The culture of Georgia has evolved over the country's long history, providing it with a unique national identity and a strong literary tradition based on the Georgian language and alphabet. This strong sense of national identity has helped to preserve Georgian distinctiveness despite repeated periods of foreign occupation.

Culture of Ancient and Old Georgia

The Georgian alphabet is traditionally said to have been invented in the 3rd century BC and reformed by King Parnavaz I of Iberia in 284 BC. Most modern scholarship puts its origin date at some time in the 5th century AD, when the earliest examples can be found.

Georgia's medieval culture was greatly influenced by Eastern Orthodox Christianity and the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church, which promoted and often sponsored the creation of many works of religious devotion. These included churches and monasteries, works of art such as icons, and hagiographies of Georgian saints. In addition, many secular works of national history, mythology, and hagiography were also written.

Ecclesiastical art

Medieval Georgian icons are renowned as being among the finest creations of Orthodox religious art. Notable examples include: The Icon of 886 from Zarzma monastery The Icon of the 9th century from Tsilkani The famous Wonderworking Iberian Icon of the Mother of God (10th century) The Icon of the 10th century from Okona The Icon of Our Lady of Khakhuli of the 12th century The Icon of St. George of the 11th century from Labechina The Icon of St. George of the 11th century from Nakipari The Icon of the 12th century from Anchiskhati The Icon of the 14th century from Ubisa The Icon of the 16th century from Alaverdi

Ecclesiastical monuments

Well-known monuments of Georgian Christian architecture include: The Georgian Church in Bethlehem (4th century) The Church of Gavazi (4th century) in Akhalsopeli (Kvareli district of Kakheti region) Church (5th century) in Bolnisi district (Kvemo Kartli region) Ikalto Monastery complex (5th-7th centuries) (Kakheti) Sioni Church (5th century) in Bolnisi Monastery of Shio Mghvime (6th century) Davidgareja Monastery complex (6th-7th centuries) Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta (6th century) Anchiskhati Church (6th century) in Tbilisi Nekresi Monastery Complex (4th-9th centuries) in Kakheti Sioni church (7th century) in Ateni Petritsoni Monastery in Bulgaria (11th century) The Georgian Monastery (10th century) on the Black Mountain in Syria (now territory of Turkey) The Georgian Iveron Monastery on Athos (10th century) Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta (11th century) Opiza Monastery (10th century) in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of Turkey) Monastery Doliskana (10th century) in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of Turkey) Monastery Otkhta-Eklesia in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of Turkey) Oshki Monastery (10th century) in Tao-Klarjeti (now territory of Turkey) Bagrati Cathedral (11th century) in Kutaisi Gelati Monastery (11th century) in Kutaisi Motsameta monastery (11th century) in Imereti Tbilisi Sioni Cathedral (11th century) in Tbilisi Alaverdi Monastery (11th century) in Kakheti Samtavro Monastery (12th century) in Mtskheta Vardzia Monastery (12th century) in Meskheti Gialia Monastery (10th-16th centuries) in Cyprus

Well-known Georgian painters were Damiane (13th century), Anania (15th century), Mamuka Tavakarashvili (17th century), etc.

The works of the famous Georgian goldsmiths, Beka and Beshken Opizari (11th century), are outstanding contributions to world art.

Gospels

Opiza Gospels (9th century) Anbandidi Gospels (9th century) Adysh Gospels (9th century) Berti Gospels (10th century) Tbeti I Gospels (10th century) Jruchi I Gospels (10th century) Tskarostavi I Gospels (10th century) Parkhali I Gospels (10th century) Parkhali II Gospels (10th-11th centuries) Alaverdi Gospels (11th century) Martvili Gospels (11th century) Tbeti II Gospels (12th century) Bichvinta Gospels (12th century) Gelati Gospels (12th century) Vani Gospels (12th century) Jruchi II Gospels (12th century) Tskarostavi II Gospels (12th century) Vardzia Gospels (12th-13th centuries) Jerusalem Gospels (12th-13th centuries) Ienashi Gospels (13th century) Mokvi Gospels (13th century)

Literary and other written works

Important Georgian literary works of the pre-Christian period are: Amiraniani, ancient Georgian folk epos (see also: Amiran-Darejaniani and Amirani).

