The culture of

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

has evolved over the country's long history, providing it with a unique national identity and a strong literary tradition based on the Georgian language and

alphabet An alphabet is a standardized set of basic written graphemes (called letters) that represent the phonemes of certain spoken languages. Not all writing systems represent language in this way; in a syllabary, each character represents a syllab ...

. This strong sense of national identity has helped to preserve Georgian distinctiveness despite repeated periods of foreign occupation. Although Georgia is a largely traditional society, its culture continues to undergo changes in the 21st century. For example, Georgia is one of the first countries in the world to legalize cannabis for both recreational and medical use.

Culture of Ancient and Old Georgia

The Georgian alphabet is traditionally said to have been invented in the 3rd century BC and reformed by King

Parnavaz I of Iberia Pharnavaz I (; ka, ფარნავაზ I ) was a king of Kartli, an ancient Georgian kingdom known as Iberia in classical antiquity. ''The Georgian Chronicles'' credits him with being the first monarch founding the kingship of Kartli and ...

in 284 BC. Most modern scholarship puts its origin date at some time in the 5th century AD, when the earliest examples can be found. Georgia's

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

culture was greatly influenced by Eastern Orthodox Christianity and the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church, which promoted and often sponsored the creation of many works of religious devotion. These included churches and monasteries, works of art such as

icons An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Catholic churches. They are not simply artworks; "an icon is a sacred image used in religious devotion". The most c ...

, and

hagiographies A hagiography (; ) is a biography of a saint or an ecclesiastical leader, as well as, by extension, an adulatory and idealized biography of a founder, saint, monk, nun or icon in any of the world's religions. Early Christian hagiographies might ...

of Georgian saints. In addition, many secular works of national

history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narra ...

, and hagiography were also written.

Ecclesiastical art

Medieval Georgian icons are renowned as being among the finest creations of Orthodox religious art. Notable examples include: * The Icon of 886 from

Zarzma monastery , infobox_width = , image = Zarzma monastery (Photo A. Muhranoff, 2011)-2.jpg , alt = , caption = The monastic church of Transfiguration at Zarzma , map_type = Georgia#Samtsk ...

* The Icon of the 9th century from Tsilkani * The famous Wonderworking Iberian Icon of the Mother of God (10th century) * The Icon of the 10th century from Okona * The Icon of Our Lady of Khakhuli of the 12th century * The Icon of St. George of the 11th century from Labechina * The Icon of St. George of the 11th century from Nakipari * The

Icon An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Catholic churches. They are not simply artworks; "an icon is a sacred image used in religious devotion". The most ...

of the 12th century from Anchiskhati * The Icon of the 14th century from Ubisa * The Icon of the 16th century from Alaverdi

Ecclesiastical monuments

A page from a rare 12th century Gelati Gospel

Georgian crown, Museum of Cultural History in Tbilisi, Georgia

Well-known monuments of Georgian Christian

architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing building ...

include: * The Georgian Church in

Bethlehem Bethlehem (; ar, بيت لحم ; he, בֵּית לֶחֶם '' '') is a city in the central West Bank, Palestine, about south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000,Amara, 1999p. 18.Brynen, 2000p. 202. and it is the capital o ...

(4th century) * The Church of Gavazi (4th century) in Akhalsopeli ( Kvareli district of Kakheti region) * Akaurta Church (5th century) in

Bolnisi Bolnisi ( ka, ბოლნისი, az, Qəmərli), is a city in the country of Georgia, located in the Kvemo Kartli region and capital of the Bolnisi district. It currently has an estimated 13,800 inhabitants. History Bolnisi was settled ...

district (

Kvemo Kartli Kvemo Kartli ( ka, ქვემო ქართლი, az, Aşağı Kartli) or "Lower Kartli", is a historic province and current administrative region ( mkhare) in southeastern Georgia. The city of Rustavi is the regional capital. Location K ...

region) * Ikalto Monastery complex (5th-7th centuries) ( Kakheti) * Sioni Church (5th century) in

* Monastery of Shio Mghvime (6th century) *

Davidgareja David Gareja ( ka, დავითგარეჯის სამონასტრო კომპლექსი) is a rock-hewn Georgian Orthodox monastery complex located in the Kakheti region of Eastern Georgia, on the half-desert slopes o ...

