didi
mcxeTis saxelmwifo arqeologiuri muzeumnakrZali mdebareobs Sida qarTlSi, mtkvrisa da aragvis xeobaSi, Tbilisidan 21 km-ze. muzeum-nakrZalis teritoria, romelic 30 ha farTobzea gadaWimuli, arqeologiur-arqiteqturuli Zeglebis simdidriTaa gamorCeuli. farToa maTi qronologiac: arqeologiur Tu arqiteqturul Zeglebs eneoliTis periodidan moyolebuli Sua saukuneebamde TiTqmis uwyvetad gaedevneba Tvali.
spilenZ-qvis xanis Zvlis, qvisa da obsidianis sameurneo iaraRebis aRmoCenam daadastura, rom mcxeTis SemogarenSi mosaxleoba uZvelesi droidanve arsebobda. gvian brijao-adre rkinis xanaSi (Zv.w. II aTasw. II nax. – I aTasw. dasawyisi) ki “didi mcxeTa” ukve mWidrodaa dasaxlebuli. q. mcxeTaze gadioda dasavleTisa da aRmosavleTis qveynebis damakavSirebeli erT-erTi umTavresi magistralic – abreSumis gza.
The
Great Mtskheta State Archaeological Museum-Reserve is located in the historical province of Shida (Inner) Kartli, the Kura and Aragvi gorge, 21 km west of Tbilisi. The territory of the museum, totaling 30 hectares, abounds in archeological and architectural monuments with a broad chronological range – the earliest of them date from the Chalcolithic Age, while several structures are of the late Middle Ages. The discovery of bone, stone and obsidian tools of the Chalcolithic Age confirms that the environs of Mtskheta were inhabited since the earliest times, while in the Late Bronze/Early Iron Age (mid-second millennium/mid-first millennium BC) “Great Mtskheta” turned into a densely populated city located on the Great Merchant Route, the Silk Road, connecting the countries of the East with those of the West.
According to the original Georgian chronicle “Kartlis Tskhovreba” (literally “The Life of Kartli”), the forefather of Georgians, Kartlos “…first came upon the place where Aragvi River flows into the Kura River and ascended the mount called Armazi. And in the beginning he created some strongholds on
rogorc “qarTlis cxovreba” mogviTxrobs: “...da ese qarTlos movida pirvelad adgilsa mas, sada SeerTvis aragvi mtkvarsa, da ganvida mTasa mas zeda, romelsa ewodebis armazi. d D a pirvelad Seqmna simagreni mas zeda, da iSena mun zeda saxli, da uwoda mTasa mas saxeli Tavisa Tvissa – qarTli, xolo mcxeToss, romeli ugmires iyo ZmaTa misTa ese darCa sayofelTa mamisa maTisa qarTlosisaTa, romelsa aw hqvian armazi. d D a manve aRaSena qalaqi Sesakrebelsa Soris mtkvrisa da aragvisa, da uwoda saxeli Tvisi – mcxeTa”. q. mcxeTam, rogorc saqarTvelos teritoriaze erT-erTma uZvelesma dasaxlebulma adgilma, XIX saukunidan miiqcia saistorio siZveleebiT dainteresebul mkvlevarTa yuradReba. 1930 wlidan ki samTavros velis teritoriaze gegmazomieri arqeologiuri samuSaoebi daiwyo. aq, mecnierebma Zv.w. aR. II aTaswleulis namosaxlarebsa da kavkasiaSi erTerTi udides samarovans miakvlies. samarxTa Soris uZvelesi
its top and built his residence there and called the mount Kartli, after his given name, and Mtskhetos, who was the strongest and bravest of all brothers, inherited the legacy of his father Kartlos, the place now called Armazi. And he founded the city at the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi Rivers and called it Mtskheta, after his given name.” In the 19th century the city of Mtskheta, being one of the earliest populated areas of the country, attracted the attention of scholars interested in the past. In 1930 planned archaeological researches were launched on Samtavro Valley. Archeologists discovered ancient settlements dating from the 2nd millennium BC and a burial ground which is among the biggest in the Caucasus. The earliest of the unearthed tombs, over 400 in number, date from the Middle Bronze Age while the latest are of the Early Middle Ages. The study of the Samtavro ancient settlement revealed that a typical Late Bronze Age dwelling was a semi-recessed wattle and daub structure plastered with clay. It was entered through a façade opening and had flat roofing
Sua brinjaos xanisaa, zeda qronologiuri zRvari ki adre Sua saukuneebia. samTavros velis gora namosaxlaris Seswavlis Sedegad dadginda, rom gvianbrinjaos periodis sacxovrebeli saxlebis umetesoba naxevarmiwuri yofila, xelastiT amoyvanili da TixiT Selesili kedlebiT. Sesasvleli kari maT safasado kedlidan hqondaT, gadaxurva ki banuri iyo, masSi gaWrili erdoTi. saxlis aucilebel elementebs Rumeli, kera da sakurTxeveli warmoadgenda. namosaxlarzevea aRmoCenili antropomorfuli samsxverploc. Zv. w. III saukuneSi qarTlis (iberiis) pirvelma mefe farnavazma mtkvris marjvena napiras, qalaqis samxreT nawilSi, qarTlis uzenaesi RvTaebis – armazis kerpis garSemo, cixe-simagris mSenebloba daiwyo. qarTlis mefeTa rezidencias, akropoliss – armazcixes (dRevandeli bagineTi) strategiuli daniSnuleba hqonda – mas kolxeTidan, somxeTidan da albaneTidan momavali gzebi unda ekontrolebina. akropolisma samxedro-politikuri mniSvneloba V saukunemde,
