Series Pro Oriente
Gruzínská středověká literatura
Výbor textů z 5.–13. století
Vojtěch Kubec (ed.)
This anthology offers an overview of medieval Georgian literature. In antiquity, Eastern Georgia was known as Iberia, whilst Western Georgia was referred to as Colchis. Its geographical location seems to have destined Georgia to absorb both eastern (predominantly Persian) and western (mainly Greek) cultural influences. The literature which emerged in the first eight centuries of Christian culture absorbed these influences and gave rise to an original synthesis (the use of an original script also being of significance here), whilst maintaining a noteworthy receptiveness towards all things foreign. This may also be demonstrated by considering the principal local saints: St. Nino was of Byzantine Cappadocian origin, St. Eustathius and St. Abo came from Persia (or, more precisely, Baghdad) – an environment where a different religion was dominant; and yet they chose Georgia and her Church as their area of operation and were received there and duly accepted. In addition to hagiography, the anthology includes characteristic excerpts from chronicles and hymnographical collections.
