Armaztsikhe
Armaztsikhe, Bagineti, is a citadel of old Mtskheta on the right side of Mtkvari, in the southern part of the city. Due to its convenient location, it dominated the roads leading to Mtskheta. Leonti Mroveli mentioned Kartlos — the legendary ancestor of all Georgians — as the first founder of the fortified city. The name “Armaztsikhe” derives from Armazi, the chief pagan deity of Kartli.
Excavations were carried out from 1943 (under the leadership of A. Apakidze). Three major cultural layers have been identified: lower layer (Armaztsikhe I) of the ancient city which dates back to the 4th–3rd centuries BC; Middle layer (Armaztsikhe II) — 3rd–1st centuries BC; Upper layer (Armaztsikhe III) — 1st century BC and following centuries (until the end of the period of Mtskheta being the capital). Two main stages of construction were identified. First: the main building material was cut stone and mud brick; Mud brick walls were built on cut stone foundation; The cut stones were inserted into nests carved into the rock. Second: mortar was also used in construction.
In Armaztsikhe, the ruins of the fence, towers and bastions, the buildings of the royal residence (hall with columns, bathhouse, open and closed aqueduct), the royal crypt and the mausoleum were discovered. A large number of gold and silver items were found in the tomb-sarcophagus of the king's daughter (2nd century). Important city and royal buildings were covered with flat and grooved tiles.
The importance of Armaztsikhe as a political and strategic center decreased after Tbilisi became the capital. In 735-738, Armaztsikhe was ravaged by the Arabs. Archaeological excavations in Armaztsikhe were resumed in 1993 with the leadership and funds of the Mtskheta Revival Foundation.
Source: ქართლის ცხოვრება, ს. ყაუხჩიშვილის გამოც., ტ. 1, თბ., 1955.
Literature: ა ფ ა ქ ი ძ ე ა., ქალაქები და საქალაქო ცხოვრება ძველ საქართველოში, წგ. 1, თბ., 1963; ჯანაშია ს., შრომები, ტ. 6, თბ., 1988; Меликсет-Беков Л., Армази, Тб., 1938.
A. Apakidze
