THE HISTORICAL EXPRESSION “FROM NIKOPSIA TO DARUBANDA” EXPRESSES THE MISERY OF THE COUNTRY (?!)

Abstract

Researcher Z. Kiknadze in his article “Sea and Land in Georgian Myth” expresses the view that Georgians have never had a pragmatic relationship with the sea, the history of Georgia does not remember any significant relationship with the sea, especially naval battles and that the river network never became an important part of politics. .
Based on the written references or other material cited in this article, it is stated that Z. Kiknadze could not substantiate his point of view either by referring to the mythological field or by quoting historical sources. On the contrary, the existing artefacts presented a completely different and opposite picture: the Georgians were perceived by the pagan imagination of the sea as a sacral quantity - a connecting road between the world and the underworld. In addition, Georgians were accustomed to life by the sea, and in antiquity or in the Middle Ages they established political-diplomatic and economic-trade relations with other countries by sea. It should be emphasized that this is evidenced by the composition of the fleet in Georgia: the Royal Navy consisted of both passenger ships and warships. Georgian kings were able to send their own fleets to other countries to take part in naval battles. River traffic has always been developed in Georgia. This is evidenced by the fact that, firstly, there were two rivers - the Mtkvari and the Rioni - along the section of the Indian Caravan Road, and secondly, there were ports for boats and customs points for cargo transportation on a number of rivers.