Monastery complex (6th-7th centuries) *

Jvari Monastery :''The name of this monastery translated as the "Monastery of the Cross". For the Georgian monastery in Jerusalem with the same name, see Monastery of the Cross.'' Jvari Monastery () is a sixth-century Georgian Orthodox monastery near Mtskheta, ...

in Mtskheta (6th century) * Anchiskhati Church (6th century) in

Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Kura River with a population of approximately 1.5 million p ...

* Nekresi Monastery Complex (4th-9th centuries) in Kakheti * Sioni church (7th century) in Ateni * Petritsoni Monastery in

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...

(11th century) * The Georgian Monastery (10th century) on the Black Mountain in Syria (now territory of

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...

) * The Georgian Iveron Monastery on Athos (10th century) *

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral ( ka, სვეტიცხოვლის საკათედრო ტაძარი, ''svet'icxovlis sak'atedro t'adzari''; literally the Cathedral of the Living Pillar) is an Orthodox Christian cathedral located ...

in Mtskheta (11th century) * Opiza Monastery (10th century) in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of

) * Monastery Doliskana (10th century) in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of

) * Monastery Otkhta-Eklesia in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of

) *

Oshki Monastery Oshki ( ka, ოშკი Oshki, tr, Oşkvank Manastırı/Çamlıyamaç) is a GeorgianTao-Klarjeti (now territory of

) *

Bagrati Cathedral The Cathedral of the Dormition, or the Kutaisi Cathedral, more commonly known as Bagrati Cathedral ( ka, ბაგრატი; , or ''Bagratis tadzari''), is an 11th-century cathedral in the city of Kutaisi, in the Imereti region of Georgia. A ...

(11th century) in Kutaisi *

Gelati Monastery Gelati ( ka, გელათის მონასტერი) is a medieval monastic complex near Kutaisi in the Imereti region of western Georgia. One of the first monasteries in Georgia, it was founded in 1106 by King David IV of Georgia as ...

(11th century) in Kutaisi * Motsameta monastery (11th century) in

Imereti Imereti ( Georgian: იმერეთი) is a region of Georgia situated in the central-western part of the republic along the middle and upper reaches of the Rioni River. Imereti is the most populous region in Georgia. It consists of 11 munic ...

* Sioni Cathedral (11th century) in

* Alaverdi church (11th century) in Kakheti * Monastery Samtavro (12th century) in Mtskheta * Vardzia Monastery (12th century) in

Meskheti Meskheti ( ka, მესხეთი) or Samtskhe ( ka, სამცხე) ( Moschia in ancient sources), is a mountainous area in southwestern Georgia. History Ancient tribes known as the Mushki (or Moschi) and Mosiniks (or Mossynoeci) were t ...

Gialia Monastery The Gialia Monastery ( ka, ღალია, ''Ğalia''; el, Γιαλιά) is the ruined medieval Georgian Orthodox monastery at the village of Gialia, Paphos District, northwest Cyprus. The monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary (The Golden V ...

(10th-16th centuries) in

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ge ...

Well-known Georgian painters were Damiane (13th century), Anania (15th century), Mamuka Tavakarashvili (17th century), etc. The works of the famous Georgian goldsmiths, Beka and Beshken Opizari (11th century), are outstanding contributions to world art.

Literary and other written works

Important Georgian literary works of the pre-Christian period are: * '' Amiraniani'', ancient Georgian folk epos. Notable Georgian written works from the medieval period include: * ''

Martyrdom of the Holy Queen Shushanik The ''Martyrdom of the Holy Queen Shushanik'' (also translated as ''The Passion of Saint Shushanik''; ka, წამებაჲ წმიდისა შუშანიკისი დედოფლისაჲ, tr) is the earliest surviving pie ...

'' by

Iakob Tsurtaveli Jacob of Tsurtavi ( ka, იაკობ ცურტაველი, tr) also known as Jacob the Priest (იაკობ ხუცესი, Iakob Khutsesi) was the 5th-century Georgian religious writer and priest from Tsurtavi, then the major t ...

(the oldest surviving work of the Georgian literature written between 476 and 483) * '' Corpus Areopagiticum'', a philosophical and theological work attributed by some to

Peter the Iberian Peter the Iberian ( ka, პეტრე იბერი, tr) (c. 417-491) was a Georgian royal prince, theologian and philosopher who was a prominent figure in early Christianity and one of the founders of Christian Neoplatonism. Some have claime ...

