Mtskheta (Georgian მცხეთა) - a town in Georgia, at the confluence of the Kura River Aragvi. Is the administrative center of the region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti. The city is located a few kilometers north of Tbilisi. The population is 7423 people (as of 1 January 2005).
History [edit | edit source code ]
Founded in the 2nd half of the 1st millennium BC . e . According to legend the city was founded legendary Mtskhetos . "After the death of King Kartlos his wife shared the land among his sons . Among them are senior Mtskhetos - settled in runoff Aragvi and Mtkvari (Kura ) , built a city and named it after himself . "
Spanish author Juan XIX century Van Halen , who visited these places , speaking of Mtskheta , also noted that one of the immediate descendants of Noah, namely Meskhet , founder of the city , elected him his capital , and not so much because of the charm of the place , how many of due to its convenient location. City spaced at fifty leagues from Ararat - the mountains , to the way landed after the flood of Noah's ark . [3] In the IV century BC. e . Azo king of Kartli ( Azov) declared the capital of the kingdom of Kartli . Since the end of V century BC . e . the capital of the kingdom of Kartli translated in Tbilisi. Until the construction of the cathedral Sameba Mtskheta was chair of the Patriarch of Georgia.
Old districts Greater Mtskheta : Sarkin , Tsitsamuri , Nakulbakevi , Karsanov , Mukhatgverdi , Kaloubani - Kodmani .
Here are located the remains of fortified residences Armazian fortress ( Armaztsihe ) , urban neighborhoods , cemeteries , as well as a monastery complex Samtavro ( the main church of XI century ) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral . Near Mtskheta are one of the oldest in the country Djvari monastery church (VI century) , Shio Mgvime monastery. Cultural monuments in the region are under UNESCO protection and belong to world heritage.
Mtskheta born artist AR Mrevlishvili [4].
