Mtskheta – Georgia's Oldest Historic City

Mtskheta, an ancient city, stands among the oldest cities in Georgia. Situated at the confluence of the Aragvi and Mt’k’vari rivers, it is approximately 20 km northeast of the capital Tbilisi. The city is in the Kartli province in eastern Georgia and serves as the administrative center for the Mtskheta-Mtinaneti region, with a current population of around 8,000.

Mtskheta – The Ancient City of Georgia's Rich History

The remains of the ancient city of Mtskheta date back over 1,000 years BC. Mtskheta was the capital of the Iberian Kingdom of Georgia from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD. It became a stronghold of Christianity in 317 AD and remains the headquarters of the Georgian Orthodox Church to this day.

In the early 6th century, King Dachi I Ujarmeli (successor to King Vakhtang I Gorgasali) moved the capital from the ancient city of Mtskheta to Tbilisi. This decision was made according to his father's will. Although no longer the capital, the city continued to host coronation ceremonies and the burial grounds of many Georgian kings, a tradition that persisted for centuries until the end of the monarchy in the 19th century.

Mtskheta is home to the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, built in the 11th century, and the Jvari Monastery dating back to the 6th century. These architectural marvels play a significant role in Georgia's Christian history and hold great historical importance in the development of medieval architecture throughout the Caucasus region.

Svetiskhoveli Cathedral, built in the 11th century, and Jvari Monastery, dating back to the 6th century, stand as significant architectural wonders of the Georgian Christian tradition. Both structures hold crucial importance in the development of medieval architecture across the Caucasus, not just in historical terms but also in shaping the ancient Georgian alphabet system preserved at Svetiskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery.

In the outskirts of the city of Mtskheta, you can find remnants of the Ar-maztsikhe fortress (from the 3rd century BC), the Armaztsikhe defensive wall (from the 1st millennium BC), the legendary 'Pompey's Bridge' site (as per legend, constructed by the Roman army of Pompey the Great in the 1st century BC), scattered ruins of the Royal Palace (from the 1st to the 3rd centuries AD), a 1st-century AD tomb, a small 4th-century church, Samtavro Monastery (11th century), and Bebris Tsikhe Fortress (14th century). Additionally, the Institute of Archaeology building and the Mikheil Mamulashvili Garden hold significant historical value.

The historical sites in the ancient city of Mtskheta represent the cultural and artistic achievements of the Iberian Kingdom of Georgia, which no longer exist today. These architectural marvels played a crucial role in the development of architectural and cultural history in medieval Georgia, standing out as prominent structures of the Georgian Christian tradition.

Svetiskhoveli Cathedral and Jvari Monastery can be considered outstanding religious architecture representing different stages of architectural art development from the 4th to the 8th century in the Caucasus region. Recognizing their invaluable historical and artistic values, in 1994, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) acknowledged the historical sites in the ancient city of Mtskheta as a World Heritage Site.

Source: Ngaynay.vn

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour