royal-house

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HERALDIC SYMBOLS OF GEORGIA

    

      Мichael Wadbolsky

     

 

      Translated from Georgian by Mary Bitsadze and Andrew Andersen

      Web-edition: Andrew Andersen

 

 

 

Part 4

 

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SIGNET RINGS

 

 

 

 

The Great State Seal of King Erekle II

 

 

Seal of King Theimuraz II

(18th century)

 

18th century seal

 

 

 

Seal of King David of Imereti

(18th century)

 

 

 

Seal of Katsia Dadiani

(18th century)

 

Seal of the Archbishop of Chkondidi

 

 

Seal

 

 

 

 

Seal of Abdallah-Bek, the son of King Iesseh

(18th century)

 

 

Seal

 

 



 

 

SYMBOLS OF POWER

 

 

 

Symbolic signs on Armazi rock

 

 

The sign of Queen Tamar (12th century).

Found on coins and border pillars

 

 

 

Symbol of Tsaishi monastery

 

 

 

Symbol of power (“The Hand”)

of the Bagratides

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

SYMBOLS ON THE WEAPONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heraldic figures: lion and wolf on the sword of Crown Prince Theimuraz (the son of King George XII)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NUMISMATIC SYMBOLS

 

 

 

Colchian coin

Stater of King Aqi.  3d century BC

Image: Goddess Athena

 

 

 

Coin of David III Curopalate. 10th century

Image:  cross, erected on a four-staged pedestal with four capital letters for the title of "Curopalate." placed between the branches of the cross.

 The coin also bears inscription in capital letters:

 "Christ, bless David".

 

 

 

 

Coin of King David IV “the Builder”.  XII век.

Image: crowned rider and the first letter of the King’s name

 

 

Coin of King Георгия III. XII век.

Image: falcon on the King’s outstretched hand of. Inscription in "the military letters" (a variant of Georgian alphabet) stands for the King’s (in its short form “Ge”) and the year 1174.

 

 

Coin of Queen Rusudan. First half of the 13th century.

Image: the nemeRusudan” in capital letters placed in the centre of an ornamental frame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coin of King Lasha-George. Late 12th   early 13th  centuries.

Image: Signature of Queen Tamar

.

 

 

 

Coin of Quarquare Atabag. 15th century.

.

 

 

 

 

 

Coin of King Lasha-George. Early 13th century.

 

 

 

Coin of King David Narin. 13th century.

Image: crowned rider and the first letter of the King’s name in capital letters.

 

 

 

Coin of King Demetre “the Self-sacrificer”. 13th century.

Image: a variant of Bagrtide family symbol.

 

 

Unidentified coin from Tephelis (Tbilisi), minted in the 60-ies of the 13th century.

It bears the Star of David.

 

 

 

Coin of Prince Wamekh Dadiani.

Second half of the 14th century.

Image: crowned ruler. Inscription “Wamekh” in "the military letters" (a variant of Georgian alphabet).

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

 

Signature of Queen Tamar

 

 

 

 

 

Signature of King Lasha-George (Tamar’s son)

 

Signature of Queen Tamar

 

 

 

 

Signature of Queen Rusudan (Tamar’s daughter)

 

 

 

Signatures of Queen Tamar and her spouse David Soslani

 

 

 

 

Signature of King Alexander I.

 

 

 

Signature of Demetre “the Self-sacrificer

 

 

Signature of King Constantin II of Kakheti.

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANALOGIES

 

 

 

Hittite winged Sun

 

 

 

Hittite standard.

 

 

.

Hitite double-headed eagle.

 

 

 

 

Flags of various ancient peoples

 

 

 

 

Hittite standards.

.

 

 

 

 

Magic signs of various ancient peoples.