This article is part of the series on: History of Georgia

Prehistoric Georgia

Colchis

Egrisi-Lazica

Caucasian Iberia

Medieval History

Tao-Klarjeti

Kingdom of Abkhazeti-Egrisi

Russian Rule

Georgia Under Imperial Russia

Early Independence

Democratic Republic of Georgia

Soviet Georgia

Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

March 9 Tragedy

April 9 Tragedy

Modern Georgia

Republic of Georgia

Georgian Civil War

Rose Revolution

Post-Shevardnadze

History By Autonomous Republics

History of Abkhazia

History of Adjara This box: view • talk • edit

In ancient geography, Colchis or Kolchis (Georgian/Laz: კოლხეთი, k'olkheti; Greek: Κολχίς, Kolchís) was an ancient Georgian ^[1][2][3], state^{[4] [5]}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 history of Georgia began with the rise of the early Georgian states of Colchis and Iberia, which in c The prehistory of Georgia is the period between the first human habitation of the territory of modern-day nation of Georgia and the time when Assyrian and Urartian Egrisi (ეგრისი is a medieval Georgian name for the region and kingdom in the western part of modern-day Georgia, known to the Byzantine This article is about the people of ancient Georgia For the Iberians of ancient Iberian Peninsula see Iberians. Tao-Klarjeti ( Georgian: ტაო–კლარჯეთი is the term conventionally used in modern history writing to describe the historic south-western Georgian The Kingdom of Abkhazia, also known as Kingdom of Apkhazeti-Egrisi or the Kingdom of the Abkhazs (აფხაზთა სამეფო refers to an The history of Georgia began with the rise of the early Georgian states of Colchis and Iberia, which in c The Democratic Republic of Georgia ( DRG; Georgian: საქართველოს დემოკრატიული რესპუბლიკა Sakartvelos The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic (საქართველოს საბჭოთასოციალისტური რესპუბლიკა The March 9 massacre in Tbilisi 1956 was a crackdown of peaceful demonstrators in Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union by Soviet troops The April 9 tragedy refers to the events in Tbilisi, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic on April 9, 1989, when an Anti-Soviet demonstration The history of Georgia began with the rise of the early Georgian states of Colchis and Iberia, which in c The Georgian Civil War consisted of inter-ethnic and inter-national conflicts in the regions of South Ossetia (1988-1992 and Abkhazia (1992-1993 as well The "Revolution of Roses quot (often translated into English as the Rose Revolution) (ვარდების რევოლუცია - vardebis The history of Georgia began with the rise of the early Georgian states of Colchis and Iberia, which in c | See also ISO 3166-2 codes for regions and autonomous republics of Georgia The article refers to the history of Republic of Abkhazia (or Abchasia) The article refers to the history of Georgia ’s autonomous province of Adjara. Geography (from Greek γεωγραφία - geografia) is the study of the Earth and its lands features inhabitants and phenomena Georgian (ka ქართული ენა kartuli ena) is the Official language of Georgia, a country in the Caucasus. The Laz language (ლაზური ნენა lazuri nena; ლაზური lazuri, or ჭანური chanuri) is spoken by the Laz people The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographic Area and representing a Population. A monarchy is a Form of government in which supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in an individual who is the Head of state, often for life or The article is about the geographic sense of the term For other uses including Regions and Regional, see Region (disambiguation. The Caucasus ( also referred to as North Caucasus) is a geopolitical region located between Europe Asia & Middle East The Georgians (ქართველები kartvelebi) are a Nation and Ethnic group originating in the Caucasus, the oldest group of the ^[7][8] The Kingdom of Colchis as an early Georgian state ^[9] contributed significantly in development of the medieval Georgian statehood after its unification with eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia-Kartli. A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographic Area and representing a Population. This article is about the people of ancient Georgia For the Iberians of ancient Iberian Peninsula see Iberians. ^[10][11]

