Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
vii
xi
Note on Transliteration
xvii
Abbreviations
xxi
Maps
xxv
Introduction: Contexts
33
105
187
261
271
7 Ps.-Juaners Continuation
331
353
377
379
Appendix III: Kartvelian Kings and Presiding Princes until the End of
the Sasanian Empire
385
vi
389
391
Bibliography
393
Index
499
1
One of these vitae, the generic Passion of the Children of Kolay, is devoid of allusions to
the three Caucasian monarchies and the Sasanian and Roman Empires. For the terminology
used in this study, including the distinction between Mazdaism and Zoroastrianism, see
Appendix I.
2
For antagonism, see Kekelie 1955a. Anti-Sasanian sentiment is more common in
early Armenian literature.
3
Though sometimes awkward, this term is a reminder of the multilayered roles of
authors, editors and scribes over long periods of time. The production of historical images
and narratives is central to this investigation.
xii
the sources upon which they rely openly acknowledge and often positively
evaluate Caucasias long-term integration into the Iranian world.4
While a thematic approach has its virtues, the intricacies of our sources,
shrouded in unfamiliarity and misconception, require an examination predicated
chiefly upon individual texts. Distortions of the historical picture are the steep
wages of the extraction of specific information without a thorough understanding
of the origin, purpose, transmission and reception of the narrative host. At the
same time, broader literary contexts especially the neglected pan-Caucasian
one must be taken into account.5 Two medieval corpora, Kartlis cxovreba and
Mokcevay kartlisay, have been particularly prone to decontextualisation and
structural homogenisation.6 Their discrete components are frequently lumped
together without adequate regard for authorships, target audiences, internal
structures and functions. Yet they are monuments whose distinctiveness must be
handled, first, in tandem with the medieval literary collections in which they are
now exclusively preserved and, second, within the regional sphere of Caucasian
literature. As a consequence, this volume proceeds from holistic treatments of
individual sources and keeps an eye locked on the cross-cultural conditions of
their composition, the perspectives and agendas of their authors, and their place
within the Caucasian literary canon.7
In light of Caucasias organic and durable connections to Iran, I argue for the
extension of the term Sasanian, in a strict sense designating the Iranian core
of the Sasanian Empire (rn, rnahr)8 including what has been dubbed the
Sasanian-Parthian confederacy.9 But as it is deployed in the following pages,
Sasanian also intends the Sasanian phase of the Iranian Commonwealth,10 a
diverse and cosmopolitan network of cross-cultural exchange and shared
social structures, conventions and language. Iranians and non-Iranians actively
contributed to this enduring enterprise that stretched from Anatolia and
Caucasia to Central Asia. Like the Armenians, whose bonds to Iran have been
more extensively studied, eastern Georgians were long-standing members of the
This nexus persisted into the Christian period of Caucasian history for more than
500 years. As I define it, the Iranian Commonwealth first came into existence under the
Achaemenids. See Frye 1963, 120, and the epigraph of the Introduction below.
5
See also Garsoan and Martin-Hisard 1996, esp. 327.
6
For the rendering of Georgian titles, see the Note on Transliteration.
7
This approach entails a certain amount of duplication. The separate examinations
of the two literary categories are incongruous owing to the quantity and divergent nature
of surviving sources. In Part I minute shreds of Iranian and Iranic material are identified
and analysed. In Part II, however, there is a relative abundance of evidence, especially as
it pertains to kingship and epic imagery.
8
On rnahr, see now: Daryaee 2009; and Payne 2013.
9
Pourshariati 2008.
10
I have rejected the term civilisation because of its inherent diffusionism,
imperialist implications and Eurocentric background. See Lewis and Wigen 1997, esp.
126135. Cf. Sanderson 1995.
4
xiii
xiv
xv
Ian Mladjov produced the beautiful maps. The transformation of this project
from manuscript to finished book owes much to the diligence and enthusiasm
of Ashgate, including John Smedley, Kirsten Weissenberg, Etty Payne and Katie
McDonald.
