ურარტული წყაროების "იგანი" და ქართული საისტორიო ძეგლების "ძაღინის ẖევი" (ჩრდილის ტბის მხარის ისტორიული გეოგრაფია და თავდაცვითი სისტემა)
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Date
2020
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Abstract
Igani was mentioned in Urartian sources as one of the leading states of Etiukhi (Etiuni) region. According to the same sources Igani was independent kingdom at least from the 9th c. to the 7th c. BCE. Based on our study, the geographic name “Igani” originates from well preserved Georgian toponym “Żaḡini” (also known as “Żaḡina”). “Żaḡini” is mentioned by the first historian of Queen Tamar (the 13th c.) as “Żaḡinis ẖ̣evi”, one of the regions in the 13th century Georgia located in Lake Çıldır (Geo. Chrdili) region. “Żaḡina” is mentioned in various medieval charters as a village in Shida Kartli region. Hence, various Georgian villages bore that name in medieval period and some have preserved it up to present. But, significantly, the first historian of Queen Tamar mentions “Żaḡinis ẖ̣evi” (ZaRinis Pevi) – “ẖ̣evi” in ancient Georgian tradition applies to the country, which later was transferred to administrative unit. Most probably this change took place as a result of unification of different ẖ̣evis into a single kingdom. Later the same term, ẖ̣evi, was used to refer administrative unit or region. Armenian toponym “Ignażor” is also attested in Lake Çıldır region. Hence, all these names – Igani, Ignażor, Żaḡini, Żaḡina – have the same roots. As I propose, authentic form of Urartian “Igani” should be the Georgian “Żaḡini” – first letter “ż” was omitted from Urartian texts while transfer of “ḡ” to “g” is common in many languages. Therefore from ancient form Żaḡini (or Żiḡani) Urartian “Igani” was derived. The fact that the medieval Georgian sources remember Żaḡini as ẖ̣evi implies the existence of it as separate country in ancient period. Urartian king Sarduri II (r. 756-730 BCE) carried out military campaign in Lake Çıldır region against Kingdom of Igani between 742-739 BCE. Inscription commissioned by king Sarduri II indicates that Urartian ruler defeated king of Igani, Kafurini, and captured 35 fortresses and 200 settlements. There is no mention of royal city of Igani and Kafurini seems to survive Urartian attack. Recent expeditions in Lake Çıldır region revealed around 20 Bronze Age or Iron Age fortressed which firmly confirm statement of Sarduri II about the number of fortresses he conquered in Kingdom of Igani. Based on historical geography and analyses of present day megalithic fortresses (Sometimes referred as cyclopean fortresses) we can establish approximate borders of Igani Kingdom and characteristics of its defense system in ancient period.
Description
http://geohistory.humanities.tsu.ge/ge/procedings.html
Keywords
ეთიუხი, იგანი, ურარტუ, კოლხეთი, ძაღინისხევი
Citation
ივანე ჯავახიშვილის სახელობის თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტის საქართველოს ისტორიის ინსტიტუტის შრომები, XVI, თბილისი, 2020, გვ. 7-18 /Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Institute of Georgian History Proceedings, XVI, Tbilisi, 2020 pp. 7-18