CULTURE OF GEORGIA

A page from a rare 12th century Gelati Gospel depicting the Nativity from the Museum of Fine Arts in Tbilisi.

The 'culture of Georgia' has evolved over the country's long history, providing it with a unique national culture and a strong literary tradition based on the Georgian language and alphabet. This has provided a strong sense of national identity that has helped to preserve Georgian distinctiveness despite repeated periods of foreign occupation and attempted assimilation.

Culture of old Georgia

Ecclesiastical art

Ecclesiastical monuments

Literary and other written works

Culture of modern Georgia

Famous Georgian cultural figures (XX-XXI centuries):

Culture of old Georgia

The Georgian alphabet is traditionally said to have been invented in the 5th century BC and reformed by King Parnavaz I of Iberia in 284 BC, however, most modern scholarship puts the date at some time in the 5th century AD, when the earlist examples can be found.
Georgia's medieval culture was greatly influenced by Orthodox Christianity and the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church, which promoted and often sponsored the creation of many works of religious devotion. These included churches and monasteries, works of art such as icons, and hagiographies of Georgian saints. As well as this, many secular works of national history, mythology and hagiograpy were also written.

Ecclesiastical art

The Icon from Martvili (10th century)

Medieval Georgian icons are renowned as being among the finest creations of Orthodox religious art. Notable examples include:

★ The Icon of 886 from Zarzma

★ The Icon of the 9th century from Tsilkani

★ The famous "Wonderworking Iberian Icon of the Mother of God" (10th century)

★ The Icon of the 10th century from Okona

★ The Icon of Our Lady of Khakhuli of the 12th century

★ The Icon of St. George of the 11th century from Labechina

★ The Icon of St.George of the 11th century from Nakipari

★ The Icon of the 12th century from Anchiskhati

★ The Icon of the 14th century from Ubisa

★ The Icon of the 16th century from Alaverdi

Ecclesiastical monuments

Well-known monuments of Georgian Christian architecture include:

★ The Georgian Church in Bethlehem (4th century)

★ The Church of Gavazi (4th century) in Akhalsopeli (Kvareli district of Kakheti region)

★ Akaurta Church (5th century) in Bolnisi district (Kvemo Kartli region)

★ Ikalto Monastery complex (5th-7th centuries) (Kakheti)

Jvari Monastery (6th century)

★ Sioni church (5th century) in Bolnisi

★ Monastery of Shio Mghvime (6th century)

★ Davidgareja Monastery complex (6th-7th centuries)

★ Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta (6th century)

★ Anchiskhati Church (6th century) in Tbilisi

★ Nekresi Monastery Complex (4th-9th centuries) in Kakheti

★ Sioni church (7th century) in Ateni

★ Petritsoni Monastery in Bulgaria (11th century)

★ The Georgian Monastery (10th century) on the Black Mountain in Syria

★ The Georgian Iveron Monastery on Athos (10th century)

★ Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta (11th century)

Anchiskhati Church (6th century)

★ Opiza Monastery (10th century) in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of Turkey)

★ Monastery Doliskana (10th century) in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of Turkey)

★ Monastery Otkhta-Eklesia in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of Turkey)

★ Oshki Monastery (10th century) in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of Turkey)

★ Gelati Monastery (11th century) in Kutaisi

★ Sioni Cathedral (11th century) in Tbilisi

★ Alaverdi church (11th century) in Kakheti

★ Monastery Samtavro (12th century) in Mtskheta

★ Vardzia Monastery (12th century) in Meskheti

★ Gialia Monastery (10th-16th centuries) in Cyprus
Well-known Georgian painters were: Damiane (13th century), Anania (15th century), Mamuka Tavakarashvili (17th century), etc.
The works of the famous Georgian goldsmiths, Beka and Beshken Opizari (11th century), are an outstanding contribution to world art.

Literary and other written works

The Manuscript of "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" (16th century)

Important Georgian literary works of the pre-Christian period are:

★ ''Amiraniani'', ancient Georgian folk epos of the end of the 2nd millennium BC

★ ''Life of the King Farnavaz'' (anon) (3rd century BC)
Notable Georgian written works from the medieval period include:

★ The ''Life of Saint Nino'' (4th century) (anon)

★ The ''Life of the King Mirian'' by Abyatar (4th century)

★ ''The Martyrdom of Queen Shushanik'' by Iakob Tsurtaveli (5th century)

★ ''Corpus Areopagiticum'', a philosophical and theological work attributed by some to Peter the Iberian (5th century)

★ ''The Martyrdom of Abo Tbileli'' by Ioane Sabanisdze (8th century)

★ The ''Life of Grigol Khandzteli'' by Giorgi Merchule (10th century)

