz: Toponymic Transformation of Identity and Memory

Ossetian symbolic map, necropolis, Walk of Fame. The article analyzes and reveals the structure of urbanonyms of the capital of North Ossetia-Alania – Vladikavkaz; key trends in its socio-historical development (anthroponymization, ethnonymization, conservation); the redistribution of the main components in the corps of urbanonyms associated with the construction of Ossetian identity and memory in the post-Soviet period. For the first time, the process of transforming the geographical names of North Ossetia into urbanonyms and their role in the formation of the symbolic map of the Ossetians of Vladikavkaz is considered. Urbanonyms are interpreted as one of the places of memory on which the Ossetian identity is based. A separate analysis is made of the practice of oblivion and taboos on the restoration of urbanonyms of a certain type – the military period of the Caucasian War. As in other capitals of the North Caucasus Federal District, toponyms of Caucasian origin occupy a stable non-transformable place in the structure of urban names of Vladikavkaz. Their presence is conceptualized in the context of regional exchange practices that are prevalent in all capitals of the North Caucasus Federal District. It is noted that Vladikavkaz is the only capital of the national-territorial formation in the North Caucasus Federal District, where the practice of creating necropolises as places of memory – religious and secular, and
which serve as a source of replenishment of urbanonyms in North Ossetia-Alania, was cultivated. The author substantiates the role of necropolises in the reproduction of Ossetian identity and memory.