(5th century) * The '' Life of Saint Nino'' (8th century) (anon) * '' The Martyrdom of Abo Tbileli'' by Ioane Sabanisdze (8th century) * The '' Life of Grigol Khandzteli'' by Giorgi Merchule (10th century) * '' A History of the Georgian Kings'' ("''Tskhovreba Kartvelta Mepeta''") by Leonti Mroveli (11th century) * '' A History of the Royal House of Bagrationi'' by

Sumbat Davitisdze Sumbat Davitis Dze ( ka, სუმბატ დავითის ძე), or Sumbat, son of David, in modern English transliteration, was the 11th-century Georgian chronicler who described in his ''The Life and Tale of the Bagratids'' the history ...

(11th century) * ''

Eteriani ''Eteriani'' ( ka, ეთერიანი, " he taleof Eteri") is a Georgian folk epic romance which has come down to us in the form of about 70 pieces of oral prose and poetry, probably dating from the 10th or 11th century. Variants also exist ...

'', a folk epic (c. 11th century) * '' Life of the King Farnavaz'' (anon) (11th century) * '' Ustsoro Karabadini'' (''Peerless Karabadini'') (11th century) * '' Tamariani'' by Ioane Chakhrukhadze (12th century) * '' Shen Khar Venakhi'' ("''Thou Art a Vineyard''"), the famous Georgian hymn by the King Demetre I Bagrationi (12th century) * ''Vepkhistkaosani'' (''

The Knight in the Panther's Skin ''The Knight in the Panther's Skin'' ( ka, ვეფხისტყაოსანი, tr literally "the one with the skin of a tiger") is a Georgian medieval epic poem, written in the 12th or 13th century by Georgia's national poet Shota Rusta ...

''), a national

epic poem An epic poem, or simply an epic, is a lengthy narrative poem typically about the extraordinary deeds of extraordinary characters who, in dealings with gods or other superhuman forces, gave shape to the mortal universe for their descendants. ...

Shota Rustaveli Shota Rustaveli ( ka, შოთა რუსთაველი, c. 1160 – after c. 1220), mononymously known simply as Rustaveli, was a medieval Georgian poet. He is considered to be the pre-eminent poet of the Georgian Golden Age and one of ...

(12th century) * '' Abdulmesiani'' by Ioane Shavteli (13th century) * '' Kartlis Tskhovreba'' (''History of Georgia''), a collection of old Georgian chronicles (from ancient times to the 14th century)

Culture of Georgia today

Starting from the early 16th century, although certain aspects of more recent times were already incorporated since the 12th century, until the course of the 19th century, Georgian culture became significantly influenced by

Persian culture The culture of Iran () or culture of PersiaYarshater, Ehsa, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII no. 1 (1989) is among the most influential in the world. Iran, also known as Persia, is widely considered to be one of the cradles of civilization. Due t ...

. Though notably more visibly amongst the higher classes, Persian cultural aspects were incorporated amongst the already existing Georgian columns, especially painting, architecture, and literature. The French traveller Jean Chardin who visited Georgia in 1672 noted that the Georgians of the kingdom of

Kartli Kartli ( ka, ქართლი ) is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari (Kura), on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial rol ...

followed Persian customs. Since many Georgian kings, princes, and nobles were either born or raised in mainland

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

, it is not surprising that Persian cultural aspects spread in Georgia. During the modern period, from about the 17th century onwards, Georgian culture has been greatly influenced by cultural innovations imported from elsewhere in Europe. The first Georgian-language printing house was established in the 1620s in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

, and the first one in Georgia itself was founded in 1709 in

. Georgian theatre has a long history; its oldest national form was the " Sakhioba" (extant from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD). The Georgian National Theatre was founded in 1791 in Tbilisi, by the writer, dramatist, and diplomat Giorgi Avalishvili (1769–1850). Its leading actors were Dimitri Aleksi-Meskhishvili, David Machabeli, David Bagrationi, Dimitri Cholokashvili, and others. Torso - Georgia National museum

In Tbilisi, the Museum of the Caucasus was founded in 1845. In the 1920s, it became the State Museum of Georgia. The Tbilisi State Theatre of Opera and Ballet was established in 1851. Greatest representatives of Georgian culture of the 19th century were: Nikoloz Baratashvili (poet),

Alexander Orbeliani Count Alexander Orbeliani (Jambakur-Orbeliani) ( ka, ალექსანდრე ორბელიანი ��ამბაკურ-ორბელიანი (May 24, 1802 – December 28, 1869) was a Georgia (country), Georgian Romantic ...