★ ''Ustsoro Karabadini'' (''Peerless Karabadini'') 10th century

★ ''A History of the Georgian Kings'' ("''Tskhovreba Kartvelta Mepeta''") by Leonti Mroveli (11th century)

★ ''A History of the Royal House of Bagrationi'' by Sumbat Davitisdze (11th century)

★ ''Tamariani'' by Ioane Chakhrukhadze (12th century)

★ ''Shen Khar Venakhi'' ("''Thou Art a Vineyard''"), the famous Georgian religious hymn by the King Demetre I Bagrationi (12th century)

★ ''Vepkhistkaosani'' (''The Knight in the Panther's Skin''), a national epic poem by Shota Rustaveli (12th century)

★ ''Abdulmesiani'' by Ioane Shavteli (13th century)

★ ''Kartlis Tskhovreba'' (''History of Georgia''), a collection of old Georgian chronicles (from ancient times to the 14th century)

Culture of modern Georgia

During the modern period, from about the 17th century onwards, Georgian culture has been greatly influenced by cultural innovations imported from elsewhere in Europe.
The first Georgian-language printing house was established in the 1620s in Italy and the first one in Georgia itself was founded in 1709 in Tbilisi.
Georgian theatre has a long history; its oldest national form was the "Sakhioba" (extant from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD). The Georgian National Theatre was founded in 1791 in Tbilisi, by the writer, dramatist and diplomat Giorgi Avalishvili (1769-1850). Its leading actors were Dimitri Aleksi-Meskhishvili, David Machabeli, David Bagrationi, Dimitri Cholokashvili and others.
In Tbilisi the Museum of the Caucasus was founded in 1845. In the 1920s it became the State Museum of Georgia. The Tbilisi State Theatre of Opera and Ballet established in 1851.
Greatest representatives of Georgian culture of the XIX century were: Nikoloz Baratashvili (poet), Alexander Orbeliani (writer), Vakhtang Orbeliani (poet), Dimitri Kipiani (writer), Grigol Orbeliani (poet), Ilia Chavchavadze (writer and poet), Akaki Tsereteli (poet), Alexander Kazbegi (writer), Rapiel Eristavi (poet), Mamia Gurieli (poet), Iakob Gogebashvili (writer), Simon Gugunava (poet), Babo Avalishvili-Kherkheulidze (actor), Nikoloz Avalishvili (actor), Nikoloz Aleksi-Meskhishvili (actor), Romanoz Gvelesiani (painter), Grigol Maisuradze (painter), Alexander Beridze (painter), Ivane Machabeli (translator), Okropir Bagrationi (translator), Sardion Aleksi-Meskhishvili (translator), Kharlampi Savaneli (opera singer), Pilimon Koridze (opera singer), Lado Agniashvili (folk singer), Alioz Mizandari (composer), etc.
The first cinema in Georgia was established in Tbilisi on November 16, 1896. The first Georgian cinema documentary ("Journey of Akaki Tsereteli in Racha-Lechkhumi") was shot in 1912 by Vasil Amashukeli (1886-1977), while the first Georgian feature film ("Kristine") was shot in 1916 by Alexandre Tsutsunava (1881-1955).
The Tbilisi State Academy of Art was founded in 1917.
Georgian culture suffered under the rule of the Soviet Union during the 20th century, during which a policy of Russification was imposed but was strongly resisted by many Georgians. Since the independence of Georgia in 1991, a cultural resurgence has taken place, albeit somewhat hampered by the country's economic and political difficulties in the post-Soviet era.

Famous Georgian cultural figures (XX-XXI centuries):

Sport

★ Zaza Pachulia (basketball player for Atlanta Hawks)

★ Kakha Kaladze (soccer player for AC Milan)
:See also Rugby union in Georgia, Football in Georgia
Rugby union is a popular team sport played in Georgia, rugby union is considered the second most popular sport in Georgia, after football (soccer).

External links

★ Georgia History and Culture (in German)

★ Georgian Web by Besiki Sisauri

★ Georgian eBooks Many online Georgian ebooks(pdfs) on the CD “Anthology of Georgian classical literature” by UNESCO Project

★ TITUS projects Armazi& Ecling

★ Georgia - South Caucasus (bilingual in German/English)

★ ''From the Cradle of Wine''

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CULTURE OF GEORGIA

Culture of old Georgia

Ecclesiastical art

Ecclesiastical monuments

Literary and other written works

Culture of modern Georgia

Famous Georgian cultural figures (XX-XXI centuries):

Actors

Ballet dancers

Composers

Filmmakers

Opera singers

Painters

Pianists

Poets

Sculptors

Theatre producers

Writers

Sport

See also

External links

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