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. Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance In Greek mythology, Aeëtes ( Greek: Αἰήτης was a son of the king-god Helios and the Nymph Perseis (a daughter of Oceanus Medea (Μήδεια Mēdeia) in Greek mythology was the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe, granddaughter of For other uses of this term see Argonaut. In Greek mythology, the Argonauts ( Ancient Greek:) were a band of heroes The Amazons (in Greek, grc Ἀμαζόνες are a nation of all-female warriors in Classical and Greek mythology, who were possibly historical 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. Megrelia, Mingrelia or Samegrelo / Samargalo (სამეგრელო Samegrelo; Mingrelian: სამარგალო Samargalo Imereti Province ( Georgian: იმერეთი მხარე Imereti Mxare) is a province in Georgia situated along the middle and upper reaches For the village in Bangladesh see Guria Bangladesh. Guria (გურია is a region ( Mkhare) in Georgia Svaneti or Svanetia ( Suania in ancient sources (სვანეთი Svaneti) is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of Racha (also Ratcha, Georgian: რაჭა Račʼa) is a historic province in Georgia, in the mountainous northwestern part of the country Abkhazia (Аҧсны Apsny აფხაზეთი Apkhazeti or Abkhazeti Абха́зия Abhazia) is a De facto Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Rize is a province of north-east Turkey, on the eastern Black Sea coast between Trabzon and Artvin. Trabzon ( Greek: Τραπεζούντα, Trapezounta) is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Artvin is a city in northeastern Turkey on the Çoruh River near the Georgian border ^[12] One of the most important elements in the modern Georgian nation, the Colchians were probably established in the Caucasus by the Middle Bronze Age. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for ^[13]

Contents 1 Geography and toponyms 2 History 2.1 Earliest times 2.2 Qulha (Kolkha) 2.3 Greek colonization 2.4 Under Pontus 2.5 Under the Roman rule 3 Rulers 4 Colchis in mythology 5 See also 6 Notes 7 External links 8 Further reading

Geography and toponyms

The kingdom of Colchis, which existed from the sixth to the first centuries BCE is regarded as the first Georgian state. This article is about the people of ancient Georgia For the Iberians of ancient Iberian Peninsula see Iberians. ^{[14][15] [16][17][18] [19] [20]}

According to the renown scholar of the Caucasian studies Cyril Toumanoff:

Colchis appears as the first Caucasian State to have achieved the coalescence of the newcomer, Colchis can be justly regarded as not a proto-Georgian, but a Georgian (West Georgian) kingdom. Prince Cyril Toumanoff (born Toumanishvili) (1913 – 1997 was a historian and genealogist of Georgian origin who mostly specialized in the history of medieval ^[21]

A second Georgian tribal union emerged in the 13th century BC on the Black Sea coast under creating the Kingdom of Colchis in the western Georgia. This kingdom was a first state formation of the early Georgians. ^{[22] [23]}According to most classic authors, a district which was bounded on the southwest by Pontus, on the west by the Black Sea as far as the river Corax (probably the present day Bzybi River, Abkhazia, Georgia), on the north by the chain of the Greater Caucasus, which lay between it and Asiatic Sarmatia, on the east by Iberia and Montes Moschici (now the Lesser Caucasus), and on the south by Armenia. Geography The Black Sea region loosely called Pontus by various scholars has a steep rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey Abkhazia (Аҧсны Apsny აფხაზეთი Apkhazeti or Abkhazeti Абха́зия Abhazia) is a De facto Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between This article is about the terrestrial Eurasian mountain range The Sarmatians, Sarmatae or Sauromatae ( Old Iranian Sarumatah 'archer' Σαρμάτες This article is about the people of ancient Georgia For the Iberians of ancient Iberian Peninsula see Iberians. This article is about the terrestrial Eurasian mountain range Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani There is some little difference in authors as to the extent of the country westward: thus Strabo makes Colchis begin at Trabzon, while Ptolemy, on the other hand, extends Pontus to the Rioni River. Strabo ( Greek: Στράβων 63/64 BC – ca AD 24 was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher. Trabzon ( Greek: Τραπεζούντα, Trapezounta) is a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca Geography The Black Sea region loosely called Pontus by various scholars has a steep rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges Phasis redirects here For the Butterfly Genus, see Phasis (butterfly. Pitsunda was the last town to the north in Colchis. Pitsunda (ҵҵунда Georgian: ბიჭვინთა - Bichvinta Пицунда) is a Resort town in Gagra district of the

