Medieval fortress Tmogvi, combat citadels in Georgia, ancient fortresses on the river Mtkvari

Tmogvi Fortress is an honorary representative of the Middle Ages, a knight's fortress, at one time a military citadel, in the southern part of Georgia, on the land of Samtskhe-Javakheti. It is located on the left side of the Mtkvari River bank. On the territory of Aspindz municipality, near the village of Tmogvi named after the fortress. It is also worth noting that a Kurgan field was found near the fortress, the age of creation of the III - II millennia BC. The landscape composition created by nature and the man-made, now ruins, fortress classify this place as the most beautiful places in Georgia.

History.

Tmogvi got its name from Gruz. the words “mogvi“, which can be deciphered as "pagan priest" or “magician”. The battle citadel of Tmogvi originates from the ancient sources of antiquity of the IX century. It served as a defensive structure protecting the ancient trade route connecting ancient Georgia and Asia through the Mtkvari Valley. The first mention of the fortress and its history dates back to 914 and is associated with the conquest of the eastern and southern territories of Georgia by the Arab emir. After taking several fortresses, the emir approached Tmogvi, but because of such a majestically designed defensive structure, he realized that the assault on this citadel would remain fruitless and retreated.

At the end of the X century - the beginning of the XI century, the fortress was under the rule of the monarchy. Since 1073, it has been owned by many feudal families, such as Niania Kuabulisdze and her heirs, and after that by the Torels, Mkhargdzelis, Shalikashvili and Dzhakels families. The fortress was captured by the Ottoman Empire in 1578, later the fortress and its surroundings were under the control of the Akhalkalaki Liwa. After the Russian-Ottoman War of 1828-1829, according to the Treaty of Adrianople signed, the Ottomans lost the citadel and other adjacent territories. Such a rich and rich history of the life of the building and its surroundings refers this object to the sights of Georgia, which is worth looking at.

Architecture.

Tmogvi Fortress is built on a high rocky mountain and is surrounded by three hills surrounded by a wall. Security towers were erected on all three elevations for the best view of the surrounding areas. Because of the difference in the landscape, the walls stand at different heights. The fortress has partially preserved its appearance. The western part looks the best, on the slope of which there are three stages of fortifications. The walls of the south-eastern side of the structure rest on a cave, under which a secret passage is hidden, connecting the upper part of the fortress with the Mtkvari River from below. The central square of the fortress is completely occupied by various buildings.

From the remains of buildings, it is possible to trace how the buildings were erected, repaired and updated. The earlier layers consist mainly of smoothed tuff squares, with alignment in even rows, while the rough-hewn stone walls indicate a later time of their renovation. Outside the walls of the fortress, in particular in the western ravine, there is the church of St. Ephraim, which was carved together with the iconostasis in the rock. The second dome church of the XIII century, unfortunately, has lost its former beauty, but fragments of the painting are still preserved in its ruins. I hope after reading this article you have no doubts about the question: What to see in Georgia.