with a hole cut through it. A kiln, a hearth and an offering place, a primitive sanctuary, were the most essential elements of every house. An anthropomorphic altar was also found in the settlement. In the early third century BC the first sovereign of the Kingdom of Kartli (Iberia), King Parnavaz launched the construction of a fortress on the right bank of the Kura River, in the southern section of the city, around the idol of Armazi, the supreme god of the Georgian Pantheon. This acropolis, transformed into the residence of the kings of Kartli, had an important strategic destination – to ensure control over the routes from Colchis, Albania and Armenia. This stronghold maintained its political and military importance till the very end of the 5th century AD, when the capital of the country was removed from Mtskheta to the newly founded city of Tbilisi. In the 8th century AD the Arabs turned the fortifications into ashes. Excavations on the territory of the fortress revealed the ruins of the city wall and defensive tower as well as of the royal residence dating from the period between the first and the third centuries AD. Among the finds also was a
q. Tbilisis gadedaqalaqebamde SeinarCuna; VIII saukuneSi ki igi arabebma moaoxres. arqeologebma cixe-qalaqis teritoriaze galavnisa da koSkis nangrevebs, samefo rezidenciis nagebobebis naSTebs miakvlies, romelTa umetesoba ax.w. I-III saukuneebiT daTariRda. aqve aRmoCnda qvis sarkofagic, romelSic rogorc Cans, samefo ojaxis wevri qali iyo dakrZaluli. samarxSi uxvad iyo mdidruli inventaric: oqros samkauli, vercxlis romauli WurWeli, sareclis fexebis vercxlis garsakravebi da sxva. q. mcxeTidan dasavleTiT 3 km-ze, armazis wylis SesarTavTan iberiis mefeTa pitiaxSebis rezidencia da samarovnebi mdebareobs. aA rmazisxevSi arqeologebma oqrosa da vercxlis Zvirfasi nivTebi aRmoaCines. oqroTi moWedili qarqaSi Tu rkinis satevrebi, samajurebi, mZivebi, sayureebi, diademebi, samoslis samSvenisebi, vercxlis sarke, vercxlis WurWeli – maRali saiuveliro ostatobiTa da daxvewili gemovnebiT Sesrulebuli nivTebi ax.w. II-III saukuneebisaa.
stone sarcophagus, most probably belonging to a female member of the royal family. Grave goods found in this lavishly adorned funeral receptacle included several golden jewelry, Roman silver tableware, silver coatings for the footings of the death bed and many other artifacts. Some three km west of Mtskheta, at the confluence of the Armazistskali and Kura rivers, there are a residence and tombs of the kings of Iberia, called Pitiakhshes as the tribute to the Iranian tradition. Among the finds unearthed in Armaziskhevi there are precious items made of gold and silver. The golden sheathings, daggers with iron blades, bracelets, necklaces and pendants, air-rings, diadems, garment adornments, silver mirror frames, silver tableware, cosmetic trays and caskets, which satisfy the highest standards of craftsmanship and refined taste, date from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. The lavishly adorned tombs of the Pitiakhshes dated to the 2nd-4th centuries deserve the greatest attention as the grave goods unearthed enable identification of some of the members of the ruling dynasty.
yvelaze saintereso mainc II-IV saukuneebis pitiaxSebis mdidruli samarxebi gamodga, radganac aq mikvleuli nivTebiT pitiaxSTa sagvareulo warmomadgenlebis calkeul pirTa vinaobis dadgenac ki gaxda SesaZlebeli. arqeologiuri nivTebis garda armazisxevis teritoriaze araerTi arqiteqturuli nageboba aRmoCnda, romlebsac mecnierebma pirobiTi saxelwodebebi Searqves: “zRurbliani”, “erTsenakiani” da “orsenakiani” nagebobebi, marani, pitiaxSTa sasaxle da a.S. aqve iyo anfiladuri abanoc (ax.w. II s.) rogoriRa iyo qristianuli epoqis mcxeTa? aq TiTqos meore ierusalimi gadmoitaneso – adre Sua saukuneebSive aSenda “sioni didi” (sveticxoveli), golgoTa (mcxeTis jvari), geTsimaniisa da Taboris eklesiebi. adre Sua saukuneebis xuroTmoZRvrebis saxasiaTo nimuSia mTaqarTlis wm. ninos erTnaviani eklesiac.
What did Christian Mtskheta look like? It obviously replicates the Holy City of Jerusalem: as early as the Middle Ages, the churches of the Great Holy Sion (Svetitskhoveli), Mount Calvary (the Mtskheta Holy Cross Monastery), Gethsemane and Tabor were built either in Mtskheta or close to the city. Another representative sample of the early medieval church architecture is the single-nave church of St. Nino on the Mtakartli Mountain.
jer kidev IV saukunidan iwyeba mcxeTis jvris monastris istoria, rodesac q. mcxeTis mopirdapire mTaze, mtkvrisa da aragvis SesarTvaTan, wm. ninos locvis adgilas, mefe mirianma xis didi jvari aRmarTa. jvari saswaulmomqmedad iTvleboda da uamrav mlocvels izidavda. VI saukuneSi jvris gverdiT qarTlis erismTavarma guaramma mcire taZari aago. 586-605 wlebs Soris, guaramis Zis stefanozis zeobisas, ki aSenda didi taZari, romelic zed gadaexura saswaulmomqmed jvars. mcxeTis jvris taZris qtitorebi (maSeneblebi) aRmosavleT fasadis reliefebze arian gamosaxuli.