The name of Colchis first appears in Aeschylus and Pindar. Aeschylus (ˈɛskɨləs or /ˈiːskɨləs/ Greek: Ασχύλος, Aischylos, 525 BC/524 BC 456 BC/455 BC was an ancient Greek Playwright Pindar (ˈpɪndɚ (or Pindarus, Greek:) (probably born 522 BC in Cynoscephalae a village in Boeotia; died 443 BC in Argos) was an Ancient The earlier writers only speak of it under the name of Aea (Aia), the residence of the mythical king Aeëtes. In Greek mythology, Aeëtes ( Greek: Αἰήτης was a son of the king-god Helios and the Nymph Perseis (a daughter of Oceanus The main river was the Phasis (now Rioni), which was according to some writers the south boundary of Colchis, but more probably flowed through the middle of that country from the Caucasus west by south to the Euxine, and the Anticites or Atticitus (now Kuban). Phasis redirects here For the Butterfly Genus, see Phasis (butterfly. Kuban ( Кубáнь) is a geographic region of Southern Russia surrounding the Kuban River, on the Black Sea between the Don Steppe Arrian mentions many others by name, but they would seem to have been little more than mountain torrents: the most important of them were Charieis, Chobus or Cobus, Singames, Tarsuras, Hippus, Astelephus, Chrysorrhoas, several of which are also noticed by Ptolemy and Pliny. For others with this name see Arrianus (disambiguation. Lucius Flavius Arrianus 'Xenophon' (ca Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author The chief towns were Dioscurias or Dioscuris (under the Romans called Sebastopolis, now Sukhumi) on the sea-board of the Euxine, Sarapana (now Shorapani), Phasis (now Poti), Pityus (now Pitsunda), Apsaros (now Gonio), Surium (now Surami), Archaeopolis (now Nokalakevi), Macheiresis, and Cyta or Cutatisium (now Kutaisi), the traditional birthplace of Medea. Sukhumi, also spelled as Sukhum ( Abkhaz: Аҟəа Aqwa; სოხუმი Sokhumi, Сухуми/Сухум is the capital The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Sukhumi, also spelled as Sukhum ( Abkhaz: Аҟəа Aqwa; სოხუმი Sokhumi, Сухуми/Сухум is the capital Shorapani is a small Georgian town situated in Zestaponi District the region of Imereti. Phasis (Φάσις was an ancient and early medieval city on the eastern Black Sea coast founded in the 7th/6th century BC as a colony of the Milesian Greeks Poti (ფოთი is a Port city in Georgia, located on the eastern Black Sea coast in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Pitsunda (ҵҵунда Georgian: ბიჭვინთა - Bichvinta Пицунда) is a Resort town in Gagra district of the Gonio fortress ( previously called Apsaros or Apsaruntos is a Roman fortification in Adjara, on the Black sea, 15km south of Batumi, at the mouth of Surami (სურამი is a Townlet ( daba) in Georgia ’s Shida Kartli region with the population of 9800 (2002 Georgia Census Nokalakevi ( Georgian: ნოქალაქევი literally meaning place where a town was) is a village and Archaeological site in Georgia Kutaisi (ქუთაისი ancient names Aea / Aia, Kutatisi, Kutaïssi) is Georgia 's second largest city and the capital of the Medea (Μήδεια Mēdeia) in Greek mythology was the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe, granddaughter of Scylax mentions also Mala or Male, which he, in contradiction to other writers, makes the birthplace of Medea. Scylax of Caryanda was an ancient Greek explorer from Caria. He lived during the 6th century BC Medea (Μήδεια Mēdeia) in Greek mythology was the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe, granddaughter of

History

Earliest times

Georgian Statehood

Kingdom of Iberia Kingdom of Colchis Kingdom of Lazica-Egrisi Unified Georgian Kingdom Partitions Kingdom of Tao-Klarjeti Kingdom of Abkhazia Kingdom of Hereti Kingdom of Kakheti Kingdom of Kartli Kingdom of Imereti Democratic Republic of Georgia Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic Republic of Georgia This box: view • talk • edit

The eastern Black Sea region in antiquity was home to the well-developed bronze culture known as the Colchian culture, related to the neighbouring Koban culture, that emerged towards the Middle Bronze Age. Colchian culture (circa 1200 to 600 BC is a late Bronze Age and Iron Age culture of the western Caucasus, mostly in western Georgia. The Koban culture (ca 1100 to 400 BC is a late Bronze Age and Iron Age culture of the northern and central Caucasus. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for In at least some parts of Colchis the process of urbanization seems to have been well advanced by the end of the second millennium BC, centuries before Greek settlement. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca The Colchian Late Bronze Age (15th to 8th Century BC) saw the development of significant skill in the smelting and casting of metals that began long before this skill was mastered in Europe. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for Sophisticated farming implements were made and fertile, well-watered lowlands with a mild climate promoted the growth of progressive agricultural techniques.

