ფეოდალური საქართველოს სოციალური შემადგენლობა ქოროღოს რელიეფების მიხედვით
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Date
2011
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მერიდიანი
Abstract
Two major classes were distinguished in the medieval Georgian social
system: the high class composed by the royal family and the nobility, and the
lower class of the Georgian society divided among different categories. In our
research we examine only several examples of sculpture from Korogho complex
that would show an essential picture of medieval Georgian social composition.
The church itself is situated in Khada valley (present day Dusheti
municipality), Mtskheta-Mtianeti region. The western facade of Holy Virgin
church of Korogho, main part of Korogho complex, shows the most vivid
illustrations of lower class. This composition is considered to be unique in
Georgia.
The process of construction of the church is depicted on the cornice of the
western facade, where we can find twelve stones divided in two parallel
columns on the both side of the church’s cornice. Composition has a central
depiction of the Holy Virgin with the head of Jesus Christ placed on her chest
and the other figures facing them from both sides of the facade. The main idea
of the composition is the dedication of church to Holy Virgin and Jesus Christ.
Western facade of the church has a depiction of laymen from various
social groups. They are divided into two parts. The closest figure to the central
part of facade is bearded ktitor of the church holding its model in his right hand.
He is portrayed with a coat which illustrates his noble origin. One more figure
has the same outfit to the right from ktitor’s depiction. All other secular laymen
belong to the non-privileged social groups, some of them are artisans, and the
others are workers specially employed for the construction of the church.
The same complex has another ktitorial sculpture which is represented on
the capitellum of the church. The relief on the capitellum has a depiction of
three laymen. One of them is ktitor, the leading member of group, and two
others are youngsters. The Imagery reflects certain participation of feudal house
in the construction of the church. The outfit of the ktitor that holds the draft of the church shows his noble birth. The ktitor stands to the right in this
composition. He is the head of the family and the others are his sons.
Judging from the frame of his crown, the ktitor should had been the
official in Georgia, namely Eristavi of certain province. The analysis of the
crown is very important. The crown on the ktitor is simple and has rectangular
form. The similar crown is visible on the ktitor on the western facade of
Korogho the Holy Virgin church. The crown that ktitor has on his head, has
several analogies in Georgian monumental sculptures and fresco paintings.
Identical crown, but with ornaments and precious stones is depicted on the
niche in south-west pillar under the dome of Oshki cathedral. In Oshki the
mentioned type of crown is seen on two brothers, sovereigns of Imier-Tao:
Bagrat Eristavt-Eristavi and his junior brother David Magistros (2nd half of 10th
c.).
Since the crowns depicted on Oshki reliefs are skillfully crafted and more
ornamented then the crown on the ktitor of Korogho capitellum, presumably the
latter should be of earlier period. Hence the church of Korogho could have been
erected in the 1st half of 10th century. This opinion is further strengthened when
we analyse non-proportional bodies of figures from Korogho capitellum.
Therefore suggestion of Rusudan Mephisashvili about date of Korogho
Holy Virgin church (edge of the 10th - 11th cc.) must be reconsidered to the first
half of the 10th century as latest. Natela Aladashvili places Korogho church
among the monuments of 8th - 10th cc. That seems to be very plausible
suggestion for the dating of the Holy Virgin church of Korogho. It is likely that
the church and the whole complex were built according to the instructions of
feudal family. The corresponding social situation was established only after the
8th century when the office of Eristavi gained the strength in the region.
Previously Mtianeti region was under the control of King of Kartli. In the 8th –
9th cc. the region was under the control of Korepiskoposi, the prince of Kakheti.
From the end of 9th century it passed to the king of Abkhazia, hence none of
them should be excluded from the list of potential builters of the church.
Description
https://geohistory.humanities.tsu.ge/ge/procedings/83-shromebi/136-shromebi-4.html
Keywords
ქოროღო, რელიეფი, მონუმენტური სკულპტურა, ოშკი
Citation
ივანე ჯავახიშვილის სახელობის თბილისის სახელმწიფო უნივერსიტეტის საქართველოს ისტორიის ინსტიტუტის შრომები, IV, თბილისი, 2011, გვ. 39-58 / Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University Institute of Georgian History Proceedings, IV, Tbilisi, 2011, pp. 39-58