Mythologies of the Country of Georgia

The native name is Sakartvelo (საქართველო; “land of Kartvelians“), derived from the core central Georgian region of Kartli, recorded from the 9th century, and in extended usage referring to the entire medieval Kingdom of Georgia by the 13th century. The self-designation used by ethnic Georgians is Kartvelebi (ქართველები, i.e. “Kartvelians“). The medieval Georgian Chronicles present an eponymous ancestor of the Kartvelians, Kartlos, a great-grandson of Japheth. However, scholars agree that the word is derived from the Karts, the latter being one of the proto-Georgian tribes that emerged as a dominant group in ancient times. The name Sakartvelo (საქართველო) consists of two parts. Its root, kartvel-i (ქართველ-ი), specifies an inhabitant of the core central-eastern Georgian region of Kartli, or Iberia as it is known in sources of the Eastern Roman Empire. Ancient Greeks (Strabo, Herodotus, Plutarch, Homer, etc.) and Romans (Titus Livius, Tacitus, etc.) referred to early western Georgians as Colchians and eastern Georgians as Iberians (Iberoi in some Greek sources). The Georgian circumfix sa-X-o is a standard geographic construction designating “the area where X dwell”, where X is an ethnonym.

Georgian mythology (Georgian: ქართული მითოლოგია, romanized: kartuli mitologia) refers to the mythology of pre-Christian Georgians (/kʌrtˈvɛliənz/; Georgian: ქართველები, romanized: kartvelebi, pronounced [kʰɑrtʰvɛlɛbi]), an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group native to Georgia and the South Caucasus.The mythology of the Kartvelian peoples is believed by many scholars to have formed part of the religions of the kingdoms of Diauehi, Colchis and Iberia. Later influences include the mythologies of the Ancient Greeks, the Vainakh peoples[1] and Iranians – the last-named comprising both the belief systems of the Northern Iranian nomad Scythians and Sarmatians (still preserved to some extent in the mythology of their descendants the Ossetians) and that of the Zoroastrian religion of the Ancient Persian empire, which has left an enduring legacy among the nations of the Caucasus.

In ancient Georgian cosmology, the universe is sphere-shaped and consists of three vertically superposed worlds or skneli: the highest world or zeskneli is above the earth and is populated by the gods; the lowest world or qveskneli is below the earth and is the netherworld populated by demons, evil spirits and dragons; in between these two worlds in the earthly world with humans, animals, plants, etc. Each of these three worlds has its own color, white for the highest, red for the middle and black for the lowest. Beyond this universe is gareskneli or the world of oblivion, darkness and eternity. There are two bodies of water and fire, celestial and subterranean, which have unique properties and affect human lives differently. The sun makes its voyage between the two extreme worlds, the celestial and the subterranean.

Fascinating Georgian Myths and Legends

Georgia is a country of legends. Its legends and myths have mainly been preserved as famous tales. Many of them merged with Christian legends after the Christianisation of the country in the fifth century. However, Georgia didn’t convert to Christianity all at once; the lowlands embraced Christianity at first, while the highlands of the Caucasus mountain range were converted ten centuries later.

Legend of Tbilisi

According to the legend, the area of present-day Tbilisi was covered with lush forests without any inhabitants as late as 458 AD. This is the date old Georgian records indicate as the establishment of the city by King Vakhtang I Gorgasali of Iberia. The King went hunting in that heavily wooded area with a falcon. The falcon caught a pheasant, but struggled and both both birds fell into the nearby water. When the King and his army looked for the birds, they discovered the water was hot, and the birds had boiled. He was so impressed with the discovery that he decided to build a city. The name of the capital comes from the old Georgian word, Tpili meaning ‘warm’. The whole name Tbilisi translates to ‘warm location’ in English. This is due to the various sulfuric hot springs in the Abanotubani district.

