kutaisi

Kutaisi is one of the oldest cities in the world. This city is more than 3500 years old. The Byzantine historian of the 6th century, Procopius Caesarea believed that Kutaisi was the residence of the King of Kolkheti - Ayet, "Aia-Kutaia". Old Kutaisi is described in details in the monumental epic poem of the Greek poet and scientist Apollonius of Rhodes of the 3rd century BC - "Argonautica"
The mentioned poem is a literary reworking of the magnificent monument of Greek mythology - the Golden Fleece and the Argonauts legends - created at the turn of the 14th and 13th centuries BC. Most of the famous historians of the world have always supported the idea that the world of Argonautics is Kolkheti, and the residence of Ayet - Kutaisi. This was confirmed once again in 1984, when Tim Severin, the most famous traveler of the 20th century, visited Georgia and Kutaisi.
Archaeological research reveals that the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Kolkheti in the 8th-11th centuries BC. In the middle Ages, from the 8th to the 11th century, Kutaisi was the capital of the Kingdom of Georgia. The city and its surroundings are rich in architectural masterpieces of the middle Ages: the Bagrati Cathedral, the Motsameta Monastery, the Geguti Complex and the Gelati Monastery Complex is UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kutaisi and the vast area around it formed such a historical-geographical unit, which was called "Country" in Georgia since ancient times. Against this background, the term "Country of Kutaisi" or "Country of Kutatisi" was formed. Kutaisi and the country of Kutatis are known by different names: "Shida Egrisi", "Titanuri Aia", "Kutaisi land", "Mukhuris" or "Mokhiris", ,,Civil of Kutaisi" - every civil".
 From the 17th century, this area was called "Vake", and from the 18th century, “the estate land of oath men ". From this name, the most important and primary name is "Country of Kutatis", one of the oldest Georgian names of which should be "Shida Egrisi".
Kutaisi has always been the political center - of the region, of the country, of Georgia. From the 80s of the 8th century to the year 978, Kutaisi was the capital of the Western Georgian state - the "Kingdom of Abkhazia". From this position, Kutaisi played an important role in the unification of Georgia, and Bagrat III Bagration started the unification of Georgia by enthroning in Kutaisi.  The kingdom of Bagrat III became the state of the united Georgian people - Georgia, and the golden age of Georgia was founded in Kutaisi. Kutaisi Sioni (Bagrati Cathedral) was built as a symbol of the newly united Georgia. It can be said that from the beginning of the 11th century to 1122, Kutaisi was the capital of Georgia.
In the 11th-13th centuries, Georgia reached the peak of its strength and development. This period in its history is known as the "Golden Age of Georgia". In 1008-1122, the capital of Georgia was Kutaisi. At this time David IV the Builder built Gelati Monastery, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. King David IV the Builder is buried in Gelati Monastery in Kutaisi. He is recognized as a great statesman and powerful military commander for his personal honors, great service to the country and the nation, whose reign has a special place in the history of Georgia.
During the period of unified Georgia, Kutaisi served as the royal residence. Here was the king's palace, treasury and Zarapkhana. In 1259, King David Narin made Kutaisi the residence of Western Georgia, and Kutaisi and the Kingdom of Licht-Imereti remained an island of freedom in the vast ocean of Mongol rule from the Pacific Ocean to the Carpathians for almost a century. From this period, the term "Imereti" began to be actively established. Before George V Brtskinvale unified Georgia, Kutaisi served as the capital of the Kingdom of Western Georgia until 1329.
From the 15th century, the process of decentralization of Georgia reached its peak. In 1462-1489, the kingdom of Imereti was formed, which existed until 1810. During all this time, the capital of the kingdom was Kutaisi. If the kingdom of Likht-Imereti covered all of Western Georgia in 1259-1329, the kingdom of Imereti existing in 1489-1810 was limited mainly to geographical Imereti and the capital city of Kutaisi was limited to a small political area. Along with being the capital city,  Kutaisi also assumed the function of the center of Samouravo. Kutaisi Mouravi( administrative and military officer in early modern Georgia) had administrative, investigative and judicial functions. Unlike the other 25 Moravians of the Kingdom of Imereti, the Kutaisi Mouravi had the rank of commander. In the same period, Kutaisi was also the center of the flag of Vake.
In 1810, the Russian Empire abolished the Kingdom of Imereti and created the "Oblast" or district of Imereti, whose main city was Kutaisi. The "temporary government of Imereti" functioned here, headed by a Russian official. The temporary government existed in 1810-1840 and Kutaisi was the center of "Kutaisi Okrug" at the same time as the center of government. The head of Kutaisi Okrug was equipped with more rights and duties compared to others.
On April 10,1840 Georgia-Imereti Governorate was formed, which included Kutaisi Mazra, the main city of which was Kutaisi. This system of governance was soon abolished and on December 14, 1846, a new administrative reform was carried out in Transcaucasia, according to which Transcaucasia was divided into 4 governorates. Georgia made up two governorates - Tbilisi and Kutaisi. Kutaisi was declared a gubernatorial city. Kutaisi Governorate existed from December 14, 1846 to April 10, 1921 with administrative and territorial changes. Since 1878, Artvini District (historical South Georgia) has been included in Kutaisi Governorate, and since 1883, Batumi District and Akhaltsikhe Mazra have also been included. Kutaisi was the administrative center of imperial importance, and it passed in the ranks of such cities as Kyiv, Astrakhan, Kaunas, Vilnius, Minsk, etc.    