Throughout this projects journey I leaned upon the expertise, wisdom and
encouragement of Nina Garsoan, Ronald Suny, Rudi Lindner, Kevork Bardakjian,
John Graham, Michael Christopher Low, Devin DeWeese, Sebouh Aslanian,
Dean Sakel and my recently departed friends Traianos Gagos, Jerry Bentley
and Armena Maderosian. I am grateful to patient audiences in Tbilisi, Erevan,
Istanbul, Bern, Mainz, Konstanz, St Andrews, Ann Arbor, Seattle, Los Angeles,
Irvine and New Haven for their thoughtful feedback on ideas featured in the
pages below.
The hyper-politicisation of Caucasian history is the stuff of Promethean
legend. Therefore, I must stress that all the views expressed in this study are
mine and mine alone. Errors in fact, interpretation and presentation are entirely
my responsibility and in no way should reflect negatively on the expert advice
from which I have so handsomely benefitted.
Last but not least, this undertaking would not have been possible without
the abiding support of my family and friends. Humanistic and emotional feats
worthy of the bumberazis of old were performed by my resplendent companions
Julie and Finn Nelson as well as Gwen and Stephen Rapp Sr, Gena Fine, Andrew
Lawler, Kenneth Levy-Church, Helen Whiting, the Doleshal trio, Jeff Crane and
family, Andrew and Suzanne Orr, Marina Diamandis, the Baileys and a fuzzy
four-legged ex-Muscovite affectionately named Gorby.
Stephen H. Rapp Jr
Bern, Switzerland, and Huntsville, Texas, USA
Funds provided by the Eurasia Program of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC)
and the National Council for Eurasian and East European Research (NCEEER), under the
authority of Title VIII grants from the United States Department of State, supported the
research and fieldwork leading to this publication. The author is solely responsible for the
views expressed here.
Index
The length and complexity of this study have made a comprehensive index impractical. Therefore,
proper nouns and technical terms are prioritised. Frequently referenced categories such as Caucasia,
Iran, Mcxeta and han h are limited or excluded. Entries are alphabetised according to English
usage without regard for special characters and diacritical marks. Thus, is equivalent to e, is
equivalent to g, is equivalent to l, is equivalent to s, and so forth.
500
Index
Parthian 13, 30, 345, 39, 64, 62, 65, 82,
131, 158, 169, 1934, 1979, 2034,
212, 218, 223, 225, 22730, 234,
237, 240241, 2456, 263, 280, 290,
3545, 362, 36970, 378
Arak I (Ars[ok]) 222
Arak I, Armenian king 323
Arak II 222, 229, 233
Araketi 39, 956
Arsen Iqaltoeli 122
A[r]uay II 42, 389
A[r]uay III 42, 389
Artag (Artak) 222, 274
Artani 208, 210, 305
Artanuji 303
Artas, son of Jojik 43
Artasids (Artaxiads) 63, 215, 222, 226,
231, 237, 272, 274, 385
Artavan 303
Artavaz, son of Saurmag spaspeti 286, 294,
311, 313, 316
Artawazd I 231
Arvand Gunasp 38, 39, 478, 53, 79, 81, 95
Aryan Kartli 1214, 145, 147, 153, 1756,
205, 363, 367
Asad s 350
Ashkenaz 194
Aknyns, see Arsacids
Aot I 4, 7, 172
Aspagur 65, 193, 2256, 231, 240243, 247,
355, 370
Asparug 65
Aspaurouk[is] 656, 225
Assyria (Asrestn) 29, 64, 127, 188, 190,
2768; see also Syria
aswrn 237
axarawand 59, 279, 356
tax wahrm 97
Ateni 226
Sioni (Zion) 11920
Athos, Mt
Ivrn, monastery 22, 139, 228, 403
atroani 56, 923, 146
Atrpatakan, see durbdagn
Avesta, Avestan 47, 89, 131, 146, 1912, 214,
227
Axalgori 26
Aynina (Ainina) 146, 149, 152, 212
501
502
Index
Cxovreba[y] mirianisi 258
Cxovrebay parnavazisi 205
Cyrus 203, 208
Dai 44, 85, 182, 271, 288, 31116, 331,
3346, 341
Dagestan 136, 201
Damvand, Mt 192
Danana 146, 149, 152, 212
Daniel 124, 136, 345
Daniel the Stylite 102
Danina 146, 149, 152
Darband (Derbend, Derbent) 123, 127, 129,
136, 201, 252
Darband Pass 123, 127, 249
Darial Gate/Pass 134, 284
Darius 28, 124, 200
Dastagerd 178
dast[a]gird (dastakert) 178
David, King-Prophet (biblical) 5, 133,
2779
Davit II (IV) Amaenebeli 6, 139, 268, 271,
279, 296, 313
Davit, bishop of Bolnisi 39, 264
Davit Garesjeli 61, 99100
dedamue 75, 113, 115, 239
dedopali 6971, 129
Dedoplis Mindori 27, 92, 158, 215
Demetre, brother of Stepanoz I 263, 3378
Demetre, eristavi 263, 315
Derok (Deruk) 224
didebay 6, 113, 2289, 232, 244, 295, 322,
367
didebuli 113, 141, 2434, 381
Diocletian 259
Dmanisi 34, 135, 263, 374
Domitian 218
drachms 19, 181, 301, 3238, 339
dreams 2068, 2879
Druj/Drug 131, 147
Duin (Dvin) 28, 37, 39, 789, 87, 96, 98, 100,
1056, 111, 11415, 117, 126, 157,
171, 287, 346, 353
Duruketi 151
East Syrian Church, see Church of the East
Edessa (Urha) 177, 265, 292, 344
503
504
Index
Iakob Curtaveli (Jacob of Tsurtavi), Vita
uanik 1415, 33103, 294, 340, 258
Iakob, priest 52, 141, 264
Iamasaspos 164, 224
Iberia, see Kartli
lkhnate, see Mongol Empire
India (Hindo[e]ti), Indians 120, 227, 250,
276, 283, 2923, 2969
Hindstan 293
Indo-Scythian 222, 227
Iovane Sabanis-e, Vita Habo 61, 1334,
138, 248
Iovane Zedazneli 61, 76, 99, 143, 360
Ipajaj 289
rj (Erch, Erz, Iared) 201
Iran, Iranians
Sparseti, Sparsni 2, 39, 91, 95, 140, 163,
1935, 199200, 231, 236, 250, 276,
296, 311, 3434, 348, 378
Iraq 53, 67, 99, 181, 251, 277, 282
Isfahn, see Spahn
Islam, Muslims 2, 131, 1345, 140, 191, 193,
196, 331, 3345, 340, 348351
Ispahbudns 53, 79, 245, 329, 369
Israel, Israelites 57, 133, 138
Itrujan (Truan) 92, 1467
Ivrn, monastery, see Athos, Mt
Izid-Bozid 264
Jaay 73
Jaml al-Din Khalil irvn 350
Jamd 209
Japheth 127, 129, 137, 188, 194
Jason 2267
