Abstracts - International Initiative for Georgian Cultural Studies

the 16 th century BC (Beshkenasheni). Sites in Sabechdavi, Knole, Tsritsi, Bareti, Akhaldaba, Losho, and
Armenia prove that “cyclopean” settlements reached dominant position in the period from the 13 th to the
7 th century BC.
The findings of a study on planning and settlement patterns of “cyclopean” sites discovered in Southern
Georgia suggest that five main types exist. One type is large “cyclopean” settlements, which are complex
systems characterized by a strong circuit wall and a citadel, and residential quarters of regular planning.
Usually containing several fortified sections (as in Sabechdavi, Tezi and Losho) or fortified sections surrounded
by an unbroken circuit wall (as in Utsklo, Bareti, Akhaldaba), they follow a principle of central
planning. They also contain an inner fortress, which indicates the separation of the governing class from
the rest of the society. Separately standing fortifications served as strongholds. Defending a specific section,
they also controlled roads running through the areas within “cyclopean” monuments.
Ketevan Ramishvili
Archaeological Research Center of National Museum of Georgia. Georgia
Horse Figurines in Old Georgia and Names Relating to Horse-Breeding in the Georgian Language
Numerous works of minor plastics horse figurines found in Georgia are of particular interest. Despite the
smaller number of such sculptures as compared to deer and Caucasian goat figurines, they provide valuable
evidence on the economic, military, spiritual, and social life of the creative society. Also, the manner of
execution of horse figurines and their attributes suggests high level of craftsmanship.
That the horse has long been present in Georgia and across the Caucasus is attested by bone material
found in the Paleolithic layers in Dmanisi and in Sagvarjile. According to archaeological records, the Caucasian
population domesticated the horse at an early stage of Maikop culture. Remains of domestic horse
and bone cheekpieces have also been unearthed in forest-steppe stripe of Eastern Europe dating from the
third millennium BC. Bone finds from the early Bronze Age sites attest that among other domestic animals,
people inhabiting the territory of Georgia also had horses.
In the Near East, to which Georgian tribes had close ties, horse and horse driven chariot appears in the
fourth millennium BC.
A burial mound, discovered at the village of Doghlauri, provides further evidence of advanced horsebreeding
practice. In it, two horse skeletons, wheel-type bronze cheekpieces, two horsebits and other items
were found. In addition, a horse together with a warrior was also uncovered in the village of Abanoskhevi in
the Aragvi valley; a bronze horse figurine was found at the Shilda shrine; and a horse clay minor sculptures
were uncovered at the Tserovani cemetery. Furthermore, graphical representations of the horse also widely
occur on objects unearthed at the Colchian-Koban culture cemeteries.
On the territory populated by Georgian tribes a horse was seen as a sacred animal and was associated
with the deities of fertility, the sun and the world of heaven. Solar signs, represented on bronze belts, with
which horse representations are adorned, refer to the divine nature of horses. If in the Bronze Age it was
stylized representations that prevailed, beginning from the Classical period, a realistic manner of horse depiction
became pronounced. Examples of this style can be found on Akhalgori temple pendants that bear a
representation of a pair of horses., though stylized rendering was still practiced.
The role of a divine horse, leading among ‘sacred animals,’ became especially obvious in the beginning
of the new millennium. This idea, apart from traditions, was encouraged by the spreading of Mithraism.
A large number of examples of horse representations from this period have been discovered in the Aragvi
valley, at the foothills of the Alazani basin and in the mountains of Kldeeti. My paper makes particular
emphasis on this material evidence.
The work is enclosed with horse and horse-breeding related terminology.
42
ANCIENT GEORGIA