Colchis was inhabited by a number of related but distinct tribes whose settlements lay chiefly along the shore of the Black Sea. The chief of those were the Machelones, Heniochi, Zydretae, Lazi, Tibareni, Mossynoeci, Macrones, Moschi, Marres, Apsilae, Abasci (possibly modern-day Abaza) ^[24], Sanigae, Coraxi, Coli, Melanchlaeni, Geloni and Soani (Suani). The Machelones (Machelônes Machelonoi Μαχελῶνες were a Colchian tribe located to the far south of the Phasis (modern-day Rioni River, western Georgia The Zydretae (Zudrêtai or Zudreitai were an ancient people of Colchis recorded by the Classical accounts as dwelling on the coast of the Pontus Euxinus Egrisi (ეგრისი is a medieval Georgian name for the region and kingdom in the western part of modern-day Georgia, known to the Byzantine Tabal (Bib Tubal, Gk Τιβαρηνοί Tibarenoi, Lat Tibareni, Thobeles in Josephus was a Luwian speaking Neo-Hittite Mossynoeci ( Greek Mossynoikoi "dwellers in wooden towers") The Macrones (Makrones were an ancient Colchian tribe in the east of Pontus, about the Moschici Mountains (modern Yalnizçam Dağlari Turkey) Meskheti is a mountainous area and a former province in southwestern Georgia. The Kingdom of Abkhazia, also known as Kingdom of Apkhazeti-Egrisi or the Kingdom of the Abkhazs (აფხაზთა სამეფო refers to an The Abazins ( Ethnonym: Abaza or Asuwa) are a people who live mostly in Karachay-Cherkessia and Adygeya of Russia. Melanchlaeni (meaning "black-cloaks" may refer to two ancient tribes The Gelonians ( Geloni) are mentioned as a nation in northwestern Scythia by Herodotus ( Histories 4 Svaneti or Svanetia ( Suania in ancient sources (სვანეთი Svaneti) is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of These tribes differed so completely in language and appearance from the surrounding nations that the ancients provided various theories to account for the phenomenon.

For example, Herodotus states that the Colchians, with the Egyptians and the Ethiopians, were the first to practice circumcision, a custom which the he claims the Colchians themselves inherited from remnants the army of Pharaoh Senusret III (1878-1841 BC). Herodotus of Halicarnassus ( Greek: Hēródotos Halikarnāsseús) was a Greek Historian who lived in the 5th century BC ( 484 BC&ndash This article is about the contemporary North African ethnic group NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page Male circumcision is the removal of some or all of the Foreskin (prepuce from the Penis. Pharaoh is the title given in modern parlance to the ancient Egyptian kings of all periods Khakhaure Senusret III (also written as Senwosret III or Sesostris III) was a Pharaoh of Egypt. The 19th century BC was the century which lasted from 1900 BC to 1801 BC He thus regarded them as Egyptians. Apollonius of Rhodes states that the Egyptians of Colchis preserved as heirlooms a number of wooden tablets showing seas and highways with considerable accuracy. Though the 'Egyptian' theory of origin was not generally adopted by the ancients, it has been defended – but not with complete success, by some modern writers. It is possible there was a Negroid component (which predates the Arab slave trade) in the Black Sea region, whose origins could conceivably be traced to an ancient expedition into the region by blacks from Africa. However, in the absence of any conclusive archeological evidence, this claim is speculative. [1]

Many modern theories suggest that the ancestors of the Laz-Mingrelians comprised the dominant ethnic and cultural presence in the region in antiquity, and hence played a significant role in the ethnogenesis of the modern Georgians. The Laz ( Lazi (ლაზი or Lazepe (ლაზეფე in Laz, Lazlar in Turkish, Lazi (ლაზი or Megrelia, Mingrelia or Samegrelo / Samargalo (სამეგრელო Samegrelo; Mingrelian: სამარგალო Samargalo The Georgians (ქართველები kartvelebi) are a Nation and Ethnic group originating in the Caucasus, the oldest group of the ^[25][26].