In June 1857, the Governor - General of Kutaisi was established and the territory of Abkhazia was subordinated to the Governor General of Kutaisi. The importance of Kutaisi was so great in this era that the governor-general of the city was considered the commander of the military and the fleet of the Caucasus coast of the Black Sea. Between 1867 and 1883, Kutaisi was deprived of the status of Governor General, but soon it was restored. In the era of independent Georgia, the principle of dividing Georgia into gubernias was still valid. After the establishment of the Soviet government on April 10, 1921, the Kutaisi Governorate was abolished, and in 1921-1929, Kutaisi was the center of the Kutaisi Mazra. In August 1929, based on the expansion of Mazra, Kutaisi district was created, the territory of which was 10,768 square kilometers, and the population was more than 600,000. The district was soon abolished, however, in 1951 Kutaisi district was created again, which was soon abolished in 1953. The political-administrative status of Kutaisi was also limited and Kutaisi was selected only as a district center. In 1959, the Kutaisi district was abolished and the city was limited to the city territory for the first time during its many centuries of existence.
In 1995, the position of state representative was created in the Imereti area, Kutaisi became the center of the area, and still performs this function. In 2012-2019, Kutaisi is the parliamentary capital of Georgia.
Kutaisi was not only a state-administrative center, it always stood at the head of education and culture of the country.
Already at the end of the 11th century, the distinguished king of Georgia, David IV the Builder, founded near Kutaisi one of the oldest higher education institutions of medieval Europe - "Gelati Academy", whose head was Ioane Petritsi, who was well known in the scientific and church circles of that time. The academy had a scriptorium where the scribes of the monastery transcribed manuscripts. Among the several books produced here, the most famous is the 12th-century Gospel preserved at the National Manuscript Center. The Gelati Academy operated for several centuries and became a symbol of the "Golden Age" of David the Builder and King Tamar.
In 1850, the first gymnasium in Western Georgia was established in Kutaisi, to which boys' and women's gymnasiums were soon added. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the graduates of Kutaisi gymnasiums played a decisive role in the development of Georgian culture.
Currently, there are three universities in Kutaisi: Akaki Tsereteli State University, Kutaisi International University and Kutaisi University, as well as Gelati Theological Academy and Seminary, several professional colleges and educational institutions.
Akaki Tsereteli State University is the oldest multidisciplinary higher education institution in Imereti region. The university has nine faculties with approximately 12,000 students and has a special place in literature programs at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels.
Kutaisi International University is working on the introduction of art and culture educational programs.
Kutaisi is one of the most monoethnic cities in Georgia, but it had always been distinguished by the high level of tolerance. In the center of the city the Catholics of different nationalities, Jewish people, and other ethnic groups have been living with the locals for ages, who added the prominence to the city reflected well in the Folklore. The Jewish community had a special place here until 70-th of the last century, before the process of “Aliyah”- returning to their historical homeland-began. In Kutaisi, in the Jewish quarter, there are three synagogues and all of them are on the street named after Boris Gaponov. Boris Gaponov is considered to be one of the best translators of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”.
Next to the Jewish quarter there was a Catholic quarter. At the beginning of the 19th century, King Solomon II of Imereti gave this territory to Catholic missionaries with a "deed of water". The people of Kutaisi called the Catholic settlement "the neighborhood of the French". At the beginning of the 20th century, about 2,000 Catholics lived here. It should be noted that Catholics from Kutaisi were mainly Georgians.
Kutaisi is a city of rich theatrical traditions. Already in 1861, the first theater performance was held here with the participation of amateur actors. This year is an important date in the history of Georgian theater. In 1880, the first professional theater troupe was founded in Kutaisi.
From 1928, for two years, the "Kutaisi-Batumi Theater" existed, which directed performances to the audience of the two cities. On the basis of this theater, the world-famous Tbilisi Kote Marjanishvili State Academic Theater was formed.
In 1955, the new building of the Kutaisi Drama Theater was officially opened (currently the Professional State Drama Theater named after Kutaisi Lado Meskhishvili), a unique architectural building, which in 2009 was granted the status of a cultural heritage monument.
In 1969, the life of Meliton Balanchivadze State Professional Opera and Ballet Theater of Kutaisi begins.
In addition to the mentioned theaters, the following are operating in Kutaisi: Jakob Gogebashvili State Puppet Theater, Professional Pantomime Theater, Mask Theater, Youth Theater, Youth Theater for Young Audiences - "Marjanishvilieli", State Symphony Orchestra, Kutaisi State Academic Ensemble of Song and Dance, Kutaisi (NNLE) cultural and artistic institution's chamber choir and others.
Kutaisi was a center of literary and cultural influence, where famous writers and public figures throughout Europe worked in different periods. The 19th century was especially important, with such great figures as Akaki Tsereteli, Giorgi Tsereteli, Niko Nikoladze, Givi Lortkipanidze, Isidore Kvitsaridze and others.
The 20th century was a period of great changes, re-evaluating old literary traditions and searching for new forms in Kutaisi. At that time, Kutaisi was the center of the Georgian avant-garde. Young people used to spend evenings of poetry in the "Okros Chardakhi" near the Chadari tree.

