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Nokalakevi Nokalakevi, also known as Tsikhe-Godzhi, or Archaeopolis was an important city in the ancient kingdom of Colchis and later the capital of the western Georgian kingdom of Lasika, and is also the largest fortress in the country. If you are looking for a top attraction in Georgia, away from the tourist highlights, then Nokalakevi, with its impressive history, architecture and archaeological artefacts dating from the 8th century BC to the 18th century AD, is an ideal destination. The name The citadel is known by three different names: The site The city-fortress is located in the West Georgian region of Samegrelo, 17 kilometres from the village of Senaki, on the left bank of the Techuri River. What to see in Nokalakevi - Parts of the huge three-layer defensive wall Introduction The Swiss historian and archaeologist Frédéric Dubois de Montpéreux carried out the first archaeological excavations at Nokalakevi in 1833-34. He believed that the city of Aia, where according to Greek mythology the Argonauts landed, was not Kutaisi but Nokalakevi. In 1930, a German-Georgian team led by Alfons Maria Schneider and Giorgi Gozalishvili carried out the first extensive archaeological excavations. After several months of work and numerous finds, they came to the conclusion that Nokalakevi was an ancient fortified city founded in the 4th century BC and destroyed by an earthquake sometime at the end of the 6th century AD, but rebuilt at the beginning of the 7th century AD. During the following decades of the Soviet era, several excavations were carried out at Nokalakevi and many finds were professionally recovered, providing valuable clues to the town's past. Interest in Nokalakevi continued after the Soviet era, and in 2001 an Anglo-Georgian archaeological project was launched between the University of Cambridge and the State Museum of Georgia, which carries out joint excavations in different parts of the ancient city every year. History of Nokalakevi Since the foundation of the ancient city of Nokalakevi dates back to pre-Christian times, it is worth mentioning, at least in passing, the existence of different cultures on the territory of Georgia. 1. First known culture, the "Shulaveri-Shomu" culture, began around 6,000 BC and lasted until 4,000 BC. 2. Next culture was "Kura-Araxes culture", which began around 4,000 B.C. and ended around 2,200 B.C. 3. Kura-Araxes culture was followed by the Trialeti culture from about 2,200 BC and lasted until 1,500 BC. Kingdom of Colchis The Kingdom of Colchis was founded in the 8th century BC on the territory of present-day western Georgia, and it was in this kingdom that Nokalakevi was founded between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. From the 2nd century BC, conflicts with the Kingdom of Pontus began and, weakened by the wars, Colchis lost its territories and independence to Pontus. Another kingdom, Lasika (also called Egrisi), was established on part of the former Colchis and the new kings chose Nokalakevi as their residence. Over time, the city became an important trading centre for gold, leather, grain, wine, pottery and salt, which was valuable to Lasika. Shipping and its favourable location on the Black Sea accelerated its development into an important trading city (Nokalakevi was 50 km from the then large port of Phasis, now Poti). It was not until the 4th century AD that Nokalakevi became the capital of the Lasika kingdom, and it was then that extensive reconstruction work began in the city. Archaeological excavations have revealed the ruins and foundations of houses, baths, a palace, several commercial buildings and a 4th century church. The city was protected by the mountains to the north and the river to the west and south. In addition, for better protection, the entire area of 19 hectares was surrounded by a high defensive wall, which was more than 20 metres high in places, and a citadel was built on the ridge on the northern side. There were two entrances, one on the eastern side by land and one on the western side by water. At the second entrance, from the river side, there was a small harbour where ships of the time could easily dock and passengers could enter the city through the tunnel. Both the eastern entrance and the tunnel to the river were rebuilt in later centuries and are well preserved. Nokalakevi during the Byzantine-Persian War The 6th century Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea mentions Nokalakevi as "Archaeopolis" and writes that it was the most important city in the kingdom of Lasika. In 551, the Persian general Mihr-Mihroe, with several thousand soldiers, besieged Nokalakevi, where Georgian-Byzantine troops were stationed. There were fierce battles, but the Persians were unable to take the city and Mihr-Mihroe was forced to withdraw his troops and, after several defeats, move on to Eastern Georgia (then the Kingdom of Iberia), where he died in 555. The fall of Nokalakevi In 735 the Arabs under Caliph Marwān ibn Muhammad invaded Georgia. In 737 they came to Nokalakevi and after long battles they managed to take the city. They then destroyed the town to such an extent that it never recovered. After the Arab invasion, Nokalakevi was only mentioned in the chronicles as a small town. Nokalakevi as the residence of the Dadiani princes From the 16th to the 18th century, the princes of the Samegrelo region, the Dadianis, had a residence in Nokalakevi. They partially rebuilt the city walls and built a residence of river stones. The church dedicated to the 40 martyrs with mural paintings dates from this period. It was built in the 6th century as a three-nave basilica and rebuilt into a cross-domed church between the 16th and 18th centuries. The foundations of the 4th century basilica can also be seen beside the church. Nokalakevi today In 2006, Nokalakevi was declared a 'cultural monument of national importance' and is currently open to the public free of charge, despite frequent archaeological excavations. Museum is open every day except Monday and the entrance fee is 10 lari. |
