5 Surprising Facts about Georgia
- therichiest
VIVA – Georgia is a country in Western Asia, located at a strategic crossroads between Europe and Asia bordering Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The country boasts an enchanting Black Sea coast and the Caucasus Mountains.
Once upon a time, Georgia was a strategic location for trade routes that made neighboring countries and empires eye the destination for centuries. Some countries even fought over Georgian territories such as Turkey, Russia, and the former Persian empire. The Soviet Union ruled Georgia in the 19th century until its eventual independence.
Well, here are five facts about Georgia that we bet you do not know, as quoted from various sources.
1. Georgia is actually not Georgia
Pemandangan alam Georgia (foto ilustrasi).
- Facebook/Devi Adventure
At least according to the locals, they call their land "Sakartvelo", which translates as "those from Kartli". Kartli is the historical name for the central part of the country. It is not clear where the term Georgia came from.
Most people believe that the name derives from Saint George, who is a patron of the country. He even has his statue in Tbilisi. There is also a theory that the name comes from the word gur?, as the present-day area of Georgia was referred to in Persia.
2. The cradle of winemaking
It is known that Georgians have been producing wine for 8000 years ago. Word has it that the beginning of wine production was accidental. A lucky few poured grape juice into qvevri, pottery jugs, and buried them in shallow pits. UNESCO even listed the ancient Georgian Qvevri winemaking tradition on its intangible cultural heritage list.
3. Georgian language is very unique
bendera Georgia
- Alsandro/wikimedia
Georgian, which is historically strongly influenced by Greek and Persian, is one of the oldest languages in the world. It even has an alphabet with 33 letters. Moreover, Georgian does not use gender or capital letters.
The language has not changed much during its long history. That is why children at school can easily read text from the 15th century because they have no problem understanding the old words.
4. Georgia contains two ancient European cities
Mtskheta and Kutaisi, both former capitals of Georgia, are among Europe’s oldest cities. Kutaisi served as the capital of the United Kingdom of Georgia from 1008CE to 1122CE and as the capital of the Imeretian Kingdom from the 15th century until 1810CE.
Meanwhile, Mtskheta is most widely known as the capital of the early Georgian Kingdom of Iberia and the place where Georgia adopted Christianity in 326 CE.
5. A cave city with 6000 rooms
Hotel Radisson Blu Iveria, Georgia
- Flickr/Lee Harrison
Georgia has Vardzia which is a fortress-temple complex carved out of and under Mount Erusheti in the south. In the 13th century, Queen Tamar ordered the construction of this site as a refuge from attacks by the Mongolian Empire.
When completed, it had 13 levels and 600 rooms complete with a bakery, church, wine cellar, self-sufficient irrigation system, and royal apartments.