(writer),

Vakhtang Orbeliani Prince Vakhtang Orbeliani ( ka, ვახტანგ ორბელიანი) (April 5, 1812 – September 29, 1890) was a Georgia (country), Georgian Romanticist poet and soldier in the Imperial Russian service, of the noble House of Orbelian ...

(poet),

Dimitri Kipiani Prince Dimitri Ivanes dze Kipiani ( ka, დიმიტრი ყიფიანი alternatively spelled as Qipiani) (April 14, 1814 – October 24, 1887) was a Georgian statesman, publicist, writer and translator. A leader of Georgia's liberal ...

(writer),

Grigol Orbeliani Prince Grigol Orbeliani or Jambakur-Orbeliani ( ka, გრიგოლ ორბელიანი; ჯამბაკურ-ორბელიანი) (2 October 1804 – 21 March 1883) was a Georgian Romanticist poet and general in Imper ...

(poet), Ilia Chavchavadze (writer and poet), Akaki Tsereteli (poet), Alexander Kazbegi (writer), Rapiel Eristavi (poet),

Mamia Gurieli Mamia Gurieli ( ka, მამია გურიელი, ) was a member of the House of Dadiani and '' eristavi'' ("duke") of Guria in western Georgia in the latter half of the 15th century. He was the first ruler of Guria styled as Gurieli, after ...

(poet),

Iakob Gogebashvili Iakob Gogebashvili ( ka, იაკობ გოგებაშვილი) (October 15, 1840 – June 1, 1912) was a Georgian educator, children’s writer and journalist, considered to be the founder of the scientific pedagogy in Georgia. Throug ...

(writer), Simon Gugunava (poet), Babo Avalishvili-Kherkheulidze (actor), Nikoloz Avalishvili (actor), Nikoloz Aleksi-Meskhishvili (actor), Romanoz Gvelesiani (painter), Grigol Maisuradze (painter), Alexandre Beridze (painter), Ivane Machabeli (translator), Okropir Bagrationi (translator), Sardion Aleksi-Meskhishvili (translator), Kharlampi Savaneli (opera singer), Pilimon Koridze (opera singer), Lado Agniashvili (folk singer), Alioz Mizandari (composer), etc. The first cinema in Georgia was established in Tbilisi on November 16, 1896. The first Georgian cinema documentary ("Journey of Akaki Tsereteli in Racha-Lechkhumi") was shot in 1912 by Vasil Amashukeli (1886–1977), while the first Georgian feature film ("Kristine") was shot in 1916 by Alexandre Tsutsunava (1881–1955). The Tbilisi State Academy of Arts was founded in 1917. Georgian culture suffered under the rule of the

Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

during the 20th century, during which a policy of Russification was imposed but was strongly resisted by many Georgians. Since the independence of Georgia in 1991, a cultural resurgence has taken place, albeit somewhat hampered by the country's economic and political difficulties in the post-Soviet era.

Cuisine

Georgian cuisine Georgian cuisine () consists of cooking traditions, techniques, and practices of Georgia. Georgian cuisine has a distinct character, while bearing some similarities with various national cuisines of the Caucasus and the wider Eastern Europe. E ...

refers to the cooking styles and dishes created by the Georgians. The Georgian cuisine is unique to the country, but also carries some influences from other

Caucasian Caucasian may refer to: Anthropology *Anything from the Caucasus region ** ** ** ''Caucasian Exarchate'' (1917–1920), an ecclesiastical exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Caucasus region * * * Languages * Northwest Caucasian l ...