Notable Georgian written works from the medieval period include: Martyrdom of the Holy Queen Shushanik by Iakob Tsurtaveli (the oldest surviving work of the Georgian literature written between 476 and 483) Corpus Areopagiticum, a philosophical and theological work attributed by some to Peter the Iberian (5th century) The Life of Saint Nino (8th century) (anon)Baramidze, Georgian literature The Martyrdom of Abo Tbileli by Ioane Sabanisdze (8th century) The Life of Grigol Khandzteli by Giorgi Merchule (10th century) A History of the Georgian Kings ("Tskhovreba Kartvelta Mepeta") by Leonti Mroveli (11th century) A History of the Royal House of Bagrationi by Sumbat Davitisdze (11th century) Eteriani, a folk epic (c. 11th century) Life of the King Farnavaz (anon) (11th century) Ustsoro Karabadini (Peerless Karabadini) (11th century)Destin de la Géorgie, Issues 36-37, 1978, p. 277 Tamariani by Ioane Chakhrukhadze (12th century) Shen Khar Venakhi ("Thou Art a Vineyard"), the famous Georgian hymn by the King Demetre I Bagrationi (12th century) Vepkhistkaosani (The Knight in the Panther's Skin), a national epic poem by Shota Rustaveli (12th century) Abdulmesiani by Ioane Shavteli (13th century) Kartlis Tskhovreba (History of Georgia), a collection of old Georgian chronicles (from ancient times to the 14th century)

Georgian culture throughout history

Georgian culture enjoyed a renaissance of classical literature, arts, philosophy, architecture and science in the 11th century.Rapp, Stephen H. (2003), Studies in Medieval Georgian Historiography: Early Texts And Eurasian Contexts. Peeters Publishers, Over the course of centuries, to varying degrees it was influenced by Classical Greece, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, various Persian empires (e.g. Achaemenid, Sassanian, and Safavid),Yarshater, Ehsan. "Encyclopædia Iranica" Routledge & Keagan Paul, 2001. pp 464–479Willem Floor, Edmund Herzig. Iran and the World in the Safavid Age I.B.Tauris, 15 September 2012 p 494 the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.

This long history has provided a national narrative which encompasses the successful preservation of unique culture and identity in a consistent territory, despite powerful external pressures from different directions. Christianity and the Georgian language are particularly important national identifiers.

The first Georgian-language printing house was established in the 1620s in Italy, and the first one in Georgia itself was founded in 1709 in Tbilisi.

Georgian theatre has a long history; its oldest national form was the "Sakhioba" (extant from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD). The Georgian National Theatre was founded in 1791 in Tbilisi, by the writer, dramatist, and diplomat Giorgi Avalishvili (1769–1850). Its leading actors were Dimitri Aleksi-Meskhishvili, David Machabeli, David Bagrationi, Dimitri Cholokashvili, and others.

In Tbilisi, the Museum of the Caucasus was founded in 1845. In the 1920s, it became the State Museum of Georgia. The Tbilisi State Theatre of Opera and Ballet was established in 1851.

Greatest representatives of Georgian culture of the 19th century were: Nikoloz Baratashvili (poet), Alexander Orbeliani (writer), Vakhtang Orbeliani (poet), Dimitri Kipiani (writer), Grigol Orbeliani (poet), Ilia Chavchavadze (writer and poet), Akaki Tsereteli (poet), Alexander Kazbegi (writer), Rapiel Eristavi (poet), Mamia Gurieli (poet), Iakob Gogebashvili (writer), Simon Gugunava (poet), Babo Avalishvili-Kherkheulidze (actor), Nikoloz Avalishvili (actor), Nikoloz Aleksi-Meskhishvili (actor), Romanoz Gvelesiani (painter), Grigol Maisuradze (painter), Alexandre Beridze (painter), Ivane Machabeli (translator), Okropir Bagrationi (translator), Sardion Aleksi-Meskhishvili (translator), Kharlampi Savaneli (opera singer), Pilimon Koridze (opera singer), Lado Agniashvili (folk singer), Alois Mizandary (composer), etc.

