Kartlis Deda ( ka, ქართვლის დედა; ''Mother of
Kartvel'' or ''Mother of
Georgian'') is a monument in
Georgia's capital
Tbilisi.
The statue was erected on the top of
Sololaki hill in 1958, the year Tbilisi celebrated its 1500th anniversary. Prominent Georgian sculptor
Elguja Amashukeli
Elguja Amashukeli (Georgian: ელგუჯა დავითის ძე ამაშუკელი; 22 April 1928 – 10 March 2002) was a Georgian sculptor and painter. From 1981 to 1996 he was the chairman of the Georgian Association of ...
designed the twenty-metre
aluminium figure of a woman in Georgian national dress.
Symbolism
She symbolizes the Georgian national character: in her left hand she holds a bowl of wine to greet those who come as friends, and in her right hand is a sword for those who come as enemies.
History
In 1966 Elguja Amashukeli was awarded the Shota Rustaveli State Prize for this sculpture. He called the statue "Capital", and it commonly became known as "Mother of Kartvel". The accessories of the sculpture, the cup with wine and sword, are an expression of the history of our city, Tbilisi, the endless battles with the enemies and the welcoming of friendly guests.
The original statue erected on Sololaki Hill in 1958 was a wooden allegorical statue that would temporarily decorate the capital. Later it was decided to become permanent and the wood texture was covered with aluminum in 1963 to limit environmental damage. In 1997, the old statue was replaced with a new one.
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Kartlis Deda (Mother of Kartli)
», georgiantravelguide.com, 16/02/2020
Gallery
Image:Tbilisi Kartlis Deda monument IMG 8855 1920.jpg, Side view
Image:K'art'lis Deda monument, Tbilissi.JPG, Side view with the hill
Image:Kartlis Deda - Mother of a Kartli or Mother of a Georgian - Photo by Mostafa Meraji 03.jpg, Statue with cable cars in the foreground
Image:Kartlis Deda - Mother of a Kartli or Mother of a Georgian - Photo by Mostafa Meraji 05.jpg, The statue from the bottom of the hill, side view
image:Kartlis Deda - Mother of a Kartli or Mother of a Georgian - Photo by Mostafa Meraji 10.jpg, Closeup showing the statues from the hips and above
Image:Kartlis Deda - Mother of a Kartli or Mother of a Georgian - Photo by Mostafa Meraji 08.jpg, Statue from stairwell
Image:Kartvlis Deda.jpg, Statue from back
See also
*
List of tallest statues
*
Mother Armenia
References
Colossal statues
Monuments and memorials in Tbilisi
National symbols of Georgia (country)
1958 sculptures
Aluminium sculptures
Georgian words and phrases
National personifications
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