Ajara Archives Administration
Historian, History Teacher. MA. Writer
ბათუმი/საქართველო
pkardava@yahoo.com
Abstract
Asmat represents one of the most distinguished and compelling figures in The Man in the Panther's Skin. A pivotal character in the epic, she is the eternal confidante and companion to Nestan and Tariel, sharing in their profound tribulations as well as their ultimate triumph. Her narrative is inextricably intertwined with the fates of the protagonists, mirroring their personal sacrifices—including her own experiences of near-forced marriage and eventual exile.
Characteristic of Shota Rustaveli’s literary style, the prototypes of his characters appear to be summoned from the royal lineages documented in Kartlis Tskhovreba (The Georgian Chronicles). This study seeks to present Rusudan, a highly significant historical figure and the half-sister of Queen Tamar, as the archetypal prototype for the character of Asmat.
History records that this Rusudan—the daughter of King George III and raised under the tutelage of the elder Rusudan (Tamar’s paternal aunt)—was a formidable political figure and diplomat. Growing up alongside Queen Tamar, David Soslan, and potentially Prince Demna, she navigated the complex court politics of the era. As the chronicler emphasizes, she concluded her life in a state of exceptional spiritual and virginal devotion.
This paper endeavors to analyze the correlation between this historical persona and the character of Asmat, illustrating how Rusudan’s historical role serves as the structural and symbolic prototype and archetype for Rustaveli’s heroine.
Keywords: Asmat, Nestan, Tariel, Rusudan, Kartlis Tskhovreba (The Georgian Chronicles), Prototype, Archetype, Rustavelology.