Qulha (Kolkha)

In the 13th century BC, the Kingdom of Colchis was formed as a result of the increasing consolidation of the tribes inhabiting the region. This power, celebrated in Greek mythology as the destination of the Argonauts, the home of Medea and the special domain of sorcery, was known to Urartians as Qulha (aka Kolkha, or Kilkhi). Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance For other uses of this term see Argonaut. In Greek mythology, the Argonauts ( Ancient Greek:) were a band of heroes Medea (Μήδεια Mēdeia) in Greek mythology was the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe, granddaughter of Urartu ( Assyrian: Urarṭu Urartian: Biainili Ուրարտու was an Iron Age kingdom in Eastern Anatolia ( Transcaucasia) rising Being in permanent wars with the neighbouring nations, the Colchians managed to absorb part of Diauehi in the 750s BC, but lost several provinces (including the “royal city” of Ildemusa) to the Sarduris II of Urartu following the wars of 750-748 and 744-742 BC. Diauehi ( Diauhi or Diaokhi; "the Land of the Sons of Diau" was an ancient people in northeastern Anatolia, mentioned in the Urartian Events and trends 756 BC — Founding of Cyzicus. 755 BC — Ashur-nirari V succeeds Ashur-Dan III as king of Assyria Events and trends 756 BC — Founding of Cyzicus. 755 BC — Ashur-nirari V succeeds Ashur-Dan III as king of Assyria Events and trends 747 BC — February 26 - Nabonassar becomes king of Babylonia. Events and trends 747 BC — February 26 - Nabonassar becomes king of Babylonia. Events and trends 747 BC — February 26 - Nabonassar becomes king of Babylonia. Overrun by the Cimmerians and Scythians in the 730s-720s BC, the kingdom disintegrated and came under the Achaemenid Persian Empire towards the mid-6th century BC. See Cimmeria (Conan or Cimmeria (Poem for the fiction of Robert E The Scythians or Scyths (Σκύθες Σκύθοι were an Iranian speaking people of horse-riding Nomadic pastoralists who dominated the Pontic The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenid Persian Empire ( haχɒmaneʃijɒn (558–330 BC was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia The 6th century BC started the first day of 600 BC and ended the last day of 501 BC. The tribes living in the southern Colchis (Tibareni, Mossynoeci, Macrones, Moschi, and Marres) were incorporated in the 19th Satrapy of the Persia, while the northern tribes submitted “voluntarily” and had to send to the Persian court 100 girls and 100 boys in every 5 years. Tabal (Bib Tubal, Gk Τιβαρηνοί Tibarenoi, Lat Tibareni, Thobeles in Josephus was a Luwian speaking Neo-Hittite Mossynoeci ( Greek Mossynoikoi "dwellers in wooden towers") The Macrones (Makrones were an ancient Colchian tribe in the east of Pontus, about the Moschici Mountains (modern Yalnizçam Dağlari Turkey) Meskheti is a mountainous area and a former province in southwestern Georgia. See also the related deity Satrapes. Satrap (Persian ساتراپ was the name given to the governors of the Provinces of ancient The influence exerted on Colchis by the vast Achaemenid Empire with its thriving commerce and wide economic and commercial ties with other regions accelerated the socio-economic development of the Colchian land. Subsequently the Colchis people appear to have overthrown the Persian Authority, and to have formed an independent state. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia According to Ronald Suny: This western Georgian state was federated to Kartli-Iberia, and its kings ruled through skeptukhi (royal governors) who received a staff from the king. ^[27]

Greek colonization

The advanced economy and favorable geographic and natural conditions of the area attracted the Milesian Greeks who colonized the Colchian coast establishing here their trading posts at Phasis, Gyenos, and Sukhumi in the 6th-5th centuries BC. Miletus (mī lē' təs ( Ancient Greek: Μίλητος literally Transliterated Milētos, Latin Miletus) was an Ancient Poti (ფოთი is a Port city in Georgia, located on the eastern Black Sea coast in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Sukhumi, also spelled as Sukhum ( Abkhaz: Аҟəа Aqwa; სოხუმი Sokhumi, Сухуми/Сухум is the capital It was considered "the farthest voyage" according to an ancient Greek proverbial expression, the easternmost location in that society's known world, where the sun rose. It was situated just outside the lands conquered by Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' Phasis and Sukhumi were the splendid Greek cities dominated by the mercantile oligarchies, sometimes being troubled by the Colchians from hinterland before seemingly assimilating totally. Poti (ფოთი is a Port city in Georgia, located on the eastern Black Sea coast in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Sukhumi, also spelled as Sukhum ( Abkhaz: Аҟəа Aqwa; სოხუმი Sokhumi, Сухуми/Сухум is the capital After the fall of the Persian Empire, significant part of Colchis locally known as Egrisi was annexed to the recently created Kingdom of Iberia (Kartli) in ca. Egrisi (ეგრისი is a medieval Georgian name for the region and kingdom in the western part of modern-day Georgia, known to the Byzantine This article is about the people of ancient Georgia For the Iberians of ancient Iberian Peninsula see Iberians. Kartli (ქართლი is the largest and most populated province of Eastern Georgia. 302 BC. Events By place Asia Minor Following their agreement to work together to defeat Antigonus, Seleucus invades Asia Minor However, soon Colchis seceded and broke up into several small princedoms ruled by sceptuchi. They retained a degree of independence until conquered (circa 101 BC) by Mithridates VI of Pontus. See Mithridates for people and concepts with the same name Mithridates VI (Μιθριδάτης 132&ndash63 BC also known as Mithridates

