Atinati

Maka Taktakishvili · August 20, 2026

GEORGIAN POLYPHONY : History, Significance and Consequences

Before discussing one of the greatest recognitions of Georgian culture, it is worth recalling how a new understanding of cultural heritage emerged globally and evolved within the framework of modernity.

Maka Taktakishvili · May 8, 2026

GEORGIAN WRESTLING: FROM NATIONAL SPORT TO WORLD HERITAGE

In October 2025, Tbilisi hosted the Georgian Wrestling World Championship. One hundred athletes from 25 countries around the world competed for the prestigious wrestling title. The competition featured participants from a diversity of countries, including among them Turkey, Greece, Mongolia, Egypt, Brazil, Japan, Iran, and Estonia. The celebration of this national sport culminated in a fascinating compelling master class, where Georgian wrestlers demonstrated showcased traditional techniques and unique technical aspects moves to the visiting athletes. Behind this achievement lies centuries of experience and a rich cultural heritage.

Buba Kudava · April 16, 2026

GEORGIA: A 3000-YEAR TRADITION OF CONTINUOUS STATEHOOD

When one thinks of Georgia, the associations may vary, yet certain shared impressions tend to emerge: the cradle of wine, a land of rich cultural heritage, a mountainous country with diverse natural landscapes, a country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, an ancient Christian nation with its own unique script, friendly and hospitable people, delicious and vibrant cuisine, polyphonic folklore, and fiery dances. For some, however, the first association is Stalin.

Maka Taktakishvili · April 8, 2026

THE LIVING CULTURE OF GEORGIA’S THREE ALPHABETS

“The Georgian alphabet is a remarkably refined instrument for conveying the full richness of the sounds of the Georgian language: its letters express each individual sound with precision and clarity, and, in this respect, no other alphabet can rival it.”

Shota Matitashvili · March 4, 2026

CATHOLICOS-PATRIARCH AMBROSIUS (KHELAIA)

Ambrosius (secular name: Besarion) Khelaia came from a family of priests and missionaries. His father, Zosime Khelaia, and his grandfather, David Khelaia, were active missionaries in Abkhazia. Ambrosius’ father served at one of the most revered shrines of western Georgia, the Church of St. George in Ilori. In the Georgian imagination, Ilori has been shrouded in a mystical veil since ancient times.

Maka Taktakishvili · January 23, 2026

The Ancient Georgian Traditional Qvevri Winemaking Method

What is regarded as a flaw in our wine is actually its strength. And if our wine ever reaches the world market, it will be because of this virtue. Ilia Chavchavadze 1887

Esma Mania · January 17, 2026

AKAKI TSERETELI

Akaki Tsereteli is unquestionably Georgia’s most beloved poet of the people. Indeed, he is known and loved more deeply than any other poet in the country. This extraordinary popularity stems from both his character and deep regard for his people, and, most importantly, from the uniqueness of his work. Tsereteli was a poet who was open, honest, simple, compassionate, and occasionally self-deprecating; who never shone the spotlight on himself; who used poetic forms that were popular and easy to understand; who creatively understood what people were saying; who skillfully adapted metaphors and idioms to fit the context; and who ruthlessly exposed political and social vices and human weaknesses through his creations. Tsereteli’s inexplicably profound compassion for the misery of his fellow citizens succeeded in piquing not only the interest of his contemporary society, but that of future generations too.

Ilia Tavberidze · December 27, 2025

Christmas is Coby

Shimmering glass, soft colors, silvery surfaces and distinctive packaging. Twelve Christmas tree ornaments, carefully placed in boxes of deep burgundy—the color of the state flag of the First Republic of Georgia—bore an engraved inscription: “Christmas is Coby.” Through this emotionally charged brand message, their creator, a Georgian immigrant, wished Americans a Merry Christmas.

Shota Matitashvili · November 1, 2025

King Erekle (Heraclius) II (1744-1798)

King Erekle was a son of King of Kakheti Teimuraz II. King Teimuraz II ruled Kakheti from 1709 to 1744, first as a governor, and then as King of Kartli from 1744. Interestingly, Teimuraz’s father, Erekle I (1688-1709), and brother, Constantine II (1722-1732), were not distinguished by their devotion to Christian religion or high ideals. Indeed, their biographies show that power was more important to them than the well-being of their subjects or peaceful relations with the neighboring rulers. Yet, it appears that, unlike his father and brother, Teimuraz was firmly determined to defend Christianity and establish an alliance with Russia so as to be able to defend his kingdom against its Muslim neighbors. Erekle II’s mother, Tamar, was the daughter of King Vakhtang VI (1716-24), so the prince, born in Telavi on November 7, 1720, united both the Kartlian and Kakhetian branches of the Bagrationi dynasty of Eastern Georgia.

David Lordkipanidze · September 29, 2025

SVANETI MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ETHNOGRAPHY

Georgia’s geographical location has long positioned it as a natural crossroad of civilizations. Despite centuries of external influences, the country has managed to preserve its cultural identity. Today, as Georgia tries to re-establish itself on the world map, our goal—alongside developing common values and participating in global processes—is to safeguard and celebrate that identity. I believe Svaneti and its renovated museum play an important role in this endeavor.

David Lordkipanidze · May 7, 2025

Museum: A Bridge between the Past and the Future

In the old Georgian language, Vani implies a residence, dwelling, or monastery. As a name signifying a location in Imereti, it first appeared in recorded data in the 1870s. This is how the "Vani Gospels" inscription, as well as the descriptions of the German traveler Guldenstedt, refer to the village, which is now known as "Upper Vani" and is famous for the Archangel Church erected during the 11th and 12th centuries. According to Vakhushti Bagrationi, an 18th-century Georgian historian and geographer, Vani was known as "Sachino."

Zaza Abashidze · April 15, 2025

IVANE JAVAKHISHVILI

The role of the distinguished historian and public figure Ivane Javakhishvili in the development of almost all fields of the humanities is especially remarkable. His work marked the beginning of a new era in Georgia—not only in the development of historical studies, but also in many related fields.

Shota Matitashvili · September 6, 2024

MISSIONARIES AND ASCETICS IN SIXTH CENTURY GEORGIA - THIRTEEN ASSYRIAN FATHERS

The men were both ascetics and missionaries, whose mission was to preach Christianity, and the foundation of monasteries became part of this mission. It is hard to know to which theological doctrine these ascetics adhered, and there is a great variety of scholarly opinion regarding this fact, seeing some declaring them Chalcedonians, others anti-Chalcedonians, while part of the academic community believes them to have been Nestorians.

Shota Matitashvili · July 11, 2024

THE UNIFICATION OF MEDIEVAL GEORGIA

At the end of the tenth century, the Georgian kingdoms and principalities entered a decisive battle for the unification of all the Georgian lands. The Kingdom of Apkhazeti (western Georgia), Tao-Klarjeti (southern Georgia), and Kartli, dominated by various great houses and the Kingdom of Kakhet-Hereti, struggled for dominance and supremacy in the Caucasus. In the early 10th century, the leading political role was assumed by Apkhazeti, yet, soon, the southern Georgian kingdom of Tao-Klarjeti was to re-emerge as a significant force in Caucasian politics.

Aka Morchiladze · May 31, 2024

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF PIROSMANI

Devastated by the aftermath of World War I, the future renowned Georgian artist Lado Gudiashvili seeks out Niko Pirosmani in order to help him procure financial support from Tbilisi’s Union of Artists. He finds Niko, but it is of little use.