In the union of "Tsisperkantselebi" were: Titsian Tabidze, Paolo Iashvili, Valerian Gafrindashvili, Kolau Nadiradze, Shalva Apkhaidze, Nikolo Mitsishvili, Aleksandre Arsenishvili, Sandro Tsirekidze, Giorgi Leonidze, Sergo Kldiashvili and Shalva Karmeli (Gogiashvili). A large part of them became victims of Soviet political repressions. In February 1919, "Tsisperkantselebi" published the first literary magazine "Dreamer Nyamores".
Writers from Kutaisi, Rezo Gabriadze, Rezo Cheishvili and Otia Ioselian, left a great mark on the country's literary life.
The 21st century brought new aesthetics to Kutaisi. Kutaisi has become a UNESCO’s City of Literature, and this status is an excellent opportunity to implement a new international literary festival, educational and research programs, and intersectoral cooperation, to promote the city's literary traditions.
The first royal printing house was established in Kutaisi in 1800, where about 2000 books were printed. The first 6 unique editions are kept in the Kutaisi Historical Museum.
Kutaisi Ilia Chavchavadze Public Library is one of the oldest libraries in Georgia, founded in 1873. Today, the library has 17 departments, 14 branches and employs 92 employees, while 43 employees work in the organization's regional network.
Akaki Tsereteli State University Scientific Library was founded in 1933 and is one of the richest libraries in Georgia in terms of collections.
4 literary periodicals are published in the city ("Gantiadi", "Mtsvanekvavila", "Mermisi", "Uchimerioni"), which brings together outstanding writers, writers, editors, translators and other specialists.
Georgian cinema and theater art could not have been so outstanding without Vasil Amashukeli, Rezo Chkheidze, Veriko Anjafaridze, Giorgi Shavgulidze, Ipolite Khvichia and other artists. Meliton Balanchivadze and Zakaria Paliashvili made an invaluable contribution to the development of Georgian and world music. World opera tenor Zurab Anjaparidze was from Kutaisi. Kutaisi gave the world unique artists: Jacob Nikoladze, Pelix Varlamishvili (Varla), Davit Kakabadze, Petre Otkheli.
The outstanding attraction of Kutaisi is the city's central garden or boulevard - the most popular place for meetings. The boulevard was established in 1848 and soon became a public gathering place. Such important matters were decided there that it was even called the "Parliament of Kutaisi".
Museums are of special importance in the cultural life of the city. The Kutaisi State Historical Museum is distinguished throughout Georgia by its unique funds - more than 230,000 exhibits and more than 40,000 books are stored here. In the city there are: National Museum of Battle Glory, Sports History Museum, Zakaria Paliashvili Museum, Kutaisi Historical-Architectural Museum-Reserve, "Soldier's Father's House".
Davit Kakabadze Fine Arts Gallery preserves paintings, graphics, sculptures, works of applied art by famous Georgian artists and sculptors. There is another art gallery - "Varla".

