Ancient Art in Georgia

Ancient art is the art of ancient Greece, Hellenistic countries and Rome. It originated and developed on the Balkan and Italian Peninsulas, the Aegean Archipelago and the western coast of Asia Minor in the 1^st millennium BC and the 1st half of the 1^st millennium AD. This term is also sometimes used to refer to the art of the same era of the peoples of the Mediterranean, the Black Sea coasts and the Western Asia. Ancient art had influenced the art of almost all eras and peoples.

A large number of ancient art monuments have been discovered on the territory of Georgia. The Roman fortresses of the 1^st–4^th centuries are relatively better preserved, typical examples of which are the castles of Apsaruti, Sebastopolis (Sokhumi), Bichvinta (see Gonio Fortress, Bichvinta, Dioscuria). The influence of Roman architecture can be observed in Eastern Georgia as well, especially in the construction of palaces and bath-houses. Individual architectural details (columns, cornices, friezes, doors, and other parts) have been found in many places in Georgia (Vani, Sokhumi, Mtskheta, and others).

Floor mosaics of Dzalisi architectural complex and Bichvinta are masterpieces of Roman monumental-decorative art. A marble tomb stela of the 5^th century BC found near Sokhumi is a fine example of classical Greek sculpture. Fragments of bronze and marble Greco-Roman statues have been discovered in several places in Georgia. “Young man's torso” — a fragment of a monumental bronze sculpture of the Hellenistic age (former Vani, 2^nd century BC) is worth noting. It belongs to the circle of classicist art focused on the so-called strict style patterns. A small (19 cm) bronze figure of naked Dionysus found near the village of Kodistskaro is a great example of ancient sculpture.

Georgian land has preserved numerous monuments of ancient decorative and applied art, which have been found as a result of archaeological excavations (Tsikhisdziri, Vani, Kldeeti, Zghuderi, Urbnisi, Aghaiani, Mtskheta and others). Among the best examples of Greek painted vases are the red kraters of the early classical period found in the Pichvnari Tomb No. 1, made in Attica around 450 BC and belonging to the so-called Niobid artistic circle (Adjara State Museum).

Roman pottery was also imported - red lacquered trays and other tableware, the so-called Terra sigillata (Bichvinta, Sokhumi). Greek-Hellenistic coroplastic (terracotta) monuments were also discovered in Georgia by archaeologists. Small terracotta statues formed in special forms were a characteristic element of the ancient Greek family life, and they spread widely throughout the ancient world, including Georgia, along with the Hellenic culture. A statue of Kore sitting in a gilded terracotta chair was found in Uplistsikhe as part of the Hellenistic age treasure (Art Museum of Georgia). Excellent examples of ancient art found in Sarkine were made with local clay: terracotta masks of the 2^nd–1^st centuries BC with the images of Dionysus, Ariadne and their attendants (Georgian National Museum. Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia). A significant number of ancient toreutic monuments have been discovered in Georgia.

A whole series of masterpieces of ancient Greek toreutics of the late archaic and classical styles were found in the lavish tombs excavated at Vani archaeological site. A brilliant monument of Greek-Hellenistic toreutics is a large-sized copper vessel (krater) discovered in one of the temples of Vani. The vessel is decorated with bronze sculptural figures. The heads of Ariadne, Pan and the Maenads are distinguished by excellent craftsmanship. Round statue of Nike, the goddess of victory (bronze, 15 cm) adorns the krater valve.

An even larger number of Greco-Roman monuments of hardstone carving have been discovered in Georgia. Hardstone carving of the late archaic and classical period (6^th-4^th centuries BC) is represented in Georgia only by metal, mainly gold, seals. Especially high-quality products were obtained in Vani and Pichvnari. Magnificent examples of Hellenistic hardstone carving is the garnet intaglio with portrait bust of Egyptian Queen Arsinoe II (3^rd century BC). It is believed that in the 2^nd–3^rd centuries Greco-Roman artists of hardstone carving came to Kartli and worked at the court of the kings and nobles.

Monuments of hardstone carving were mostly a part of goldwork — they were used in rings, bracelets, necklaces and brooches. Ancient jewelry was imported to Georgia along with monuments of hardstone carving.

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I. Gagoshidze