Georgian literature

Georgian literature refers to the literature of the country of Georgia, which is located in the region between Europe and Russia. This literature is written in the Georgian language and with the unique Georgian alphabet. It is also distinguished by its strong focus on subjects related to Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The earliest Georgian literature was written in the late fourth century. The country’s position between the Eastern and Western worlds also means that some Georgian literature consists of translations of the literature of one of these regions.

Brief history

Georgia sits on about 26,911 square miles (69,700 square kilometers) at the juncture between Europe and Asia in what is known as the Caucasus region. It has existed as a country since around 500 BCE. Its strategic location between the East and West meant that foreign nations fought for control of Georgia for centuries. Persia (contemporary Iran), the Republic of Türkiye, and Russia all tried to lay claim to Georgia until it finally fell under the control of Russian czars in the nineteenth century. It remained under the control of czarist Russia’s successors, including the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia became an independent state.

Two things that have helped distinguish Georgia as a country are its unique alphabet and language. The earliest form of the alphabet and language were developed by the fifth century Common Era (CE). The script has evolved to the point where, in contemporary times, three variations exist. Each variation is used primarily for a different purpose. The original alphabet, Mrgvlovani, is used predominantly by the country’s Orthodox Christian churches. Mrgvlovani is used by authors and craftspeople, such as writers and embroiderers, who produce hymns, written texts, and objects such as icons and vestments used in worship. Mrgvlovani evolved into another variation, Nuskhuri, which is likewise primarily associated with the Orthodox Church. Finally, between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries, Mkhedruli developed. While all three variations may be taught to students for historical purposes, Mkhedruli is commonly used in contemporary times.

Another defining factor of Georgian literature is the strong influence of Orthodox Christianity, particularly the Apostolic Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Autocephalous means “self-headed.” It refers to a church that chooses its own patriarch, bishops, and other leaders without interference from outside organizations or individuals, such as a pope. It is also known as the Georgian Orthodox Church. Much of the literature and art from Georgia’s medieval period was sponsored by and produced for the Church.

Overview

Georgian literature is distinctive because of its unique alphabet and the geopolitical and religious influences that have affected it. While poetry, folklore, and other forms of literature were created during the earliest period, the oldest surviving written literature is from the fifth century CE. Most of the literature from the Middle Ages and early modern times is religious due to the strong influence of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Modern Georgian literature often focuses on societal issues such as morality, the rights of minorities, and the upheaval experienced by a country that has always been squeezed between geographic regions with different worldviews.

Early Georgian Literature

The literary history of Georgia dates as far back as the third century BCE, when the country was strongly influenced by Persia. The use of a uniquely Georgian language first began under the ruler of the time, King Pharnavaz I. The frequent political conflicts in the region during this era resulted in the destruction of much of the written literature of this early period. Only fragments of the earliest literary works remain. Most of these are portions of folk tales that originated in this time but were recorded in later works. One such story is the “Book of Nimrod.” Nimrod is a character that makes several appearances in early literature, including the Jewish and Christian Bibles and is mentioned in the works of other Jewish and early Islamic and Christian writers. In the Old Testament, he is referred to as a hunter and a great-grandson of Noah, builder of the ark.

Christian Literature

During the fourth century, many Georgian literary works were translations of stories, poems, and other pieces written in neighboring regions. In the early fifth century CE, missionaries from Cappadocia in present-day Türkiye introduced Christianity to Georgia. There was resistance, but over time, the religion began to take root. By the middle of the century, Christianity became the country’s official religion.

As a result of the adoption of an official religion, Georgian writers began creating literature based on Christian topics. It included hagiographies—biographies of saints—and hymnographies, or books of Christian songs called hymns for worship. The earliest surviving Georgian manuscript is attributed to Jacob the Priest and is called The Martyrdom of the Holy Queen Shushanik. Shushanik was an Armenian Christian woman who died around the year 475 CE. She was martyred—or killed for believing in Jesus Christ—by her husband, who had converted to Zoroastrianism.

Christian concepts and topics continued to be important to Georgian literature throughout the Middle Ages. Writers also borrowed from other cultures for forms and topics, sometimes combining them. Poetry, folklore, heroic legends, and epic tales were added to the biographical and semi-biographical works of saints and martyrs common in the earliest Georgian literature. The twelfth-century epic poem The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin, sometimes translated as The Knight in the Panther’s Skin, is one example of this adoption of other styles. The allegorical work follows the classical conventions of chivalric literature, notably a knight’s quest for love. Its author, Shota Rustaveli, remains the national poet of Georgia.

Georgian scribes—mostly associated with the Georgian Orthodox Church—also continued translating the works of neighboring cultures. These include The Wisdom of Balahvar from the tenth or eleventh century, which is a Christianized version of the life of Buddha, and the twelfth-century work Visramiani, which is a translation of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana. The work of Georgian scribes helped introduce Europe to these important literary works from Asian cultures. Later, the tables would be turned as poets and writers from various other countries translated Georgian works into their own languages.

Later Georgian Literature

While Christianity remained an important factor in Georgian culture, literature began to move outside Church sponsorship by the end of the Middle Ages. As a result, more works were created with less or no emphasis on Christian themes. Seventeenth-century writer and diplomat Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani wrote The Georgian Dictionary, a combined dictionary and lexicon that covers special idiomatic expressions and other quirks of the Georgian language, along with collections of fables and tales. This dictionary remains in use in contemporary times. Early nineteenth-century poet Luka P. Razikashvili, who wrote under the pen name Vazha-Pshavela (1861–1915), wrote two important poetry collections, Host & Guest (1893) and Aluda Ketelauri (1888).

Early twentieth-century poet Galaktion Tabidze (1892–1959), known as the People’s Poet of Georgia and often referred to simply as Galaktioni, is known for “The Moon over Mtatsminda” and “The Wind is Blowing,” among many others. His 1919 collection Artistic Flowers was highly influential. Tabidze was skilled at obscuring the purpose of his work, advocating for modernism but appearing to support socialism to deceive the Communists in power. Other important Georgian writers of the twentieth century include Konstantine Gamsakhurdia (1893–1975), who wrote The Right Hand of the Grand Master (1939) and Kidnapping the Moon (1935/1936), among other works. The novels and short stories of Nodar Dumbadze (1928–1984) include Me, Grandma, Iliko, and Ilarion (1960); The White Banners (1973); The Law of Eternity 1978); and Don’t Be Afraid, Mother (1971). His works earned numerous prizes, including some from the Communist Soviet Union government. Me, Grandma, Iliko, and Ilarion was adapted for film in 1962. The later twentieth and early twenty-first centuries feature the work of Guram Dochanashvili (1939–2021), most notably The First Garment. This novel, published in 1975, follows a young man in the nineteenth century who seeks adventure. The traveler, an innocent named Domenico, eventually participates in the War of Canudos in Brazil. Contemporary author Tamta Melashvili achieved fame for her short stories, which she initially published online. Her first novella, Counting Out (2010), addresses modern concerns including drug trafficking and the bleakness of society.

In the twenty-first century, Georgian literature comprises several genres and often blends traditional storytelling with contemporary themes. Increased international attention is being paid to the Georgian literary scene as more original works are translated worldwide. Many works of Georgian literature explore the country's unique national identity, deal with social issues the country has experienced in the post-Soviet era, and integrate traditional folklore into contemporary narratives. Notable contemporary Georgian authors include Otar Chiladze, Keti Dolidze, Giorgi Kakhiani, and David "Dato" Turashvili.

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