Fourth Glass is of a Devil

This legend, involving wine, has remained in almost every corner of Georgia, including the mountain valleys, where wine culture never developed. When God lived on earth, he decided to make life easier for those who were driven out of heaven and forced to work hard on Earth. After a long time of thinking, God decided to create a beverage that would let people go back to heaven for even a short time. He invited all the angels and the devil to taste his creation: wine. Everyone liked wine, including the devil, but the devil felt obligated to compete with God. So, the devil created chacha, a potent alcoholic drink made from the remains of crushed wine grapes, and invited God to taste it. God drank one glass of chacha, then a second, a third and a fourth. After the fourth, he said to the devil, ‘Those who will drink three glasses of chacha may be on my side, after the that, they are yours’. When older members of the Tianeti community drink at a feast, they call the fourth glass of chacha or wine, ‘of a devil’ and move on to the fifth glass quickly.

St George of Mukhura and Devi (the Giant)

Once when St George lived on the earth, he visited Mukhura village in the Imereti region. Many giants (Georgians call Devi) lived there. When St George decided to go hunting, he notified his deacon not to open the door of the church to anyone until that person put his or her ‘pinky’ finger through the eyehole. The deacon acted accordingly, and when he saw the hairy baby finger of a giant at the eyehole of the church door, he didn’t open the door and screamed for St George to help him. The saint at that time was near the sea. When he heard the voice of the deacon, he took a big stone and threw it at the giant. He had so much strength that he missed the giant, and the rock flew over Mukhura and fell somewhere near Baraka village in the Racha region of Georgia. He immediately went to Mukhura and defeated the giant. He kicked the giant with his foot and threw him in a ravine along with several timber logs. On the place where the giant fell, a lake appeared, which locals began to call Devi Lake.

Star of fate

The oldest ancestors of the Georgians firmly believed that the number of stars in the sky was proportionate to the inhabitants on the planet. Every man had his or her star of fate, which protected the individual. The Georgian saying ‘born on a happy star’ comes from this belief. When a star fell from the sky, people would say that a person had died. Everyone respected their own star, their guardian angel that always treated them fairly and protected from evil forces.

Fiends

According to Georgian belief, fiends lived among men. They looked like people, but were actually witches, goblins or demons in disguise. They never slept. They tried to spoil things for people, and when they were victorious, they were extremely happy. According to old tales told by wiser generations, those fiends should not see a naked child in the morning before breakfast. Otherwise, the child would be cursed with weakness, and the enemy would plague him or her easily.

Chiakokonoba

Chiakokonoba is an ancient Georgian ritual that used to be held on Fat Thursday or a day before it. On this day, it was believed that fiends would ride wolves and stroll the streets harming citizens or spreading rumors about horrific wrongdoings against neighbors in the middle of the night. The festivity, which consisted of building strong fires against the fiends, was very popular in Georgia. Children gathered straw and wood to set up fires in the streets. They put long stakes in the fields and decorated them with crosses and thorn crowns. They believed that when fiends looked at the stakes, their power disappeared. In the evening, people gathered around the fire, sang songs and danced. Every single person was supposed to jump over the bonfire at least once to weaken the power of the fiends.

Ochopintre

Ochopintre was a half god, who lived in the woods and high cliffs. He had a goat’s horns on his head and furry legs. His footprints looked like a small child’s footprints. Due to his cheerful character and love of animals, St George made him guardian of shepherds, animals and beasts. Ochopintre took care of the forest with great passion. He was often invisible to people and loved to appear in the form of a shepherd among villagers. He looked after the animals and took special care of roe and deer. Ochopintre hated when hunters would hunt without his permission. He punished them cruelly for it. Once, a hunter killed a young roe, which made Ochopintre very angry. He cried out, ‘Why did you kill it?’ In his rage, he instantly blinded the hunter before the man could answer. This legend still lingers in some Georgian hunting rituals.

Amirani

A childless couple once lived in a small village. The man was a hunter despite the fact that he was blind in one eye. Once, when he was hunting, he heard a scream from a woman in a cave of crystal rock. When he entered the cave, he witnessed the goddess of the forest, Dali, in labor. At the request of Dali, the hunter cut her stomach with a golden knife and birthed her baby. When the hunter said it was a boy, the goddess replied to take it with him and name the baby Amirani. She also noted that Amirani would become a hero, and he would have been stronger than God if he hadn’t been born so early. Her words came true. Amirani grew at an incredible speed and became stronger each day.