Eastern European Eastern Europe is a subregion of the European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russia, whi ...

and nearby Middle Eastern culinary traditions. Each historical province of Georgia has its own distinct culinary tradition, with variations such as Abkhazian, Megrelian, Kakhetian,

an,

Svaneti Svaneti or Svanetia (Suania in ancient sources; ka, სვანეთი ) is a historic province in the northwestern part of Georgia. It is inhabited by the Svans, an ethnic subgroup of Georgians. Geography Situated on the southern slop ...

an,

Pshavi Pshavi ( ka, ფშავი) is a small historic region of northern Georgia, nowadays part of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti ''mkhare'' ("region"), and lying chiefly among the southern foothills of the Greater Caucasus mountains along the Pshavis Aragvi ...

an, Tushian,

an,

Guria Guria ( ka, გურია) is a region (''mkhare'') in Georgia, in the western part of the country, bordered by the eastern end of the Black Sea. The region has a population of 113,000 (2016), with Ozurgeti as the regional capital. Geography ...

n, Meskhian, Rachian and Adjarian cuisines. Rich with meat dishes, the Georgian cuisine also offers a variety of

vegetarian Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slaughter. Vegetariani ...

dishes. Georgian cuisine is the result of the broad interplay of culinary ideas carried along the Silk Road Trade route by merchants and travelers alike. The importance of both food and drink to Georgian culture is best observed during a feast called ''

supra Supra may refer to: * Supra (feast), an important part of Georgian social culture *Toyota Supra, a sports car/grand tourer produced from 1978 to 2002, and then since 2019 *Supra (footwear brand) *Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Assoc ...

'', when a huge assortment of dishes are prepared, always accompanied by large amounts of local

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...

, known to be one of the world's oldest wines, produced in ancient authentic Georgian underground ''

kvevri Kvevri or Qvevri ( ka, ქვევრი ) - also known as Tchuri ( ka, ჭური) in Western Georgia - are large earthenware vessels used for the fermentation, storage and ageing of traditional Georgian wine. Resembling large, egg-shaped ...

'' clay pots (dating 8 century BC). In a Georgian feast, the role of the '' tamada'' (

toastmaster Toastmaster is a general term, prevalent in the United States in the mid-20th century, referring to a person in charge of the proceedings of a public speaking event. The toastmaster is typically charged with organization of the event, arrangin ...

) is an important and honoured position.

Famous Georgian cultural figures

Some famous Georgian cultural figures from the 20th–21st centuries are:

Actors

* David "Dodo" Abashidze *

Veriko Anjaparidze Veriko (Vera) Ivlianovna Anjaparidze ( ka, ვერიკო ანჯაფარიძე, in Kutaisi – 1987 in Tbilisi) was a Soviet and Georgian stage and film actress. Life and career Andjaparidze studied at the Aidarov Drama Studio ...

* Spartak Bagashvili * Givi Berikashvili * Ramaz Chkhikvadze * Kakhi Kavsadze * Ipolite Khvichia *

Akaki Khorava Akaki Khorava ( ka, აკაკი ხორავა; 29 April 1895 - 23 June 1972) was a Georgian and Soviet actor, theater director and pedagogue. He appeared in more than fifteen films from 1924 to 1965. He is best known for his performances ...

Zurab Kipshidze Zurab Kipshidze ( ka, ზურაბ ყიფშიძე; 10 Aug 1953) is a Georgian film and theatre actor. He appeared in 58 films between 1966 and 2009. In 2013 he was a member of the jury at the 35th Moscow International Film Festival. Fi ...

Avtandil Makharadze Avtandil Ivanovich Makharadze ( ka, ავთანდილ მახარაძე; born 16 July 1943) is a Georgian actor. He was born in Batumi. Active since the 1970s. Avtandil Makharadze started his acting career as a student at Shota Ru ...

* Merab Ninidze * Guram Sagaradze * Karlo Sakandelidze *

Sesilia Takaishvili Sesilia Takaishvili (30 September 1906 - 21 May 1984) was a Georgian actress. She appeared in more than forty films from 1945 to 1983. Selected filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Takaishvili, Sesilia 1906 births 1 ...

* Bukhuti Zakariadze * Sergo Zakariadze *

Nato Vachnadze Natalia "Nato" Vachnadze ( ka, ნატო ვაჩნაძე), born Natalia Andronikashvili ( ka, ნატო ანდრონიკაშვილი), (14 June 1904 – 14 June 1953) was a Georgian and Soviet film actress. She started h ...

Sofiko Chiaureli Sophia Chiaureli ( ka, სოფიკო ჭიაურელი; 21 May 1937 – 2 March 2008), professionally known as Sofiko Chiaureli, was a Soviet Georgian actress. Thought to be the muse of filmmaker Sergei Parajanov, she played a sig ...