Under Pontus

Mithradates VI quelled an uprising in the region in 83 BC and gave Colchis to his son Mithradates Chrestus, who was soon executed being suspected in having plotted against his father. Year 83 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Sulla returns to Italy from his campaigns During the Third Mithridatic War, Mithridates VI made another his son Machares king of Colchis, who held his power but for a short period. The Third Mithridatic War ( 75 - 65 BC) was one of three Mithridatic Wars fought between Mithridates VI of Pontus and the Roman Republic On the defeat of Mithridates VI of Pontus in 65 BC, Colchis was occupied by Pompey, who captured one of the local chiefs (sceptuchus) Olthaces, and installed Aristarchus as a dynast (65-47 BC). See Mithridates for people and concepts with the same name Mithridates VI (Μιθριδάτης 132&ndash63 BC also known as Mithridates Year 65 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome In response to the illegal exercise of Citizen rights Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'pɑmpi/ Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir ( Classical Latin abbreviation A dynasty is a succession of rulers who belong to the same family for generations Year 65 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome In response to the illegal exercise of Citizen rights Year 47 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Quintus Fufius Calenus, On the fall of Pompey, Pharnaces II, son of Mithridates, took advantage of Julius Caesar being occupied in Egypt, and reduced Colchis, Armenia, and some part of Cappadocia, defeating Domitius Calvinus, whom Caesar subsequently sent against him. Pharnaces II (in Greek Φαρνάκης, died 47 BC was the son of the great Mithridates VI of Pontus, a famed enemy of the Roman Republic. See Mithridates for people and concepts with the same name Mithridates VI (Μιθριδάτης 132&ndash63 BC also known as Mithridates Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now Armenia (Հայաստան transliterated: Hayastan,) officially the Republic of Armenia (Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն Hayastani Cappadocia (or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía which in turn is from the Persian: Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus was a Roman General, senator and Consul (both in 53 BC and 40 BC who was a loyal Partisan of Caesar His triumph was, however, short-lived. Under Polemon I, the son and successor of Pharnaces II, Colchis was part of the Pontus and the Bosporan Kingdom. Polemon Pythodoros, also known as Polemon I or Polemon I of Pontus ( Greek: ο Πολέμων Πυθόδωρος, flourished 1st century BC Pharnaces II (in Greek Φαρνάκης, died 47 BC was the son of the great Mithridates VI of Pontus, a famed enemy of the Roman Republic. Geography The Black Sea region loosely called Pontus by various scholars has a steep rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges The Bosporan Kingdom or the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus was an ancient state located in eastern Crimea and the Taman Peninsula on the shores of the After the death of Polemon (after 2 BC), his second wife Pythodoris retained possession of Colchis as well as of Pontus itself, though the kingdom of Bosporus was wrested from her power. Year 2 BC was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Pythodorida of Pontus, or Pythodoris of Pontus (Pythodorida in Greek: η Πυθοδωρίδα or Pythodoris in Greek η Πυθοδωρίς, Her son and successor Polemon II of Pontus was induced by Emperor Nero to abdicate the throne, and both Pontus and Colchis were incorporated in the Province of Galatia (63) and later in Cappadocia (81). Marcus Antonius Polemon Pythodoros, also known as Polemon II of Pontus, Polemon II and Polemon of Cilicia (name in Greek: ο Μάρκος Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( December 15, 37 – June 9, 68) born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Year 63 was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar. Cappadocia (or Capadocia, Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía which in turn is from the Persian: Year 81 was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar.

