The Stele of Davati (Georgian: დავათის სტელა) is a cross-shaped limestone[2] stele, carrying a bas-relief, depicting Virgin Mary alongside the archangels Michael and Gabriel, with one of the earliest inscriptions in Georgian Asomtavruli script.[3] The upper part of the stele that is assumed to have been depiction of the Feast of the Ascension is broken and lost.[4] It has been dated from the 4th to the 5th century. The stele was discovered in 1985 in a small Church of the Virgin in highland village of Davati, Dusheti Municipality.[5][6]
| Stele of Davati | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Material | Relief |
| Size | Height 61cm[1] |
| Writing | Georgian script |
| Created | 5th century |
| Discovered | 1985 |
| Present location | Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi |
| Language | Old Georgian |
Hypothesis edit
The Georgian scholar Ramin Ramishvili conjectures that the combination of letters ႩႲႽ corresponds to the number 5320 (5000 + 300 + 20, correspondingly Ⴉ [k] + Ⴒ [t] + Ⴝ [č]), which may denote, according to Georgian numerals, the year 284 BC, the alleged date of creation of the first Georgian script.[6]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Machabeli, p. 119
- ^ Machabeli, p. 6
- ^ Machabeli, p. 120
- ^ Machabeli, p. 11
- ^ Abramishvili, G & Aleksidze, Z. (1990), "A national motif in the iconographic programme depicted on the Davati Stela". Le Muséon, Vol. 103. # 3-4: 283-292
- ^ a b Abramishvili, G; Aleksidze, Z (2012). "დავათის სტელა [Davati stele]". ენციკლოპედია "საქართველო", ტ. II [Encyclopaedia Georgia, Vol. 2] (in Georgian). Georgian National Academy of Sciences. pp. 258–259. ISBN 978-99928-20-27-8.
Bibliography edit
- Machabeli, K. (2008) Early Medieval Georgian Stone Crosses, Ministry of Culture and Sports of Georgia, Chubinashvili National Research Centre for History of Georgian Art and Monument Protection, ISBN 978-9941-0-2109-1