The history of the Holy Cross Monastery in Mtskheta begins as early as the conversion of the Kingdom of Kartli in the 4th century, when King Mirian III erected a huge wooden cross on the mountain across the city overlooking the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers, where St. Nino deeply prayed to her god Jesus Christ. The Holy Cross was considered to be miracle-working and attracted lots of believers and pilgrims from all parts of the country. Guaram, the High Governor of Kartli, built a small temple next to the Cross in the
wm. ninosa da mefe mirianis saxels ukavSirdeba aseve samTavros teritoriaze erTerTi pirveli qristianuli taZris agebac. mefe mirianis zeobis dros, mayvlovanis buCqTan, im adgilas, sadac wm. nino loculobda, aigo eklesia (daaxloebiT 330 w.), romelic matianeebSi “zemo” an “gareubnis” eklesiad moixsenieba. swored aq arian
Apart from the artifacts, archeologists also revealed in Armaziskhevi several architectural monuments labeled as “the structure with a threshold”, “the singlechamber”/ “the double-chamber structure”, the Palace of the Pitiakhshes, the wine cellar, etc. An enfilade bathhouse (the 2nd century AD) was also discovered.
mid-sixth century AD. In 586-605 Guaram’s son and successor, Strephanos, built a large temple to cover the miracle-working wooden cross with its cupola. The eastern façade of the church features the raised images of the church building donors. The construction of one of the earliest Christian churches on the territory of Samtavro Valley is also directly associated with the names of St. Nino and King Mirian III. It was under the King Mirain that around 330 AD a church was built next to the huge blackberry shrub where St. Nino used to pray. The church is referred to in the chronicles as the “Upper” or the “Suburban”church. Here were buried the first Christian ruling couple of the Iberian Kingdom, Equal-to-the-Apostles St. King Mirian and St. Queen Nana. In 1030-1040 the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was built in the place of the strongly damaged “Upper” church. Archaeological excavations in 2002-2003 revealed the remains of the Late Antiquity structure as well as of the early Christian church beneath the foundation of the current temple. In 1010-1029, at the initiative of Catholicos Melchizedek of Kartli, the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral of the Twelve Holy Apostles was built instead of the old church (the 5th century basilica of King Vakhtang Gorgasali’s times, which in its turn had sub-
dakrZalulni “wminda mociqulTa sworni” mefe miriani da dedofali nana. 1030 -1040 wlebSi ki “zemo” eklesiis naSTebze macxovris saxelobis taZari aSenda. XI saukunis taZris qveS gvianantikuri nagebobisa da adreqristianuli eklesiis fenebis arseboba 2002 2003 wlebSi Catarebulma arqeologiurma eqspediciamac daadastura. 1010-1029 wlebSi qarTlis kaTalikos melqisedekis ganzraxviT, Zveli eklesiis naSTebze (IVs. xis eklesia, Vs. bazilika) agebuli sveticxovlis sakaTedro taZari Tormeti mociqulis saxelobisaa. taZris xuroTmoZRvaria arsukisZe, romlis saxelic warwerebSi orgzisaa moxseniebuli. erT-erTis (Crd. fasadi) Tanxmlebad gamokveTilia ostatis xelis da gonios gamosaxulebac. swored, sveticxovlis taZarSia davanebuli uflis kvarTi, romlis adgilasac XVI saukuneSi, kaTalikos nikoloz
stituted the earlier 4th century wooden chapel). The name of the architect of the temple, Arsukisdze, is twice mentioned in the stone slab inscriptions. Beside the one on the northern façade there is an image of the master’s right arm holding a setsquare.
VIII-m marTkuTxa koSkiseburi nageboba aRmarTa. sveticxovelSive mdebareobs uflis saflavis eklesiis simboluri asli – patara gumbaTiani samlocvelo (XVs.).
The Holy Robe of Jesus Christ is rested in this very temple, under a tower-like rectangular structure built in the interior of the Cathedral in the sixteenth century, in the times of Catholicos Nickolas VIII. In Svetitskhoveli there also is a symbolic imitation of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem – a small domed chapel built in the fifteenth century. The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral was the place of enthronement of many Georgian sovereigns throughout the centuries. It was a sepulchral church as well. Here were buried Kings Vakhtang Gorgasali, David VI, Giorgi VIII, Erekle II, Giorgi XII, King Rostom’s spouse Queen Mary and other representatives of the Royal Family.
am taZarSi araerTxel momxdara mefeTa kurTxevac. sveticxoveli samarxi taZaric iyo. aq arian dakrZaluli: vaxtang gorgasali, daviT VI, giorgi VIII, erekle II, giorgi XII, rostom mefis meuRle dedofali mariami da samefo ojaxis sxva warmomadgenlebi.