Ballet dancers

* Nino Ananiashvili * Vakhtang Chabukiani * Irma Nioradze

Composers

* Sulkhan Tsintsadze *

Dimitri Arakishvili Dimitri Arakishvili ( ka, დიმიტრი არაყიშვილი) (11 February 1873 – 13 August 1953) was a Soviet and Georgian composer and ethnomusicologist considered one of the founding fathers of modern Georgian music. He was ...

Andria Balanchivadze Andria Balanchivadze ( ka, ანდრია მელიტონის ძე ბალანჩივაძე, ''Andria Melit'onis dze Balanchivadze'', russian: Андре́й Мелито́нович Баланчива́дзе, Andrei Meliton ...

* Meliton Balanchivadze * Alexandre Basilaia *

Gia Kancheli Gia Kancheli ( ka, გია ყანჩელი; 10 August 1935 – 2 October 2019) was a Georgian composer. He was born in Tbilisi, Georgia but resided in Belgium. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kancheli lived first in ...

* Bidzina Kvernadze * Giorgi Latsabidze * Zakharia Paliashvili * Otar Taktakishvili

Filmmakers

* Tengiz Abuladze * Vasil Amashukeli * Mikheil Chiaureli * Revaz Chkheidze * Otar Ioseliani * Mikheil Kobakhidze * Eldar Shengelaia *

Giorgi Shengelaia Giorgi Shengelaia ( ka, გიორგი შენგელაია; russian: Гео́ргий Никола́евич Шенгела́я; 11 May 1937 – 17 February 2020) was a Georgian and Soviet film director. He directed 14 films since 196 ...

* Alexandre Tsutsunava *

Nana Mchedlidze Nana Mchedlidze ( ka, ნანა მჭედლიძე, russian: Нана Мчедлидзе; 20 March 1926 – 29 March 2016) was a Soviet and Georgian actress, film director and screenwriter. From 1950 to 1954 she was an actress with the ...

Opera singers

* Medea Amiranashvili *

Paata Burchuladze Paata Burchuladze ( ka, პაატა ბურჭულაძე) (born 12 February 1955) is a Georgian operatic bass and civil activist. After his debut in his native Tbilisi in 1976, he embarked on a 35-year-long musical career during which h ...

* David Gamrekeli * Lamara Cekonia * Makvala Kasrashvili * Badri Maisuradze * Vano Sarajishvili * Zurab Sotkilava * Nino Surguladze

Painters

Irakli Parjiani Irakli Parjiani ( ka, ირაკლი ფარჯიანი) was a Georgian painter. He was born in the town of Mestia, Upper Svaneti, in Georgia's mountainous region. He studied at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts (1968-1974), at the Fac ...

* Elene Akhvlediani * David Alexidze *

Gia Bugadze Gia Bugadze ( ka, გია ბუღაძე) is a prolific contemporary Georgian artist. He was the Rector of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts from 2003 to 2012. Early life and education Gia (Giorgi) Bugadze was born on September 24, 1956, ...

* Amiran Danibegashvili * Gigo Gabashvili * Oleg Timchenko *

Petre Otskheli Petre Otskheli (; 25 November 1907 – 2 December 1937) was a Georgian modernist set and costume designer who designed in theatre in Georgia. Born in Kutaisi, Otskheli studied at the Kutaisi realschule and the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts in t ...

* Lado Gudiashvili *

Gia Gugushvili Gia Gugushvili (; born August 16, 1952) is a Georgian painter. Gia Gugushvili has produced nonfigurative as well as and minimalistic figurative compositions. His paintings are in museums and private collections all over the world. Gia Gugushvili ...

Mamuka Japharidze Mamuka Japharidze (born 1962) is an artist from the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. He is especially known for representing Georgia in the 48th Venice Biennale. He currently lives in Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some language ...

* Irakli Gamrekeli * David Kakabadze *

Shalva Kikodze Shalva Kikodze (; 1894–1921) was a Georgian expressionist painter, graphic artist and theatre decorator. Together with Lado Gudiashvili and David Kakabadze, he is considered a key figure in Georgian art of the early 20th century. Biography H ...

Sergo Kobuladze Sergo Kobuladze ( ka, სერგო ქობულაძე; February 7, 1909 – July 22, 1978) was a Soviet and Georgian painter and illustrator. He was a rector of the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts The Tbilisi State Academy of Arts ( ka, ...

