Abstract:
Like other Greek settlements in Western Georgia, Pichvnari was founded
by the Milesians. Archaeological evidences prove Ionian presence in Pichvnari
in the 6th c. B.C. Also, onomastic similarity between Miletus and Pichvnari
(“the pine-trees”) proves it: there are pine-trees around Miletus and town
nearby is called Çamiçi, i. e. “in the pine-trees”; according to Pliny, Carian
name of Miletus was Pityusa, since the surrounding territory was rich in pinetrees.
Milesians could have transferred their toponym to Colchis, in their
settlement, especially if the basis for creating such a toponym had
coincided. Nowadays the toponym exists in Georgian form, like Carian name of
Miletus, Pityusa, is preserved in Turkish form, Çamiçi.
Athenians came to Pichvnari in the middle of the 5th c. B.C. Existence of
the Greek cemetery of the 5th-4th cc. B.C. here proves it. Pichvnari became the
city of the sailors and traders in the 5th c. B. C. High percentage of the Greek
import on Greek cemetery gives us the clue that the Greeks were Pichvnari
residents, however they were travelling a lot, bringing Greek import quite often.
They were citizens of Athens and Pichvnari was not a self-governing polis. It
was a specific emporia with Athenian citizens.
