The Kartvelologist

The Kartvelologist” is a bilingual (Georgian and English) peer-reviewed, academic journal, covering all spheres of Kartvelological scholarship. Along with introducing scholarly novelties in Georgian Studies, it aims at popularization of essays of Georgian researchers on the international level and diffusion of foreign Kartvelological scholarship in Georgian scholarly circles.


“The Kartvelologist” issues both in printed and electronic form. In 1993-2009 it came out only in printed form (#1-15). The publisher is the “Centre for Kartvelian Studies” (TSU), financially supported by the “Fund of the Kartvelological School”. In 2011-2013 the journal is financed by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation.





Georgian Hymnographers

 

Ioane-Zosime, The Praise and Magnification of the Georgian Language; Phillip of Bethlehem, Praise of Bethlehem, the Virgin and the Son; Borena, “O Virgin who...”

In the current issue of The Kartvelologist original hymns by Georgian hymnographers of 10th century are presented in Georgian with English translation by English Kartvelologist Donald Rayfield (first published in D. Rayfield, The Literature of Georgian: A History, London, 2000). Consented by the Translator.

The Editor


keywords: Category: GEORGIAN LITERATURE IN ENGLISH TRANSLATION Authors: Tinatin Margalitadze
Ioane Minchkhi – Georgian Hymnographer of the 10th Century

 

The 10th century is a “golden age” of Georgian hymnography. During that period several generations of hymnographers lived and worked in the churches and monasteries of Tao-Klarjeti and Mount Sinai: Ioane Minchkhi, Mikael Modrekili, Ioane Mtbevari, Ioane Zosime, Stepane Sananoisdze-Chqondideli, Ioane Konkozisdze, Ezra, Kurdanai, Philipe and others. Most of them are known under the name of “Mekheli”. They were the composers of both hymn text and melody at the same time. The greatest authority of the Georgian church, George the Athonite, evaluates their activity in the following way: “I love the Mekheli more than anyone else. I consider them to be my spiritual guides” (Ath. 45,40v).


keywords:Ioane Minchkhi Category: SCHOLARLY STUDIES Authors: Tinatin Margalitadze
English-Georgian Dictionary

 

The history of European-Georgian lexicography gives a chronographically precise account of both the interest of European nations in Georgia and the Georgian people’s aspirations to and their interest in European countries. The history of European-Georgian lexicography begins back in 1629 with the publication in Rome of a Georgian-Italian Dictionary[6]. The book is important for its being the first printed book in Georgian. The dictionary was compiled by Stefano Paolini and a Georgian diplomat Niceforo Irbachi. In the 17th century, the lexicographic work with respect to the Italian language continued. An Italian missionary, Bernardo Maria da Napoli, who had lived and worked in Georgia for almost 10 years, compiled Italian-Georgian and Georgian-Italian dictionaries. The said dictionaries have not been yet published in their printed form and exist in the form of manuscripts[33, pp. 30-78; 30, pp. 171-180].

Bilingual Georgian dictionaries of the 17th century were created mainly with respect to the Italian language. The aggressive policy of the neighbouring Muslim states towards Georgia made Georgians seek Western help and support. In its turn, the Roman Catholic Church was interested in the setting up of its missionary centres in the East. They believed that the establishment of such centres would promote the spreading of the Roman Catholic faith. Georgia was among the states which attracted the attention of the Vatican. In the 17th century missionaries were sent to Georgia from Rome and they showed considerable interest in the Georgian language and culture and also learned Georgian which, as they believed, could facilitate their preaching Catholicism and would help them spread the Catholic religion much more successfully. This situation naturally had its impact on the Georgian bilingual lexicography of the 17th century.


keywords:English-Georgian word-lists, learner’s dictionaries, semantic asymmetry Category: SCHOLARLY STUDIES Authors: Tinatin Margalitadze
A German Monograph on Ancient Georgian Inscriptions

 

The present article deals with the study by Heinz Fähnrich, a well-known German scholar and Kartvelologist, published by Brill Academic Publishers in 2013, in Germany. The new monograph “Ancient Georgian Inscriptions” (Diealtesten georgische ninschriften) explores the diachronic pattern of Georgian writing though the example of the development of Georgian inscriptions and introduces a new argument emphasizing the tendency of letters to modify their graphic form that is, by acquiring an angular shape. Based on the latter argument the scholar attempts to restore the pattern of the chronological development of the Georgian alphabet. This article discusses fundamental arguments within the monograph and determines their relation to previous academic thought. 

 


keywords:Heinz Fähnrich, Georgian alphabet, Ancient Inscriptions Category: CHRONICLE OF EVENTS Authors: Tinatin Margalitadze
The Book by an American Scholar on "The Man in the Panther Skin"

 

Based on the latest research by an American scholar, Diana Farrell, this article discusses several issues relating to the manifestation of the concept of love in The Man in the Panther Skin in contrast with the concepts of love as expressed in Oriental epic and Western courtly love.


keywords:Diana Farrell, The Man in the Panther Skin, Andreas Capellanus Category: CHRONICLE OF EVENTS Authors: Tinatin Margalitadze