Solomon Zvanba
Zvanba, Solomon Teimurkovich
Born 1809 in the village of Dranda, in present-day Gul’ripsh Raion, Abkhazian ASSR; died Oct. 25 (Nov. 6), 1855. First Abkhazian ethnologist; military man by profession. Zvanba died as a lieutenant-colonel in a battle on the Inguri during the Crimean War (1853–56). He published a number of articles concerning the way of life and beliefs of the Abkhazians.