Shota Tvaladze
The University of Georgia.
Custodian of the Historical Archaeological Museum Fund.
Junior Research Associate at the Tamaz Beradze Center for Georgian Studies.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Shota Tvaladze
The University of Georgia.
Custodian of the Historical Archaeological Museum Fund.
Junior Research Associate at the Tamaz Beradze Center for Georgian Studies.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Description of the Mtskheta Version of The Life of Kartli/Georgians
Abstract
The Mtskheta version of the 'Life of the Georgians' includes the following manuscripts: Mariami's manuscript, the old part of Machabeli's manuscript, and the manuscript copied by Mgaloblishvili, also known as the 1697 manuscript.
1. Mariami's Manuscript: Location of the manuscript: The manuscript is currently kept at the National Centre of Manuscripts, inventory number №S-30.
Name of the manuscript: The name "Mariami's Manuscript" originates from Queen Mariam Dadiani, the wife of Rostom, King of Kartli (1633-1657). For a long time, it was believed that the manuscript № S-30 was directly copied by the order of Mariam Dadiani. However, later it was revealed that the surviving manuscript is a precise paleographic copy of the original, created under Mariam's order. This copy was specially made at the beginning of the 18th century for King Vakhtang VI (Khurtsikidze, 1993, pp. 101-122). Despite this, the manuscript is still referred to as "Mariami's Manuscript."
History: the manuscript (copy) was discovered in 1884 by Dimitri Bakradze and was handed over to the Library of the Society for the Spread of Literacy among Georgians. From there, it was transferred to the Manuscripts Department of the State Museum of Georgia and later to the Korneli Kekelidze Institute of Manuscripts (now the National Centre of Manuscripts).
2. Mgaloblishvili's Manuscript: Location of the manuscript: The manuscript is kept at the National Centre of Manuscripts, inventory number №Q-1219.
Name of the manuscript: It was copied in 1697 by Ioseb Mgaloblishvili. The dating is based on the information from the patron’s will inscription. The manuscript has not established a specific name in historiography and is simply referred to as the '1697 manuscript' based on its copying date. Since A. Klimiashvili discovered it, it could also be called "Klimiashvili's Manuscript." Some historians indeed refer to it this way. However, I believe it is more appropriate for the manuscript to be named after its creator and copyist, Mgaloblishvili.
History: The manuscript was discovered in 1959 by Akaki Klimiashvili, a researcher at the Korneli Kekelidze Institute of Manuscripts, in the village of Patara Khoni, Kharagauli District, at the home of Olga Machavariani.
3. Machabeli's Manuscript: Location of the manuscript: It is kept at the National Centre of Manuscripts, inventory number №H 2135.
Name of the manuscript: The name derives from the copyist, Giorgi Machabeli. The manuscript was created in Moscow in 1736 by Giorgi Machabeli. Until 1923, it was kept at the Public Library in Leningrad (KHHA 1949, H Collection, Vol. V, p. 98). The dating is based on Giorgi Machabeli's will inscription.
History: The manuscript is hybrid, i. e., mixed, and consists of both old and new parts. The old part, as Giorgi Machabeli himself reports, was copied from an incomplete manuscript belonging to King Archil (first reign in 1662 – died in 1711 in Moscow), which lacked the beginning, the history of the pagan era, and started with the words: 'The arrival of the Persians and the reign of Mirian.' Additionally, the text lacked the beginning of the work by Tamar's first historian, 'The History and Praise of Sharavanded.' It begins with the phrase: 'Who has subdued the rhetors of the Moabites of the water and made mute the eloquent speakers of all tongues,' and the text is missing the part until the words: 'First, He who spreads grace upon both them and us.' The text ends with the work of the chronicler."
Keywords: The Life of Kartli/Georgians, Mtskheta version of the 'Life of the Georgians', Mariami's Manuscript, Klimiashvili's Manuscript, Machabeli's Manuscript