Nowadays Mtsheta has the status of a city-museum. Several monuments of the city – the Holy Cross Monastery, Svetitskhoveli, the Samtavro Nunnery and the Armaztsikhe-Bagineti Complex – were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. n
dResdReobiT mcxeTa qalaqi-muzeumia. 1994 wlidan ki misi calkeuli Zeglebi – jvris monasteri, sveticxoveli, samTavros dedaTa monasteri da armazcixe-bagineTi UNESCO-s msoflio memkvidreobis nusxaSia Setanili. n
lamela, dana safxeki, namglis CanarTi – Zv.w. IV aTasw. II nax.-III aTasw. I nax. Zvlis, qvisa da obsidianisagan damzadebuli es martivi iaraRebi yoveldRiurobis ganuyofeli nawili iyo. Lamella, knife, scraper, serrated sickle flint - these plain tools made of bone, stone and obsidian were indispensable items of everyday life in the second half of the 4th/ the first half of the 3rd millennium BC.
adre da Sua brinjaos xanis, xeliT naZerwi Savpriala da wiTellakiani keramika originaluri formebiT da SemkulobiTaa gamorCeuli. jvris nairsaxeoba e.w. svastika mzis brunvis simbolodaa miCneuli. mcxeTis panorama. d. ermakovis fotoarqividan. Panoramic view of Mtskheta. From D. Ermakov’s photo archive.
Hand-molded black-polished and red-varnished pottery of the Early and Middle Bronze Age has original shapes and highly interesting decoration patterns. One of the variations of cross, the swastika, is considered the symbol of the eternal circulation of the sun.
სამთავროს ველი. ნამოსახლარი SAMTAVRO VALLEY. THE ANCIANT SETTLEMENT REMAINS
gvianbrinjao-adrerkinis xanis namosaxlaris erT-erT saxlSi puris sacxobi Rumeli da `zurgiani sakurTxeveli~ aRmoCnda. Rumeli organyofilebiani yofila, marcxniv sakuTriv sacxobia, marjvniv sacecxle ganyofileba. saxuravis SemorCenili nawilebi migvaniSnebs, rom SesaZloa Rumels TaRovani gadaxurva hqonoda. A bread-baking oven and an altar with a back were found in one of the houses of a Late Bronze/Early Iron Age settlement. The oven had two cells – the left one for baking and the right one for fire. The remaining part of the upper section suggests that the oven must have had a vaulted cover.
jixvis Tavis gamosaxuleba. Bbrinjao, III-IV ss. Ibex head. Bronze, 3rd-4th century AD.
Tixis Txeli feniT Selesil sakurTxevelze oTxi antropomorfuli figura yofila daZerwili, romelTaganac ori dResac TvalnaTliv ikiTxeba. mecnierTa azriT es kerpebis gamosaxulebebia. Four anthropomorphic figures were molded on the altar plastered with a thin clay layer. Two of them are clearly discernible even today. Scholars believe they are idols.
Savpriala keramika. Sua brinjaos xana Black-polished pottery. Middle Bronze Age
სამთავროს ველი. სამაროვანი (ძვ.წ. II ათასწ. – ახ.წ. VIII ს.)
SAMTAVRO VALLEY. THE BURIAL GROUND (The second millennium BC – 8th AD)
saritualo irmebi samTavros samarovnidan, Zv.w. XII s. Ritual deer from the Samtavro burial ground. 12th century BC
# 905 samarxSi oqros, vercxlis, brinjaos, rkinis da minis 32 dasaxelebis sayofacxovrebo da saritualo nivTi aRmoCnda (WurWeli., samkauli, sanelsacxebleebi ...). mecnierTa mosazrebiT, antikuri periodis samarxSi warCinebuli ojaxis an samefo karis warmomadgeneli qalbatoni iyo dakrZaluli. In the grave No. 905 up to 32 various casual and ritual artifacts were discovered – tableware, jewelry, cosmetic vessels of gold, silver, bronze and glass. According to scholars, a noblewoman or a royal family member was buried in this ancient tomb.
ბრინჯაოს გრავირებული სარტყლები BRONZE PLATE BELTS WITH ENGRAVINGS
II-I aTaswleulis mijnaze amierkavkasiaSi brinjaos metalurgia ganviTarebis umaRles mwvervals aRwevs, rac xelovnebaSic TvalsaCinod aisaxa. b B rinjaos gravirebuli sartylebi, kolxuri culebi da abzindebi amis saukeTeso magaliTia. At the turn of the first millennium BC, bronze metallurgy in the Caucasus reached its summit, which was clearly manifested in art as well. The engraved bronze belts, Colchian bronze axes and buckles are the best proofs of highly developed craftsmanship and artistic taste.
brinjaos sartylebze gamosaxuli miTologiuri personaJebi (iremi, jixvi, Tevzi, yurSa ...) qarTvelTa uZvelesi religiuri rwmena-warmodgenebis mxatvruli ilustrirebaa. These mythological characters (deer, ibex, fish, dog ...) on the surface of a bronze plate belt are artistic illustrations of ancient Georgian religious beliefs.
brinjaos sartyeli. aRmoCenilia samTavros samarovanze, samarxi # 276.
brinjaos sartyeli. aRmoCenilia samTavros samarovanze, samarxi # 28.
A bronze plate belt, discovered in grave No, 276, Samtavro Burial Ground.