The central archive of Kutaisi is unique in its importance up to a million documents are preserved, which cover almost the entire history of Western Georgia in the 19th - 20th centuries.
Kutaisi is a city of exceptional sports traditions. The central football stadium of the fourth category, a swimming pool corresponding to Olympic standards, rafting and rowing sports bases serve to continue these traditions with dignity.
Kolia Kvariani, the Giant from Kutaisi, took the name and fame of his hometown across the ocean.

Olympic Champions from Kutaisi:

Mzia Jugeli - Gymnast, first female Olympic champion, 1952 Helsinki Olympics.
Nugzar Asatiani - Fencing, Tokyo 1964 Olympics.
Zurab Sakandelidze and Mikheil Korkia - Basketball, the first Olympic champions from Georgia, the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Ketevan Losaberidze - Archery, Moscow 1980 Olympics.
Davit Khakhaleishvili - Judo, the first Olympic champion in the history of independent Georgia, Barcelona 1992 Olympics.
Irakli Tsirekidze - Judo, Beijing 2008 Olympics.

World Champions:

Maia Chiburdanidze - five-times world chess champion, 1978-1991.
Omar Pkhakadze _ world champion in cycling, 1965.
Teimuraz Abkhazava - two-times world champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, 1982 and 1983.
Nikoloz Deriugin - world champion in basketball, 1982.
Mikheil Giorgadze _ world champion in water polo, 1982. Beka Lomtadze - world champion in freestyle wrestling, 2019.
More than 3500 years old, Kutaisi is now a modern city with appropriate infrastructure, state services, educational, artistic, healthcare, sports facilities, gardens and parks. According to the development plan of Kutaisi, an even more impressive renewal process will begin here soon, the ancient districts of the city, the houses on the district, the central boulevard will start a new life... Kutaisi is already marked on the world tourist map.
Kutaisi, during many centuries of its existence, has had times of prosperity many times and has endured hardships. Nevertheless, it has always preserved the unique color that is characteristic only of this great city.