Javaxeti (Javaxk, Javakheti) 210, 269, 305,
336, 342
Jazira (Jazireti) 132, 250251, 348
Jebusites 133, 156
Jeremiah 134, 194
Jerusalem 19, 60, 98, 1068, 110111, 116,
118, 128, 133, 147, 188, 213, 292,
295, 344, 346, 364
John Malalas 253
John of Niki 188, 297
Jojik (Juik) 423, 52, 80
Josephus 130, 136
Jovian 273, 313, 319
Juanr, Albanian 332
505
506
Index
Macedon, Macedonians 88, 147, 149,
1756, 203, 2057, 226, 238, 367
Mda, satrapy 26
Maean 226, 231, 243
Magugeti, see Gog and Magog
mamamue 889, 239, 247, 268, 311,
31314
mamasaxlisi 82, 202, 205, 226
Mamikoneans 43, 44, 689, 76, 89, 95, 169,
221, 230, 247, 298
Mandaic 35, 370
Manglisi 3057, 346
Manichaeism 4751, 92, 99, 160162, 163,
184, 204, 224, 227, 312
Margwi 210, 315
Mar Qardagh 46, 48, 67, 181, 277
Mary, Virgin 5, 287
Mar Yahalh 308
marzbn, marzbnates 389, 468, 534, 57,
63, 67, 71, 7883, 86, 92, 95, 1012,
181, 183, 201, 226, 240, 277, 319,
354
Matoc (Mesrop) 734, 126, 194, 215, 218,
262
Maurikios (Maurice) 195, 333, 336, 3434
Mzandarn 192
Mazdaism (incl. Zoroastrianism) xi, xiii,
29, 378, 4551, 56, 58, 80, 90102,
108, 110, 112, 114, 1234, 1412,
145, 150162, 2023, 212, 21415,
22930, 245, 252, 2634, 277,
2823, 290, 292, 2946, 298, 31213,
320322, 3289, 33940, 3457,
3546, 361, 370, 378
cecxlis-msaxurebay 91, 230, 247, 348
mogobay (moguebay, mogutiwn) 58,
912, 95, 140
Media, Medes 19, 256, 50, 64, 77, 96, 98,
110, 125, 227, 293, 325
megas domestikos 22
Menander Protector 94, 237, 264, 294
mepe, mepobay 71, 74, 82, 102, 111, 175,
188, 190, 20810, 229, 231, 272, 278,
289, 314, 341, 349, 355, 367
Mesxeti, Mesxians (Meskheti, Musxi) 122,
130
mgosani, see gsn
507
508
Index
Ppag 289
Ppag, bidax 19, 65, 17981
par[n]- 151, 228
Parnajom (Parnajob) 140, 151, 212, 222,
228, 230231, 237, 239
Parnavaz 6, 74, 82, 88, 119, 147, 149, 151,
1756, 184, 199, 20316, 21922,
226, 228, 23241, 243, 248, 272, 314,
316, 355, 362, 3678
Parnavaz, spaspeti 226
Parnavazianis (Paawazeans) 68, 222,
2312, 237, 240243, 248, 2724,
355, 370
Prs 289, 225, 325
Parsman I 223
Parsman II Kueli 197, 224, 226, 22930,
232, 2347, 240, 285, 366
Parsman III 216, 225, 273
Parsman IV (Pharsamanios) 41, 68, 72,
263, 265, 268, 306
Parsman V 86, 334, 336, 341
Parsman VI 86, 334, 336
Parsman, in Armazi Bilingual 216
Parsman Avaz 263, 366
Parsman-Parux 2845, 312
Partaw (Bardavi, Przabd) 789, 1823,
23940, 256, 269, 313, 31920, 341,
354
Parthia 289, 63, 65, 184, 193, 231, 2346,
239, 241, 242, 355, 371, 378
Pasargadae 24, 27
Patmutiwn Vrac 8, 10, 82, 125, 146, 150,
173, 192, 195, 205, 207, 210, 230,
2357, 274, 276, 279, 293, 297, 331,
380
patrikios 42, 3389
Paul 33
Prz 41, 43, 45, 69, 79, 1823, 246, 251,
256, 294, 313, 31819, 325, 354
Peroz, bidax 679, 71, 74, 144, 158, 164,