A bronze plate belt, discovered in grave No, 28, Samtavro Burial Ground.
samarovanze aRmoCnda sakulto nagebobis naSTebic. arqeologebi mas Zveli da axali welTaRricxvis mijniT aTariReben da varaudoben, rom nageboba mzis kultisadmi miZRvnili erT-erTi uZvelesi taZaria. The remains of a cult structure were discovered on the burial ground. Archaeologists date it to the turn of the New Era and reckon it among the earliest sun shrines.
savaraudod ase gamoiyureboda mzis kultisadmi miZRvnili taZari, romelsac arqeologebma samTavros samarovanze miakvlies. This is a hypothetical reconstruction of a sun temple unearthed on the Samtavro burial ground.
taZris rekonstruqcia Reconstruction of the Temple
არმაზციხე - ბაგინეთი, იბერიის მეფეთა რეზიდენცია ROYAL RESIDENCE OF THE KINGS OF IBERIA AT ARMAZTSIKHE-BAGINETI xedi q. mcxeTaze armazcixe-bagineTidan View of Mtskheta from Armaztsikhe-Bagineti
d. ermakovis fotoarqividan. From D. Ermakov’s photo archive.
“iberiaSi aris oTxi Sesasvleli: erTi aris mtkvris viwrobebze da aragosisaze, vidre erTmaneTs SeerTvis es mdinareebi, im adgilas mdebareobs gamagrebuli qalaqebi kldeebze, romlebic dacilebulni arian erTmaneTs daaxloebiT 16 stadioniT; mtkvarze mdebareobs harmozike (armazcixe), xolo meoreze sevsamora (wiwamuri). Aam SemosasvlelebiT pirvelad isargebla pompeusma, romelic armeniidan modioda, xolo amis Semdeg kanidiusma”. (straboni,XI.3.4). “There are four passes leading into Iberia. These are the defiles on the Cyrus and those on the Aragus. For, before the two rivers meet, they have on their banks fortified cities that are situated upon rocks, these being about sixteen stadia distant from each other – I mean Harmozice (Armaztsikhe) on the Cyrus and Seusamora (Tsitsamuri) on the other river. These passes were used first by Pompey when he set out from the country of the Armenians, and afterwards by Canidius”. (Strabo, XI.3.4).
gegmazomieri aqeologiuri gaTxrebi armazcixe-bagineTze 1944 wlidan daiwyo Scheduled archaeological excavations of Armaztsikhe-Bagineti started in 1944
am qvis fragmentebze xanZris kvali Cans. mecnierTa varaudiT aq “samsxverplo” iyo. These stone fragments bear the traces of fire. According to scholars, the stone served as an altar.
svetebiani darbazi, gegma Columned Hall. Plan
marani, detali Wine cellar, The detail
eqvsafsidiani taZris grafikuli rekonstruqcia Graphical reconstruction of the six-apse temple
eqvsafsidiani taZari da marani, III s. Six-apse temple and a wine cellar, 3rd century
sareclis vercxlis fexebi, II-III ss. Silver coatings for bed footings, 2nd-3rd century
vercxlis Tasi, III s. Silver bowl, 3rd century
am kvarcxlbekze albaT RvTaebis qandakeba idga A pagan idol must have stood on this pedestal
არმაზციხე-ბაგინეთი. აბანოები (II - III სს. მიჯნა) ARMAZTSIKHE-BAGINETI. THE BATHES (2nd-3rd century AD) ax.w. I saukunidan abanoebi saqalaqo cxovrebisaTvis erT-erTi damaxasiaTebeli da aucilebeli nageboba xdeba. isini ubnebis mixedviT iyo ganlagebuli da qalaqSi ramdenime iyo. arqeologiuri eqspediciis Sedegad, mecnierebma sam abanos miakvlies. In the beginning of the 1st century AD bathes became one of the most essential and characteristic elements of urban lifestyle. Each neighborhood of the city of Mtskheta had its own bath. Archaeologists revealed three bathes remains conventionally called the upper and the lower baths.
Oorsenakiani nageboba, I-IV ss. Double-cell structure, 1st-4th century
Zvlis firfita qalis gamosaxulebiT, II-III ss. Bone plaque with woman’s image, 2nd-3rd century
qveda abano Lower Bath
berZnulwarweriani qva, II-III ss. am filis berZnulenovani warweridan irkveva, rom armeniis mefis, vologezes asulsa da iberTa mefis amazaspes meuRles, anagranesma, mamaZuZem da ezosmoZRvarma, sakuTari saxsriT agebuli abano Seswira.
Stele with an Ancient Greek Inscription, 2nd-3rd century AD According to an ancient Greek inscription carved on its surface, the bath was built at the expense of Anagranes, a chief chamberlain and foster father of the Queen, the spouse of King of Iberia Amazaspe, the daughter of King Vologeze of Armenia, to whom the structure was donated. zeda abano Upper Bath
vercxlis Tasi, III s. Silver bowl, 3rd century
არმაზისხევი. აბანო (II ს.) ARMAZISKHEVI. THE BATH (2nd century AD) armazisxevis pitiaxSTa rezidenciis 22 m. sigrZisa da 6 m. siganis abanos 5 ganyofileba hqonda: gasaxdeli oTaxi, sacecxle ganyofileba, cxeli, Tbili da civi wylis auzebi. nageboba “mcxeTuri kramitiT” orferdad iyo gadaxuruli.
berZnuli da arameuli damwerlobiT Sesrulebul epitafiaze vkiTxulobT: “me var serafiti, asuli zevax mcirisa, farsman mefis pitiaxSisa, meuRle iodmanganisa, romelic imarjvebda da amravlebda gakeTebul sagmiro saqmeebs, ezosmoZRvri qsefarnug mefisa, Ze agripasi ezosmoZRvrisa farsman mefisa, romelmac sZlia mZlevelni, rac farnavazma ver daasrula. d D a, ase, serafiti iyo keTili da lamazi, romlis msgavsi aravin iyo silamaziT. Dda gardaicvala 21 wlisa”.