Amirani did many good deeds. Giants, fiends, and dragons were afraid of him. They envied the excellent relationship between Amirani and the people. One day, they went to God and told him that Amirani had become stuck-up. They said he was merciless with the people and he bragged of being able to compete with God himself. God got angry and came down to Earth to punish the hero. He chained Amirani to a cave and surrounded him with glaciers. Amirani has been there ever since. The ravine delivers bread and a cup of wine to him each day. His loyal dog remains with him to lick the chain and help him escape. But every Thursday, blacksmiths work to strengthen the chains again. Once every three years, the cave door opens, and when Amirani sees the world, he tries to break the chain.

A sun goddess, a wolf lord and many other supernatural beings

Evil spirits in Georgian mythology are called Ali. These creatures usually harm the pregnant, infants, and solo travelers. They can be both male and female. They have a terrifying appearance with copper teeth and dirty long hair. Ali usually inhabit forests, rocks and ruins and often hide in stables. Female Ali can appear in the form of a golden-haired woman clad in white dress. Ali can become a faithful servant if someone manages to cut his/her hair and claws. In Georgian mythology Barbale is a goddess of the Sun and fertility. According to the folk beliefs, she provides good harvests as well as fertility for both people and livestock. Many celebrations and rituals used to be dedicated to her.It was thought that Barbale could cure different diseases, but at the same time she could inflict suffering, hardships and death upon people who displeased her.

Batonebi is the common folk name of communicable diseases such as measles, smallpox, scarlet fever and common cold.Based on old religious beliefs, Batonebi were little supernatural beings who, during their visit to villages, chose a family where they would bring the disease.It was thought that they liked music, dances, flowers and sweet treats.If one satisfied their needs and wishes, then the illness would pass quickly and painlessly.Correspondingly, the host family played the panduri (Georgian string instrument similar to a small guitar), placed sweets on the table, sang songs and performed dances to entertain Batonebi.

Dali is a goddess of hunting in Georgian mythology. According to the myths, she protects the wild herds, especially those of horned animals. This goddess could be found in the highlands, especially in Svaneti, north-western region of Georgia.As people used to believe, Dali was very beautiful and lived on a cliff from which her golden hair flowed down. Dali also was a shapeshifter, able to appear as an animal or bird. If a hunter confessed his love to her, she assisted him until the hunter kept their love affair secret.Upon breaking the promise, however, the hunter perished. A heroic Georgian demigod named Amirani is considered to be the son of Dali and one unknown hunter.

The devi are giant malicious creatures in Georgian mythology and folklore. These ogre-like creatures are covered in hair and have horns and several heads (from three up to a hundred).The more heads a devi has, the more strength he possesses. As a rule, seven or nine devi brothers live in underground in groups.They live off hunting and cattle breeding. Their habit of abducting beautiful women has also earned them some notoriety.

Mamberi is the master of wolves in Georgian mythology. This god was worshiped by Svan people and Western Georgia’s highlanders.If Mamberi approved the way the people lived and behaved, he muzzled the mouths of wolves that roamed the mountains.Yet if he was angry with humans, he ordered his wolves to devour their livestock.

Georgia has long been associated with the legend of Jason and the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece (Georgian: ოქროს საწმისი). Greek legends tell of a fabulously wealthy land called Kolkheti or Kolkha from which Jason stole the Golden Fleece from King Aieti (Georgian: აიეტი), helped by the king’s daughter Medea. The ancient kingdom of Kolkheti (Georgian: კოლხეთი) comprised the land bounded by the Black Sea to the west, the Caucasus Mountains to the north, the Surami Range to the east and the Meskhetian Mountains to the south. Today, the area is part of Georgia. The Kolkhetian people flourished and developed an expertise in the smelting and casting of metals long before this skill was mastered in Europe. As the Kolkhi society and culture thrived, it attracted the attention of Greek traders and adventurers who traveled to the kingdom to seek out the rich natural resources, including gold.