242, 256, 269
Perozak (Przak) 53
Peroavri Sivneli 164
Persepolis 245, 278, 203, 348
Peter the Iberian, ex-Murvanos/
Nabarnugios 15, 37, 467, 49, 52,
715, 100, 105, 128, 264
Petre, katholikos 28790, 305
509
510
samxreti 3, 64, 67
ph, Sasanian in Armenia 369
pr I (Shapur) 28, 123, 160, 242
pr II 45, 246, 24950, 269, 297, 319
as Xuasrotang 312
prduxtag 242
Sara Miapori 110
aravandi 59, 278, 3567, 359
Sargis Tmogveli, see Visramiani
Sartp (Sari Tepe) 25, 123
Sarkine, Sarkinelis 177, 2023
arvana[h] 139
arwn (irvn, irvan) 182, 249, 350
Ssn 193, 289
Sasanians
Sasanianni 193, 241, 258; see also
Xuasrovanni
atberdi Codex 1718, 1212, 153, 164, 199,
382
Saurmag 149, 151, 212, 222, 227, 23940
Saurmag, nephew of Saurmag spaspeti 294,
311, 314
Saurmag, spaspeti 286, 294, 311, 313
Scythia, Scythians 19, 120121, 130, 133,
151, 200, 202, 218, 222, 227, 235,
284
Seleucids 28, 65, 203, 2079, 212, 218, 222,
278
Seljuqs (Seljuks) 21
Sepelia 156, 240
Serapi 216
Sevan, Lake 25, 127
ida Kartli, see Kartli
Sidonia 111, 128
Sinai, Mt
St Catherine, monastery 5, 46, 61, 77,
100, 121, 139, 165, 170, 403
Sindia (Sindeti), Sinds 120, 276, 283,
2926, 299, 321
io Mwmeli (Shio Mghvime) 99, 102, 139
Sstn 120
Siwnik 67, 81, 164, 181, 207, 297, 308, 311
Siymak 189
Siywax (Siywo, ioi the Fortunate)
1923, 202, 362
skay (hskay) 121, 2345, 257, 275, 297
KZ, inscription 289, 123, 181, 224
Socrates 6
Index
Skrats (Socrates), Ecclesiastical History
72, 197, 259, 346
Armenian version 150, 259
Solomon 5, 60
Solomonids 279
Somxeti, see Armenia
Somxiti, see Armeno-Kartvelian
marchlands
ota Rustaveli (Shota Rustaveli) 13, 185,
198, 298, 300, 360
Soxumi (Sukhumi), see Cxumi
Sphn 29, 2056, 239
sphbed 53, 59, 76, 209
Spanddd (Spandiat-Rvali) 2023
Sparseti, see Iran
spasalari 211, 289, 317
spaspeti (spaypeti, sparapet) 53, 59, 68, 756,
126, 20911, 226, 2312, 234, 236,
243, 247, 277, 283, 286, 298, 290,
294, 311, 31316, 342
stars 93, 203, 219, 275, 299
Stepan-cmida 302
Stepan 47, 53
Stepanos I 3289, 333, 335, 3379, 342,
3445
Stepanos II 3289, 335, 3379, 349
Strabn (Strabo) 3, 19, 96, 121, 127, 1513,
201, 20910, 219, 222, 284, 311
stratgos 210, 221, 28990
Suaneti (Svaneti) 135, 284, 299, 315
sue (sve) 2289, 232, 236, 250
Sueti-cxoveli (Sveti-tskhoveli) 164, 3034,
337
Sulxan-Saba Orbeliani 163, 177
Sumbat Davitis-e 57, 12, 138, 3445, 360
Sun 59, 934, 107, 113, 118, 128, 137, 1512,
203, 2068, 214, 219, 230, 238, 275,
279, 311
Surami Mountains 4, 7, 212, 34, 85, 183,
208, 228, 334, 377
Srns 194, 242, 245
Susa 27
uanik (Shushanik) 15, 378, 425, 56, 69,
756, 80, 8792, 179, 221, 238, 340,
353, 368
Symeon the Stylite 102
Synodikon orientale 98, 306, 308
511
Syria, Syrians 29, 34, 47, 49, 53, 64, 83, 100,
102, 107, 131, 136, 160, 2023, 219,