Under the Roman rule

Despite the fact that all major fortresses along the seacoast were occupied by the Romans, their rule was pretty loose. In 69, the people of Pontus and Colchis under Anicetus staged a major uprising against the Romans which ended unsuccessfully. 69 (sex position & book by Ryu Murakami are -- already linked by "" with other meanings The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The lowlands and coastal area were frequently raided by the fierce mountainous tribes with the Soanes and Heniochi being the most powerful of them. Svaneti or Svanetia ( Suania in ancient sources (სვანეთი Svaneti) is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of Paying a nominal homage to Rome, they created their own kingdoms and enjoyed significant independence. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Christianity began to spread in the early 1st century. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Traditional accounts relate the event with Saint Andrew, Saint Simon the Zealot, and Saint Matata. St Simon redirects here See also Saint-Simon. The apostle called Simon Zelotes, Simon the Zealot, in Luke However, the Hellenistic, local pagan and Mithraic religious beliefs would be widespread until the 4th century. This article focuses on the cultural aspects of the Hellenistic age for the historical aspects see Hellenistic period. Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning "country dweller rustic" is a word used to refer to various religions and religious beliefs from across the world The Mithraic Mysteries or Mysteries of Mithras (also Mithraism) was a Roman mystery religion which became popular among the military in the late As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini / Common era) was that Century By the 130s, the kingdoms of Machelons, Heniochi, Egrisi, Apsilia, Abasgia, and Sanigia had occupied the district form south to north. Egrisi (ეგრისი is a medieval Georgian name for the region and kingdom in the western part of modern-day Georgia, known to the Byzantine The Kingdom of Abkhazia, also known as Kingdom of Apkhazeti-Egrisi or the Kingdom of the Abkhazs (აფხაზთა სამეფო refers to an Goths, dwelling in the Crimea and looking for their new homes, raided Colchis in 253, but they were repulsed with the help of the Roman garrison of Pitsunda. The Goths ( Gothic: Gothic usvg|14px|u]]Gothic asvg|14px|a]]Gothic s Crimea (kraɪˈmiːə or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Крим Автономна Республіка Крим Avtonomna Respublika Krym; Крым Events By Place Roman Empire Period of the Thirty Tyrants in the Roman empire Pitsunda (ҵҵунда Georgian: ბიჭვინთა - Bichvinta Пицунда) is a Resort town in Gagra district of the By the 3rd-4th centuries, most of the local kingdoms and principalities had been subjugated by the Lazic kings, and thereafter the country was generally referred to as Lazica (Egrisi). Egrisi (ეგრისი is a medieval Georgian name for the region and kingdom in the western part of modern-day Georgia, known to the Byzantine

Rulers

Little is known of the rulers of Colchis;

• Aeëtes, celebrated in Greek legends as a powerful king of Colchis, is thought by some historians to be a historic person, though there is no evidence to support the idea. In Greek mythology, Aeëtes ( Greek: Αἰήτης was a son of the king-god Helios and the Nymph Perseis (a daughter of Oceanus

• Kuji, a presiding prince (eristavi) of Egrisi under the authority of Pharnavaz I of Iberia (ca302-237 BC) (according to the medieval Georgian annals). Egrisi (ეგრისი is a medieval Georgian name for the region and kingdom in the western part of modern-day Georgia, known to the Byzantine Pharnavaz I (ფარნავაზი also spelled P'arnavaz P'arnawaz or Farnavaz was the first king of Kartli, an ancient Georgian kingdom known Events By place Asia Minor Following their agreement to work together to defeat Antigonus, Seleucus invades Asia Minor Events By place Carthage Hamilcar Barca 's success in defeating the mercenaries results in a growth in his strength as leader of Carthage

• Akes (Basileus Aku) (end of the 4th century BC), king of Colchis; his name is found on a coin issued by him. The 4th century BC started the first day of 400 BC and ended the last day of 301 BC.

• Saulaces, "king" in the 2nd century BC (according to some ancient sources). The 2nd century BC started the first day of 200 BC and ended the last day of 101 BC.

• Mithradates Chrestus (fl 83 BC), under the authority of Pontus. Year 83 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Sulla returns to Italy from his campaigns Geography The Black Sea region loosely called Pontus by various scholars has a steep rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges

• Machares (fl 65 BC), under the authority of Pontus. Year 65 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome In response to the illegal exercise of Citizen rights Geography The Black Sea region loosely called Pontus by various scholars has a steep rocky coast with rivers that cascade through the gorges of the coastal ranges

Note: During his reign, the local chiefs, sceptuchi, continued to exercise some power. One of them, Olthaces, is mentioned by the Roman sources as a captive of Pompey in 65 BC. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'pɑmpi/ Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir ( Classical Latin abbreviation Year 65 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome In response to the illegal exercise of Citizen rights

