TBILISI, the capital of Georgia lies in a gorge of
Mtkvari river. It is only in 120 km from the Greater Caucasus ridges and 250 km
from the Black Sea. The city is some 400 sq.km in area, its population totalling
1,500,000. For the first time Georgian Chronicles mention the city as a fortress
of the IV c., while archaeological finds point to the existence of human
settlements back in the IV-V millenium BC. Location of Tbilisi at a
strategically advantageous location in the narrow gorge was both the advantage
and disaster for the city: many times it used to be destroyed by invaders, but
each time the city rose from ashes. Periods of flourishing were followed with
times of decadence, and vice versa. For that reason Tbilisi has been adopting
new designs, though maintaining traditional shapes. The most active growth of
the city started in early 19th c. when Tbilisi was gradually transformed from a
medieval feudal town into a European bourgeois city. Today Tbilisi is a fusion
of ancient and modern constructions fascinating a visitor with its unfading
beauty.
The balcony of Queen Darejan
Tbilisi
Botanical Gardens, initially the Royal gardens, were laid in the 17c.
The first information in written sources dates to 1671. Tbilisi Botanical
gardens occupy some 1.5 sq. km, and is divided into 10 floristic-geographical
zones: East Asia, Japan-China, Mediterranean, North America, Europe, Himalayas,
Far East, Eastern Transcaucasus, Hircan, and Colchis. Dendrological collection
of the Gardens comprises some 2,000 species. The same amount of herbs is found
in the collection. A river flows in the middle of Gardens, and there is even a
waterfall in its way.
Ethnographic
Museum out in the Open is located in Tbilisi on a mountain slope
near Turtle Lake. It has the collection of historical wood and stone buildings
from different parts of Georgia. Houses are furnished in fashion with the
corresponding period.
Narikala
Fortress dominates the Old Town of Tbilisi. A complex system of
forts was built at the site back in the 4th c., which overlooked an important
trade route linking East with West. The chief contours of the fortress took
shape apparently by the 13th c. The fortress was surrounded by a double ring of
walls, the traces of the front one surviving on the eastern side. Two
underground passages led to the Mtkvari river. The Royal palace was located
within Narikala in the 17th c.
Historical
Museum of Georgia (in Tbilisi) was founded in 1852 under the
Caucasian Department of the Russian Geographical Society. The museum eventually
developed into an independent Caucasian Museum, merging in 1878 with a museum of
the Society of Enthusiasts of Caucasian Archaeology. It is the largest
treasure-house of the Georgian cultural heritage, its stocks totalling over
850,000 items. Deserving of special mention is a Special treasure Room where
ancient objects made of noble metals from the 3rd millenium B.C. until the 4th
c. A.D. is exhibited.
Georgian Museum of
Art (in Tbilisi) exposition is devoted mainly to Georgian Art,
reflecting its development from the early Middle Ages to our days. It has also
the rich collection of Georgian, Russian, European and Oriental art. The
museum's treasury contains first-class specimens of Georgian chasing (chasing is
a method for ornamenting metal by marking with a tool without a cutting edge)
from the 9th to the 19th cc. Of great interest is the largest collection of the
Georgian cloisonn? enamels. The pride of the collection is the famous 12th c.
Khakhuli triptych incorporating a large 10th c. icon of the Virgin rendered in
the cloisonn? enamel technique. The entire surface of the triptych is covered
with a fanciful ornamentation, cloisonn? enamel medallions and
jewels.
Barn from Samegrelo (west Georgia)
Temple pendants, IV c. BC
Presentation at the Temple. Cloisonne enamel, XII
c.