The 22 meter-long and 6 meter-wide bath of the Armaziskhevi residence of Pitiakhshes had five separate sections: an apodyterium, boiler room and hot, warm and cold water pools. The structure had a double-pitched roof covered with Mtskheta-type tile.
This bilingual epitaph in Ancient Greek and Aramaic scripts reads as follows: “I am Serapita, daughter of Zevakh the younger, pitiakhsh of Pharsman the king, and wife of Iodmangan the victorious, winner of many conquests, master of the court of Ksefarnug, the great king of the Iberians, and son of Agrippa, master of the court of King Farsman. Woe, woe, for the sake of her who was not of full age, whose yeas were not completed, and so good and beautiful that no one was like her in excellence; and she died at the age of twenty-one."
vercxlis Tasi sasanianis gamosaxulebiT, III s. Silver bowl with the image of a Sassanian, 3rd century AD
armazisxevis abano, rekonstruqcia Bath at Armaziskhevi, Reconstruction
armazis bilingva, II s-is II nax Bilingual Inscription from Armazi, 2nd half of the 2nd century
არმაზისხევის საგანძური ARMAZISKHEVI TREASURE
daculia saqarTvelos erovnul muzeumSi Deposited in the Georgian National Museum
აკლდამა (I ს.) THE TOMB (1st century AD)
q. mcxeTis rkinigzis sadguris samxreTiT, 300 m-ze mdebareobs frontoniani fasadis mqone, TaRiani erTkameriani akldama. Tlili qviT mopirkeTebuli da kramitiT daxuruli nageboba I saukunis bolo meoTxedisaa. samarxi winaqristianul xanaSi gavrcelebuli dakrZalvis wesis Sesabamisad inventaris simdidriTa da mravalferovnebiTac iqcevs yuradRebas. A tomb with a single vaulted chamber and a pediment on the façade is located 300 m. south of the Mtskheta railway station. This modest structure of the last quarter of the 1st century AD is faced with neatly hewn stone slabs and has a tile roof. The crypt adheres to pre-Christian funeral rites and is distinguished by rich grave goods.
farTo savaWro urTierTobebis maCvenebelia mcxeTaSi aRmoCenili ucxouri monetebi (romauli, parTuli, sasanuri da a.S.) da Zvirfasi nivTebi. “qarTlis moqcevis” qronikis avtori gvamcnobs, rom mcxeTaSi religiuri dResaswaulebis dros didi bazroba imarTeboda. Foreign currency including Roman, Parthian, Sassanian and other coins and precious artifacts found in Mtskheta are indicative of broad trade relations. According to the original Georgian chronicle “Moktsevai Kartlisai” (Conversion of Georgia), grand fairs used to be organized in Mtskheta on religious holidays.
გეთსიმანია (V ს.) GETHSEMANE CHURCH (5th century)
wyaroebis mixedviT, am adgilas sinagoga iyo, romelzec wm. ninom jvari aRmarTa. saxelwodeba geTsimania, ierusalimis maxloblad, zeTisxilis mTis ferdobze mdebare geTsimaniis baRs – ieso qristes ukanaskneli locvisa da RmrTismSoblis saflavis adgils ukavSirdeba. According to records, there used to be a synagogue in this place, upon which St. Nino erected a cross. The name of the church is associated with the garden on the slope of the Olive Mountain in Jerusalem, Gethsemane, the place where Jesus Christ prayed last and where Virgin Mary was buried.
წმ. ნინოს მთაქართლის ეკლესია (V-VI სს.) ST. NINO’S CHURCH ON MTAKARTLI MOUNTAIN (5th -6th centuries)
mTaqarTlis wverze mdebare eklesia erTerTi uZvelesTagania mcxeTasa da mis SemogarenSi. igi V-VI saukuneebis mijniT TariRdeba. Dating from the turn of the 6th century, this church on Mtakartli Mountain is among the earliest Christian temples in Mtskheta and its surroundings.
მცხეთის ჯვრის მონასტერი (586-604 წწ.) MTSKHETA HOLY CROSS MONASTERY (586-604)
mcxeTis jvris monasteri, rekonstruqcia Mtskheta Holy Cross Monastery, Reconstruction
mcxeTis jvris taZris aRmosavleT fasadis reliefebze qtitorebi (maSeneblebi) arian gamosaxuli. SuaSi – qristes winaSe muxlmodrekili stefanozi, marjvniv misi memkvidre adarnase Tavis ZesTan erTad, marcxniv stefanozis Zma demetre. The relief on the eastern façade of the Mtskheta Holy Cross Church features the church building donors. Stephanos, the High Governor of Kartli, is depicted in the centre, kneeling in front of Christ, his heir Adarnase together with his son is on the right, while Demetre, Stephanos’ brother, is on the left.