* Niko Pirosmani * Levan Tsutskiridze *

Avto Varazi Avto Varazi ( ka, ავთო ვარაზი) was a Georgian artist and painter. Avto Varazi occupies a special place in Georgian painting of the 20th century. The artist applied various painting systems and techniques with equal success. R ...

Pianists

Alexander Korsantia Alexander Korsantia (born 1965, Tbilisi) is a Georgian pianist. Alexander immigrated to Canada in 1992, settling in Vancouver, British Columbia. After living in Vancouver for a number of years, he moved to Boston, Massachusetts. He won the 198 ...

Giorgi Latso Giorgi Latso (born Giorgi Latsabidze, ka, გიორგი ლაცაბიძე, ; 15 April 1978) is a Georgian-American concert pianist, film composer, arranger, adjudicator, improviser and Doctor of Musical Arts. He is listed on the li ...

Alexander Toradze Alexander Davidovich "Lexo" Toradze ( ka, ალექსანდრე თორაძე ''Aleksandre Toradze''; May 30, 1952 – May 11, 2022) was a Georgian-born American pianist, best known for his classical Russian repertoire, with a car ...

* Eliso Virsaladze * Inga Kashakashvili *

Khatia Buniatishvili Khatia Buniatishvili ( ka, ხატია ბუნიათიშვილი, ; born 21 June 1987) is a Georgian concert pianist. Early life and education Born in 1987 in Batumi, Georgia, Khatia Buniatishvili began studying piano under her ...

* Luka Okros

Poets

* Galaktion Tabidze *

Alexander Abasheli file:Alexander Abasheli.jpg, 250px, Alexander Abasheli Alexander Abasheli ( ka, ალექსანდრე აბაშელი) was a pen name of Isaac Chochia (ისააკ ჩოჩია) (August 15, 1884 – September 27, 1954), a Geor ...

Irakli Abashidze Irakli Abashidze ( ka, ირაკლი აბაშიძე) (10 September 1909 – 14 January 1992) was a Georgian poet, literary scholar and politician. Abashidze was born in Khoni, Kutais Governorate, Russian Empire. He graduated from Tbili ...

Rati Amaglobeli Rati Amaglobeli ( ka, რატი ამაღლობელი; born 1977) is a Georgia (country), Georgian poet and translator. He studied Philology at the Tbilisi State University, until 2000, published his poems in anthologies and magazines ...

* Diana Anphimiadi * Lado Asatiani * Valerian Gaprindashvili * Terenti Graneli * Ioseb Grishashvili *

Paolo Iashvili Paolo Iashvili ( ka, პაოლო იაშვილი; 29 June 1894 – 22 July 1937) was a Georgian poet and one of the leaders of Georgian symbolist movement. Under the Soviet Union, his obligatory conformism and the loss of his friends at ...

Ana Kalandadze Ana Kalandadze ( ka, ანა კალანდაძე) (15 December 1924 – 11 March 2008) was a Georgian poet and one of the most influential female figures in modern Georgian literature. Kalandadze was born in the village Khidistavi near ...

* Giorgi Leonidze * Mukhran Machavariani * David Magradze *

Kolau Nadiradze Kolau Nadiradze ( ka, კოლაუ ნადირაძე) (24 February 1895 – 28 October 1990) was a Georgia (country), Georgian poet and the last representative of Georgian Symbolism (arts), Symbolist school. Born in Kutaisi, Georgia (the ...

* Vazha-Pshavela *

Titsian Tabidze Titsian Tabidze ( ka, ტიციან ტაბიძე, simply referred to as Titsiani; ka, ტიციანი) (16 December 1937), was a Georgian poet and one of the leaders of the Georgian symbolist movement. He fell victim to Joseph ...

* Nikoloz Baratashvili * Ilia Chavchavadze * Akaki Tsereteli * Bela Chekurishvili

Sculptors

* Elguja Amashukeli * Iakob Nikoladze *

Irakli Ochiauri Irakli Ochiauri ( ka, ირაკლი ოჩიაური, russian: Иракли Очиаури; November 20, 1924 – December 4, 2015) was a Georgian painter and sculptor who was awarded the Shota Rustaveli State Prize, the highest prize i ...

