Can someone tell me about the ancient city of Colchis?

Question

Can someone tell me about the ancient city of Colchis?

Answer 1

In the present Crimea, home to the Golden Fleece seeked by Jason and the Argonauts. Or so I remember.

Answer 2

In ancient geography, Colchis or Kolchis (Georgian/Laz: კოლხეთი, k'olxeti; Greek: Κολχίς, Kolchís) was an ancient Georgian, state kingdom and region[6] in the Western Georgia (Caucasus region), which played an important role in the ethnic and cultural formation of the Georgian nation and its subgroups. The Kingdom of Colchis as an early Georgian state contributed significantly in development of the medieval Georgian statehood after its unification with eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia-Kartli.

Now mostly the western part of Georgia, it was in Greek mythology the home of Aeëtes and Medea and the destination of the Argonauts, as well as being the possible homeland of the Amazons. The ancient area is represented roughly by the present day Georgian provinces of Mingrelia, Imereti, Guria, Adjara, Svaneti, Racha, Abkhazia and the modern Turkey’s Rize Province and parts of Trabzon and Artvin provinces. One of the most important elements in the modern Georgian nation, the Colchians were probably established in the Caucasus by the Middle Bronze Age.

Answer 3

COLCHIS

Ancient Greek legends told of a fabulously wealthy land where Jason and the Argonauts stole the Golden Fleece from King Aeetes with the help of his daughter Medea. It was a distant land that was reached by the Black Sea and down the River Phasis. The actual site of this legendary kingdom has never been found but the Greeks must have been greatly impressed by the Colchis region of Georgia, through which the River Phasis (currently the Rioni River) runs, for such stories to have been born.

Geographically, ancient Colchis comprised the land bounded by the Black Sea to the west, the Caucasus Mountains to the north, the Surami Range to the east and the Meskhetian Mountains to the south. In this fertile, sheltered area, Colchian civilization flourished. Their Late Bronze Age (15th to 8th Century BC) saw the development of an expertise in the smelting and casting of metals that began long before this skill was mastered in Europe. Sophisticated farming implements were made and fertile, well-watered lowlands blessed with a mild climate promoted the growth of progressive agricultural techniques.

It is likely that the Golden Fleece existed. Earlier in this century, remote mountain villagers in Svaneti (a part of ancient Colchis) were observed using sheepskins to trap the fine gold particles in the rivers that flowed from the Caucasus Mountains. The skins would then be dried and beaten to shake out their contents. However, it is debatable as to whether or not the legendary 'wealth' of Colchis referred only to gold. Archaeological evidence dates the earliest Greek imports of painted pottery and amphorae to the end of the 7th Century BC. In exchange, it is thought that Greeks sought the rich natural resources of Colchis including wood and metal ores as well as textiles. The Ancient Greek writer, Herodotus, referred to the superior quality of Colchian linen and today, the mountain slopes remain heavily forested.

The site of an ancient temple city, Vani is a city in the Colchis Lowlands located on the western bank of the Sulori River at its confluence with the Rioni River (River Phasis in ancient times). It is best known for the extensive archaeological excavations that have taken place there during the past 100 years. Although only a third of the site has been studied, it has produced an astonishing number of artifacts: Colchian pottery, exquisite golden jewelry unique to Colchis, imported Greek luxury items, graceful bronze sculptures and a vast array of funerary pieces. Its location is on a hill bordered by two ravines and overlooks the plains through which the Rioni River flows. There are wonderful views of the Sulori River Valley with its surrounding hills and the Meskhetian Mountain Range in the background. It is not surprising, therefore, that Ancient Colchians chose this beautiful and strategic location as the political, economic and spiritual center of their community.

The name of this ancient city is still unknown but four distinct stages of uninterrupted occupation have been identified. Artifacts (mainly Colchian pottery) of the first stage, 8th to early 6th Century BC, are relatively few and badly damaged. A sacrificial area was found with clay animal offerings suggesting some importance of Vani over the adjoining areas which yielded no similar findings.

The second stage, early 6th to mid 4th Century BC, reveals many changes. An abundance of artifacts are found including imported Greek painted pottery and new types of pottery for the storage or transportation of cereals, oil and honey as well as the fermentation and storage of wine. Rich burial sites with large quantities of golden jewelry, silver and bronze adornments, pottery and luxury items befitting the status of the deceased indicate that the ruling elite were buried here while poorer graves were found only in the surrounding areas. The site seems to have been dominated by a local aristocracy with a socially stratified, urbanized society.

The Early Hellenistic Period of the mid 4th to the mid 3rd Century BC gave rise to a more marked Greek influence. Stone structures are utilized for the first time and many elements of Greek architecture are used. There is evidence of Greek customs being imitated in their burials and Greek innovations in gold fabrication techniques are observed. However, roof tiles, pottery and coins from Sinop as well as Cappadocian influences on signet rings and other glyptic items indicate an expansion of commercial activity with other areas and coincides with the decline of Attic imports in the Black Sea trade.

The fourth stage is the Late Hellenistic era from the mid 3rd to the mid 1st Century BC when the ancient city was destroyed. In this period, many temples and altars were constructed and enclosed by thick, defensive walls. Buildings were richly decorated with figured capitals, friezes and bronze statues that were probably produced by visiting Greek masters. There is evidence that this city was destroyed twice, the second being the final after which time only limited occupation occurred throughout the subsequent centuries.

Today, archaeological excavations continue with the hope of understanding more of Georgian history and the influences of Ancient Greek colonization of the Black Sea area. An archaeological field school at Vani allows you to participate in this modern day quest for such an understanding and perhaps the solutions to the many questions that remain unanswered regarding the legendary kingdom of King Aeetes as described in the stories of Jason and the Argonauts!

Around Vani

About 40 Km to the East of Vani along the Rioni River is Kutaisi, Georgia's second largest city and the most ancient city in the Kingdom of Colchis. It has retained many traits of a medieval town with massive fortress walls and the magnificent 11th Century Church of King Bagrat. The view from atop the old defensive walls behind the church is superb. The Rioni River emerges from the Racha Mountains to meander through the Colchis Lowlands while the Gelati Monastery sits in isolated splendor on a mountain across the river. It was built in the 12th Century by King David the Builder who also founded the adjacent Gelati Academy, an important school of philosophy, where you can still see the stone benches of the students and the Master's seat. King David consolidated Eastern and Western Georgia and his grave is here at the entry gate.

Near to Kutaisi, the Motsameta (Two Martyrs) Church nestles high on a cliff overlooking the Tskhaltsitela Gorge at a bend in the river. It commands a sweeping panorama of the gorge as well as the rocky escarpment of the facing cliffs. There are trails on both sides of the promontory that lead down to the river. On a hot, summer day, the river is too shallow for a swim but the cool, clear water is refreshing to splash in.

Northwest of Vani is the village of Nokalakevi, known to the Greeks of the 6th Century AD as Archaeopolis. It was the main city of Western Georgia from the 4th to the 8th Century AD and the residence of the kings at that time. A part of the massive defensive walls has been reconstructed and remains of the original walls can be seen running up the mountain and along the cliffs that border the Tekhuri River. Excavations revealed a secret gate that was accessed by a tunnel running down to the river at the western end of the city. In 737-738, the city was destroyed by the Arab general, Mervan ibn-Muhammad, known to Georgians as Mervan the Deaf because he was so oblivious to their pleas for mercy in his rampage throughout Georgia.

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