Georgian mythology

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History of Georgia

Georgian mythology refers to the mythology of pre-Christian Georgians.

Georgian myths and legends are preserved mainly as popular tales. Many of them have eventually fused with Christian legends after the Christianization of Georgia seventeen centuries ago.

List of mythic characters

A non-exhaustive list of Georgian mythical characters includes:

• Adgilis Deda

• Amirani - mythic hero, son of Dali. Equivalent of the Greek Prometheus.

• Armazi - Chief of the gods; central figure in Kartli’s (Iberia) official religion established by King Pharnavaz of Iberia (4th century, BC). According to the legend, an immense statue of Armazi was destroyed by lightning after St. Nino’s prayer. Armazi is also the name of an ancient fortress near Mtskheta that dates from the same period.

• Bochi - Thought to be the patron saint of cattle. The first written documentation of this deity comes from Euthymius of Athos. According to historian Ivane Javakhishvili, the name "Bochi" is related to words for "male goat."

• Gatsi and Gaimi - gods in the official Iberian pantheon according to the medieval annals.

• Kopala - mythic hero, mighty warrior (archer) and a demon killer.

• Lamara - goddess, was called ‘eye of the earth’.

• Ochopintre - spirit of the forest and protector of wild animals. The first part of his name (ocho) is connected to the ancient pagan god Bochi, the second part (pintre) to the Greek god Pan.

• Tamar - goddess of the sky, riding on a snake; is identified with Lamara.

• Tetri Giorgi (White George) - popular character in Georgian mythology; a warrior and a moon god. Later Tetri Giorgi became one of the names of St. George in eastern Georgia.

• Zadeni - god of fertility in the official pantheon established by Pharnavaz I.

See also

• Armenian mythology
• Greek mythology
• Ossetian mythology
• Slavic mythology
• Persian mythology
• Vainakh mythology