• Aristarchus (65-47 BC), a dynasty under the authority of Pompey

Colchis in mythology

According to the Greek mythology, Colchis was a fabulously wealthy land situated on the mysterious periphery of the heroic world. Year 65 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome In response to the illegal exercise of Citizen rights Year 47 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome Consuls Quintus Fufius Calenus, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, commonly known as Pompey /'pɑmpi/ Pompey the Great or Pompey the Triumvir ( Classical Latin abbreviation Here in the sacred grove of the war god Ares, King Aeëtes hung the Golden Fleece until it was seized by Jason and the Argonauts. In Greek mythology, Ares ( Ancient Greek:, Μodern Greek Άρης) is the son of Zeus and Hera. In Greek mythology, Aeëtes ( Greek: Αἰήτης was a son of the king-god Helios and the Nymph Perseis (a daughter of Oceanus In Greek mythology, the Golden Fleece (Χρυσόμαλλον Δέρας is the fleece of the winged ram Chrysomallos (Χρυσόμαλλος Jason ( Greek: Ἰάσων, Etruscan: Easun, Laz: Yason) was a late ancient Greek mythological For other uses of this term see Argonaut. In Greek mythology, the Argonauts ( Ancient Greek:) were a band of heroes Colchis was also the land where the mythological Prometheus was punished by being chained to a mountain while an eagle ate at his liver for revealing to humanity the secret of fire. In Greek mythology, Prometheus (Προμηθεύς "forethought" is a Titan known for his wily intelligence who stole Fire from Zeus Amazons also were said to be of Scythian origin from Colchis. The Amazons (in Greek, grc Ἀμαζόνες are a nation of all-female warriors in Classical and Greek mythology, who were possibly historical In Classical Antiquity, Scythia ( Greek Skuthia) was the area in Eurasia inhabited by the Scythians, from the 8th The main mythical characters from Colchis are Aeëtes, Medea, Absyrtus, Chalciope, Circe, Eidyia, Pasiphaë. In Greek mythology, Aeëtes ( Greek: Αἰήτης was a son of the king-god Helios and the Nymph Perseis (a daughter of Oceanus Medea (Μήδεια Mēdeia) in Greek mythology was the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, niece of Circe, granddaughter of Absyrtus, or Apsyrtus ( Greek:) was in Greek mythology the son of Aeëtes and a brother of Medea and Chalciope. Chalciope ( Greek: Χαλκιόπη was a princess in Greek mythology, daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis, sister of Medea and wife In Greek mythology, Circe ( sərsē; Greek Κίρκη Kírkē, falcon is a Queen Goddess (or sometimes a Nymph In Greek mythology, Eidyia was a Nymph who was queen to Aeetes, king of Colchis. In Greek mythology, Pasiphaë (English pəˈsɪfeɪiː Greek: Πασιφάη Pasipháē "wide-shining" was the daughter of Helios

See also

• Egrisi (as a successor state of Colchis)
• History of Georgia
• Pontus

Notes

External links

• Kolkhoba: Laz language
• Colchis (German)
• History of Laz-Mingrelians
• Colchis
• Colchis (German)
• LoveToKnow Article on Colchis
• Colchis in Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD)
• Kingdom of Colchis (Egrisi) (Georgian)
• Colchian coins
• Strabo on Colchis
• Herodotus on Colchis
• Plinius on Colchis
• "Colchis Gives Birth to a Nation," From the Cradle of Wine

Further reading

• Braund, David. 1994. Georgia in Antiquity: A History of Colchis and Transcaucasian Iberia 550 BC-AD 562. Clarendon Press, Oxford. ISBN 0-19-814473-3
• Gocha R. Tsetskhladze. Pichvnari and Its Environs, 6th c BC-4th c AD. Annales Littéraires de l'Université de Franche-Comté, 659, Editeurs: M. Clavel-Lévêque, E. Geny, P. Lévêque. Paris: Presses Universitaires Franc-Comtoises, 1999. ISBN 2-913322-42-5
• Otar Lordkipanidze. Phasis: The River and City of Colchis. Geographica Historica 15, Franz Steiner 2000. ISBN 3-515-07271-3
• Alexander Melamid. Colchis today. (northeastern Turkey): An article from: The Geographical Review. American Geographical Society, 1993. ISBN B000925IWE
• Akaki Urushadze. The Country of the Enchantress Media, Tbilisi, 1984 (in Russian and English)

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