Recent archaeological excavations have uncovered a basalt tablet with inscriptions in an unknown language near Lake Bashplemi, in the Dmanisi region of Georgia. The discovery is significant not only because of the rarity of the material found but also because it could reveal unknown aspects of the ancient civilizations that inhabited the Caucasus. The finding, […]
Georgia
Posted inAntiquity
Mesrob Mashtots, the Armenian Monk of the 5th Century AD who Invented Alphabets
Čanačʿel zimastutʿiwn ew zxrat, imanal zbans hančaroy (To seek wisdom and discipline, to understand insightful words…) This quote is from the Book of Proverbs (1:2), one of the books of the Old Testament traditionally attributed to Solomon. It is also said to be the phrase chosen by the monk Mesrob Mashtots to translate the Bible […]
Posted inMiddle Ages
The Cave Monastery of Vardzia Has More than 500 Rooms on 19 Levels
Nestled on the rugged cliffs along the Kura River Valley in southern Georgia is one of the most unusual and astonishing medieval monasteries in the world: Vardzia. Carved entirely into the rock of Mount Erusheti for over 500 meters, Vardzia is an architectural marvel with up to 19 levels of chambers. The site has a […]
Posted inAncient Rome
The Clever System the Romans Applied to Give Wines Their Color and Bouquet
Most people have a vague idea that the ancient Romans enjoyed wine, but what was their wine actually like? A new interdisciplinary study provides fresh insights into the sensory qualities and production techniques of Roman wine that challenge our current understanding. Through a comparison with the traditional winemaking methods still practiced today in the country […]
Posted inGeography, Travel
The spectacular Katskhi Pillar in Georgia
Near the village of Katskhi in the Imereti region of western Georgia, there is a natural monolith of rock about 40 meters (131 feet) high known as the Katskhi Pillar. The first mention of it in historical records appears in the 18th-century work “Description of the Kingdom of Georgia” by the cartographer, historian, and geographer […]