სვეტიცხოვლის საკათედრო ტაძარი (XI ს.) SVETITSKHOVELI CATHEDRAL (11th century) sveticxovlis sakaTedro taZris midamoebSi mimdinare arqeologiuri gaTxrebisas araerTi nivTi aRmoCnda – sanelsacxebleebi, samkauli, WurWeli, monetebi da sxva. aRmoCenil nivTebs Soris gansakuTrebuli yuradReba arameulma amuletma miipyro. Tixis samtuCa xeladaSi, oqros dagragnili firfita iyo moTavsebuli. firfitaze wvetiani “saweri instrumentiT” ebrauli damwerlobiT amokveTilia 29 striqoniani warwera. Mteqstis gacnobis Semdeg, mecnierebma daaskvnes, rom es ebrauli amuletia (avgarozi), romelic gvianantikur xanaSi avi Tvalisa da borotebisgan dasacavad gamoiyeneboda.
Several interesting artifacts were found during excavations in the immediate surroundings of the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral: cosmetic powder trays, jewelry, pottery, coins, etc. An Aramaic amulet deserves special attention. A scrolled gold plaque with a 29-line Hebrew inscription in the Aramaic script was found inside a triple-rimmed wine pitcher. Having read the text, scholars identified the find as a Hebrew amulet used in late ancient times as a protection against the evil eye and devilry.
arameuli amuleti, V-VI ss. An araramaic amulet, 5th-6th century
sveticxovelis ubanSi aRmoCenili nivTebi Artifacts discovered during the archaeological excavations in Svetirskhoveli neighborhood
XVII saukunis am reliefze xuTi mSenebelia gamosaxuli. maT xelSi Sromis iaraRebi uWiravT: CaquCi, gonio – romelic gverdebis sisworis Sesamowmeblad gamoiyeneboda da didi zomis fargali. This seventeenth century relief features five builders holding a common set of tools used in construction activities: a hammer, a setsquare and a pair of large compasses.
taZris CrdiloeT fasadze, xelis reliefuri gamosaxulebis gverdiT warweraSi ikiTxeba: “£eli monisa arsukiZisa¡. SeundveT”. arsukiZis saxeli aRmosavleTis fasadis warweraSic ixsenieba : “...aReSena ese wminda¡, eklesia¡, £eliTa monisa maTisa arsukisZisa¡Tao”. There is a raised image of a man’s right hand on the northern façade of the Cathedral. The inscription beneath the image reads as follows: “The hand of the God’s slave Arsukidze. Be merciful to him.” There is another inscription on the eastern facade that also mentions the architect’s name: “This holy church was built by the hands of the God’s slave Arsukidze”.
sveticxovelis sakaTedro taZari. dasavleT fasadi, detali Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Western façade. Detail
uflis kvarTis daflvis adgilas aRmarTuli svetis moxatuloba, warweris Tanaxmad grigol guljavaraSvilis mieraa Sesrulebuli 1678-1688 wlebSi, kaTalikos nikoloz VIII surviliT. svetis kedlebze or registradaa gamosaxuli qarTlis moqcevis sxvadasxva siuJetebi: wm. Nninos locva armazis mTasTan, ufliswul revis gankurneba, mirian mefe da konstantinopolis samRvdeloeba, armazis mTis saswauli da sxva. According to the inscription, the column erected on the spot where the Holy Robe of Christ was buried was painted by Grigol Guljavarashvili in 1678-1688, at the request of Patriarch Nickolas VIII. The entire surface of the column is divided into two levels featuring various scenes of the conversion of Kartli: St. Nino’s prayer at Armazi Mountain, the healing of Crown Prince Revi, King Mirian and the clergy of Constantinople, the miracle on Armazi Mountain, etc.
sveticxovelis sakaTedro taZari. samxreTi kedeli. 148-150 fsalmunis moxatuloba, XVII s. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Southern wall. Paintings of Psalms 148-150. Fragment, 17th century.
mariam-dedoflisa da misi Zis, otias gamosaxuleba XVII saukunis qrTuli saqtitoro portretis erT-erTi mniSvnelovani nimuSia. Wall paintings featuring Queen Mary of Kartli and her son, Prince Otia are among the best portraits of church building donors of the seventeenth century Georgia.
V saukunis eklesiis saZirkvlis naSTebi dResac TvalnaTliv ganirCeva Remains of the 5th century church are clearly discernible even nowadays
sveticxovelis sakaTedro taZari. aRmosavleT fasadi, detali Svetitskoveli Cathedral. Eastern faรงade. Detail
uflis saflavis simboluri asli (XV s.) Symbolic replica of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem (15th century)
სამთავროს მონასტერი (XI ს.) SAMTAVRO MONASTERY (11th century)
CrdiloeT minaSenis reliefi The Northen additional relief
1820 wels samTavroSi dedaTa monasteri daarsda, romelic dResc moqmedia. The nunnery established in the Samtavro Monastery in 1820 remains active nowadays as well.
natexi da riyis qviT naSeni wm. Nninos saxelobis eklesia adreqristianuli xanisaa. taZris interierSi XIX s. mxatvrobaa, romlis CrdiloeT kedelze wm. ninos cxovrebis ciklia asaxuli. This small church of St. Nino, built of cobblestone and rubble rock, is of early Christian times. The interior is decorated with 19th century mural paintings. The frescos on the northern wall feature the scenes from St. Nino’s life.
samTavros macxovris taZari. gumbaTis yeli. Ddetali. Samtavro Church of Christ the Savior. Drum. Detail.
samTavros macxovris taZari. dasvleT Ffasadis reliefi, XVII s. Samtavro Church of Christ the Savior. The western faรงade. Relief, 17th century.
q. mcxeTaSi Sesasvleli saavtomobilo xidi XX saukunis dasawyisSi. Highway bridge at the entrance to the city of Mtskheta. The early 20th century.
d. ermakovis fotoarqividan. From D. Ermakov’s photo archive.
ase gamoiyureba igive xidi erTi saukunis Semdeg. The same bridge a century later.