The first cinema in Georgia was established in Tbilisi on November 16, 1896. The first Georgian cinema documentary ("Journey of Akaki Tsereteli in Racha-Lechkhumi") was shot in 1912 by Vasil Amashukeli (1886–1977), while the first Georgian feature film ("Kristine") was shot in 1916 by Alexandre Tsutsunava (1881–1955).

The Tbilisi State Academy of Arts was founded in 1917.

Georgian culture suffered under the rule of the Soviet Union during the 20th century, during which a policy of Russification was imposed but was strongly resisted by many Georgians. Since the independence of Georgia in 1991, a cultural resurgence has taken place, albeit somewhat hampered by the country's economic and political difficulties in the post-Soviet era.

Cuisine

The Georgian cuisine is unique to the country, but also carries some influences from other Caucasian, Eastern European and nearby Middle Eastern culinary traditions. Each historical province of Georgia has its own distinct culinary tradition, with variations such as Abkhazian, Megrelian, Kakhetian, Imeretian, Svanetian, Pshavian, Tushian, Kartlian, Gurian, Meskhian, Rachian and Adjarian cuisines. Rich with meat dishes, the Georgian cuisine also offers a variety of vegetarian dishes.

Georgian cuisine is the result of the broad interplay of culinary ideas carried along the Silk Road Trade route by merchants and travelers alike.Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Ken Albala, p. 125 The importance of both food and drink to Georgian culture is best observed during a feast called supra, when a huge assortment of dishes are prepared, always accompanied by large amounts of local wine, known to be one of the world's oldest wines, produced in ancient authentic Georgian underground kvevri clay pots (dating 8 century BC). In a Georgian feast, the role of the tamada (toastmaster) is an important and honoured position.

Famous Georgian cultural figures

Some famous Georgian cultural figures from the 20th–21st centuries are:

Actors

David "Dodo" Abashidze Veriko Anjaparidze Spartak Bagashvili Givi Berikashvili Ramaz Chkhikvadze Kakhi Kavsadze Ipolite Khvichia Akaki Khorava Zurab Kipshidze Avtandil Makharadze Merab Ninidze Guram Sagaradze Karlo Sakandelidze Sesilia Takaishvili Bukhuti Zakariadze Sergo Zakariadze Nato Vachnadze Sofiko Chiaureli

Ballet dancers

Nino Ananiashvili Vakhtang Chabukiani Irma Nioradze

Composers

Giorgi Tsabadze Zakharia Paliashvili Gia Kancheli Sulkhan Tsintsadze Dimitri Arakishvili Andria Balanchivadze Meliton Balanchivadze Alexandre Basilaia Bidzina Kvernadze Otar Taktakishvili

Violinists Liana Isakadze Lisa Batiashvili

Filmmakers

Tengiz Abuladze Vasil Amashukeli Mikheil Chiaureli Revaz Chkheidze Otar Ioseliani Mikheil Kobakhidze Eldar Shengelaia Giorgi Shengelaia Alexandre Tsutsunava Nana Mchedlidze

Opera singers

Medea Amiranashvili Paata Burchuladze David Gamrekeli Lamara Cekonia Makvala Kasrashvili Badri Maisuradze Vano Sarajishvili Zurab Sotkilava Nino Surguladze

Painters

Irakli Parjiani Elene Akhvlediani David Alexidze Gia Bugadze Amiran Danibegashvili Gigo Gabashvili Oleg Timchenko Petre Otskheli Lado Gudiashvili Gia Gugushvili Mamuka Japharidze Irakli Gamrekeli David Kakabadze Shalva Kikodze Sergo Kobuladze Niko Pirosmani Levan Tsutskiridze Avto Varazi

Pianists

Alexander Korsantia Giorgi Latso Alexander Toradze Eliso Virsaladze Inga Kashakashvili Khatia Buniatishvili

Poets

Shota Rustaveli Galaktion Tabidze Alexander Abasheli Rati Amaglobeli Lado Asatiani Valerian Gaprindashvili Terenti Graneli