* George Papashvily * Zurab Tsereteli

Theatre producers

Sandro Akhmeteli Sandro Akhmeteli ( ka, სანდრო ახმეტელი; real name: Aleksandre Akhmetelashvili, ალექსანდრე ახმეტელაშვილი) (April 13, 1886 – June 27, 1937) was a Georgian theater director w ...

Kote Marjanishvili Konstantine "Kote" Marjanishvili ( ka, კონსტანტინე (კოტე) მარჯანიშვილი), also known by the Russified name Konstantin Aleksandrovich Mardzhanov (russian: Константи́н Алекса́н ...

Robert Sturua Robert Sturua ( ka, რობერტ სტურუა; born 31 July 1938, Tbilisi) is a Georgian theater director, who gained international acclaim for his original interpretation of the works of Brecht, Shakespeare, and Chekhov. He was based ...

* Mikheil Tumanishvili

Writers

* Vasil Barnovi * Lasha Bugadze * Otar Chiladze * Tamaz Chiladze *

Konstantine Gamsakhurdia Konstantine Gamsakhurdia ( ka, კონსტანტინე გამსახურდია) (May 3, 1893 – July 17, 1975) was a Georgian writer and public figure. Educated and first published in Germany, he married Western European in ...

* Levan Gotua * Shalva Dadiani * Guram Dochanashvili *

Mikheil Javakhishvili Mikheil Javakhishvili ( ka, მიხეილ ჯავახიშვილი; birth surname: Adamashvili ადამაშვილი) (20 November 1880 – 30 September 1937) was a Georgian and Soviet novelist who is regarded as one of the ...

Otia Ioseliani Otia Ioseliani ( ka, ოტია იოსელიანი) (June 16, 1930 – July 14, 2011) was a Georgia (country), Georgian prose writer and dramatist, whose plays have been successfully staged in Georgia as well as in other countries of the ...

* Jemal Karchkhadze * Leo Kiacheli *

David Kldiashvili David Kldiashvili ( ka, დავით კლდიაშვილი, ''Davit' Kldiašvili'') (August 29, 1862 – April 24, 1931) was a Georgia (country), Georgian prose-writer whose novels and plays are concentrated on the degeneration of the c ...

* Aka Morchiladze * George Papashvily *

Guram Rcheulishvili Guram Rcheulishvili ( Georgian: გურამ რჩეულიშვილი; July 4, 1934 in Tbilisi, Georgia ― August 23, 1960 in Gagra, Georgia) was a Georgian writer. Biography Guram Rcheulishvili was born on July 4, 1934 in Tbilisi. ...

Grigol Robakidze Grigol Robakidze () (October 28, 1880, Sviri (West Georgia) – November 19, 1962, Geneva) was a Georgian writer, publicist, and public figure primarily known for his prose and anti-Soviet émigré activities. Biography He was born on October ...

* Avksenty Tsagareli * David Turashvili * Nodar Dumbadze * Terenti Graneli

Cultural groups

Dance troupes

* Erisioni * Sukhishvilebi - Georgian National Ballet

Choirs

* Rustavi Choir

Sport

* Zaza Pachulia (basketball player for Golden State Warriors) * Kakha Kaladze (footballer for

AC Milan Associazione Calcio Milan (), commonly referred to as AC Milan or simply Milan, is a professional football club in Milan, Italy, founded in 1899. The club has spent its entire history, with the exception of the 1980–81 and 1982–83 seaso ...

) *

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ( ka, ხვიჩა კვარაცხელია, tr; born 12 February 2001) is a Georgian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Serie A club Napoli and the Georgia national team. Club career Early car ...

(footballer for SSC Napoli)

Rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

is a popular team sport played in Georgia. Rugby union is considered the second most popular sport in Georgia, after football.

References

External links

Georgia History and Culture

Georgian Web by Besiki Sisauri

Friends of Georgia International Foundation
Information on Georgian Culture & History

Many online Georgian e-books (PDF) on the CD "Anthology of Georgian classical literature" by

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

Project
Authors

Georgian Art, Tiflis Avenue
* TITUS project
Armazi
an

Georgia - South Caucasus

''From the Cradle of Wine''
* Kharbedia, Malkhaz: "Conformism and Resistance: The Birth of the Modern Georgian Literature" in th
Caucasus Analytical Digest No. 14

Georgian Contemporary Art Portal
{{DEFAULTSORT:Culture Of Georgia (Country) Articles containing video clips