Vakhtang Nikolaishvili Georgian National museum (Georgia, Tbilisi) Great Mtskheta - Ancient Capital Summary Mtskheta – the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Kartli/Iberia (IV-III B.C. – IV-V centuries A.D.) is renowned for its historical-architectural and archaeological monuments. Georgian, as well as foreign written sources and archeological monuments tell us about them. The 11th century Georgian chronicler – Leonti Mroveli mentioned “Great Mtskheta” in his work - “Life of the Kings of the Georgians” that is included in the “Georgian Chronicles” (“Kartlis Tskhovreba”): “the great city of Mtskheta and its suburbs, Sarkine and Tsikhe-didi, Zanavi, the Hebrew settlement”1. For today, this territory is bordered to the east – by the railway station – Zahesi, to the west – by Dzegvi, Khekordzula ravine and Nastagisi, to the north – by Mukhrani sights, to the south Satskepela – Didgori mountain ridge2. As for “Great Mtskheta” of the period of Leonti Mroveli, it coincided the period of formation of Kartli Kingdom and becoming of Mtskheta the capital of Kartli; “Great Mtskheta” of that period covered relatively larger territory and was protected with the fortress system. To the north it was protected by the fortress passed toward Ghartiskari, the second line of defense followed Bebristsikhe-Tsitsamuri; to the south - Satskepela-Didgori ridge and local fortresses (Katsitavana, royal residence of Armaz-tsikhe); to the east – the wall passed through Zemo Avchala-Devis Namukhli (Koshigora); to the west – Grdzeli Mindori (the Long Field), Sarkine, Tsikhedidiskhevi defense system. Political uniting – Synoecism of different settlements within the fortress system of “Great Mtskheta” took place in the period of formation of the Kingdom of Kartli (Iberia) and in the process of becoming Mtskheta the capital of the kingdom.
1. “Georgian Chronicles” I, Tbilisi, 1955 (in Georgian). 2. Andria Apakidze, et al, Mtskheta I, Tbilisi, 1955 (in Georgian); Nikolaishvili, Greater Mtskheta, 2018, 867-889.
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