არმაზის ღმრთისმშობლის მონასტერი (XII ს.) ARMAZI MONASTERY OF VIRGIN MARY (12th century)
md. Aarmazis wylis marjvena napirze mdebare RmrTismSoblis monastris eklesia samSeneblo warweris Tanaxmad 1150-1178 wlebSia agebuli.
St. Virgin Monastery built on the right bank of Armazistskali River is the monument of High Middle Ages. According to the construction inscription curved n the stone slab the church was built in 1150-1178.
armazis RmrTismSoblis monastris samreklos (XVI-XVII ss.) restavracia 2010 wels Cautarda The Bell-Tower of Armazi Monastery was built in the 16th-17th cc. Restoration works were carried out in 2010
არმაზის ციხე (XIII-XIV სს.). ARMAZI FORTRESS (13th-14th century)
XIII-XIV saukunis armazis cixis koSki da galavnis naSTebi, rogorc Cans, gacilebiT ufro adrindeli safortifikacio nagebobebis adgilebzea dafuZnebuli. XVIII saukunis istorikosi da geografosi vaxuSti batoniSvili cixis agebas qrTvelTa legendarul eTnarqs qarTloss miawers.
The 13th-14th century Armazi fortress tower and the defensive wall must have been built on the foundations of much earlier fortification structures. According to the 18th century famous Georgian historian and geographer, Prince Vakhushti Bagrationi, the fortress was built by the legendary forefather of Georgians, Kartlos.
ბებრის ციხე BEBRISTSIKHE FORTRESS
d. ermakovis fotoarqividan. From D. Ermakov’s photo archive.
adreul Sua saukuneebSi agebul bebriscixeze, naTlad ganirCeva mogviano gadakeTebebis kvalic. cixeSi sacxovrebeli darbazic yofila. wyaroTa cnobiT, 1156 wels aq gardaicvala mefe demetre I.
The Bebristsikhe fortress, build in the Early Middle Ages, bears obvious traces of later restructuring. There was a separate residential hall in the fortress. According to the chronicles, King Demetre I died in this fortress in 1156.
saferumarile niJara, III-IV ss. amgvari niJarebi nelsacxeblis (ferumarilis) sasresad gamoiyeneboda da isini saqarTveloSi wina aziidan SemohqondaT. azrTa sxvadasxvagvaroba gamoiwvia niJaraze amotvifruli gamosaxulebis simboloebis gaSifvram. erTni fiqroben, rom niJaraze mzis taZaria gamosaxuli, meoreni ki mas samefo sasaxled miiCneven.
brinjaos mamakacis figura, III-IV ss. Bronze figurine of a man, 3rd-4th century AD
Mother-of-Pearl Cosmetic Tray, 3rd-4th century AD This kind of mother-of-pearl trays, mostly imported from the Near East, were used for crushing cosmetic substances into a powder. The image carved on the tray invites dierent symbolic interpretations. Some consider it a sun temple, while others claim that it is a royal palace.
mZivebi, III-IV ss. Necklaces / beads, 3rd-4th century AD
sakanWuri, Zv.w. VIII-VII ss. Foot-ring, 8th-7th century BC
mlocveli qalis figura, II-III ss. The prayer woman figure, 2nd-3rd century AD
sakidebi Zvlisa da brinjaos zarakebiT, KZv.w. IV-III ss. Pendants with bronze and bone miniature bells, 4th-3rd century BC
sanelsacxebleebi, II-III ss. Cosmetic powder trays, 2nd -3rd century AD
brinjaos Subispirebi, Zv.w. VIII-VII ss. Bronze lance-heads. Nichbisiskhevi, 8th-7th century BC.
batilumi, I s. Battilum anu Vattilum – esaa saritualo nivTi, romelic RmrTismsaxurebis dros sakmevlis an sxva surnelovani nivTebis dasawvavad gamoiyeneboda. fiqroben, rom batilumi dakavSirebuli unda yofiliyo micvalebulis kultTanac. batilumis samSoblod siria-palestinaa miCneuli.
Battilum, 1st century AD Battilum is a ritual item used for burning incense or other fragrant substances during religious ceremonies. Battilum is believed to be of Syria-Palestinian origin and is also associated with the custom of worshiping the dead.
brinjaos foTliseburi satevari, Zv. w. VIII s. –V s. I nax. Bronze leaf-shaped dagger, 8th-5th century BC
wiTeli wernaqiiT moxatuli WurWeli, Zv.w. IV-III ss. Ceramics painted with red ochre, 4th-3rd century BC
Bgvian brinjaos xanis culebi Late bronze age axes