251, 258, 2645, 292, 348, 361; see
also Assyria; Jazira; m
al-abar 191, 193, 196
Tacitus 223, 225, 2267, 290
Tamar 6, 62, 71, 139, 269, 271, 2789, 359
Tao-Klarjeti (Tayk, Karjk) 4, 2022, 94,
108, 121, 138, 1712, 252, 303, 363
q-e Bostn 301
Targamosianis 18991, 200, 241
Tarqan 2835, 311
title tarchan (tarxan) 284
Tair[i] 74, 210, 231
Taurus Mountains (Tauros) 127
Tavpeag (Tavpaag) 264
Taxt-e Solaymn (Taxt-i Sulaimn) 97, 99,
202
al-Thalib 191
Thbarmais 98; see also dur Gunasp
Theodosioupolis (Karin, Karnu-kalaki)
126, 286
Theophans 98, 1067, 178, 228, 289, 297,
3456, 389
Thirteen Syrian Fathers 15, 61, 767,
99100, 102, 105, 347, 368
Tigran I 233
Tigran II the Great 63, 66, 233, 274
Tigran, son of Artaan 226
Tigris River 95
Trdd I 263
Trdd II 263
Togarmah (Targamos) 12931, 182, 1889,
194, 204, 274
Beth-togarmah 130
Tomva Arcruni 98, 344
Tower of Babel 138, 275, 277
Tpilisi (Tbilisi) 20, 44, 467, 53, 7882, 86,
91, 1067, 119, 134, 1813, 210211,
269, 323, 333, 335, 337, 345, 354,
377
Sioni (Zion) 337, 347
Trdat IV, Armenian king 29, 689, 1067,
113, 115, 117, 125, 196, 230, 235,
243, 246, 253, 25661, 286, 350, 360
as Yovhanns 264
Trdat, king of Kartli 73, 263, 265, 268
512
Index
Xenophn 89
Xerxs 28
Xornabuji 306
Xosroianis, see Chosroids
Xuara 112, 114, 141, 164
Xuaran-Xuara 11112, 164; see also
xwarrah
Xuarane 292, 311, 318
Xuasrotang 312, 319
Xuasrovanis 42, 245, 26970
Xunani (Khunani) 210, 256, 306, 315
Xusr (Kasre, Xuasro, Khosrow),
generic 412, 53, 867, 193, 239,
2412, 2445, 2578, 26970, 273,
2912, 312, 319, 354
Xusr I anag-ruwn (Khosrow
Anirwn) 42, 856, 136, 193, 196,
237, 2412, 245, 2945, 297, 319,
325, 357
Xusr II 42, 47, 53, 79, 867, 178, 200, 290,
319, 325, 336, 344
Xzestn (Khzistn) 29, 110
Xuik, see Uik
Xwady-nmag 1916, 201, 209, 357ff.
Xwarsn, see Khursn
xwarrah (farr, farrah, farnah) 112, 114, 117,
119, 141, 151, 164, 221, 223, 22732,
236, 238, 2446, 252, 270, 273,
310311, 322, 332, 334, 336, 344,
356, 365, 368, 370
xwarrah kayn 229, 230, 246, 322
xwarrn-xwarrah 112
see also didebay
513
al-Yaqb 191
Yats 227
yazatas 152, 252
Yazdgird I (Yazdgerd) 45, 306, 369
Yazdgird II 43, 45, 292, 318
Yazdgird III 27, 348, 362
Yemen (Iamaneti) 294, 2967, 299, 348
Yodmangan (Idmanganos) 216
Yovhanns Drasxanakertci 44, 140, 194,
239, 275
Zaden, idol 11213, 140, 146, 1512, 212,
238
Zadeni, Mt 111, 151, 158
Zagros Mountains 348
Zak 192, 350
alanduxt 312
Zmsp (Jamasp) 41, 318, 325
Zand Wahman Yasn 318
Zarmil (Zarmihr?) 53
Zedazeni, Mt 143
Zelenuk River 285
Zemo Nikozi 264
Zena-Sopeli, see Kartli
Zendn-e Solaymn 24
Znn (Zeno) 281, 288, 313, 321
Zewa (Zewax, Zeuach) 64, 216
Zoroastrianism, see Mazdaism
Zsimos 723
Zurvanism 50, 296
uu[y]smt 89, 226, 234, 239, 286, 314