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Georgia is situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, of the West and East, of the old world and the new. History's oldest vineyards are found here; Georgia was one of the first countries to embrace Christianity, preceded only by Armenia, in the fourth century; the Silk Route linking China with Italy passed though these mountains. Linguistically, Georgians do not speak Russian and do not use the Cyrillic alphabet: Georgian is an ancient and distinctive language, part of neither the Indo-European group nor the Turkic, and its written alphabet is one of only 14 in the world.
Given all this, it's no wonder there's a rich and deep culture between the borders of this country, reflected in every aspect of life. Take a few minutes to investigate the cultural riches of Georgia in your search for the soul of the Caucasus.
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| The most important social occasion is the "Georgian table" - the group dinner or feast that characterizes almost every gathering in Georgia. The table is laden with a variety of flavorful regional dishes, and a full choice of wines, from some of the oldest vineyards in the world.
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| The people known as today's Georgians come from various, intermixed ethnic
sources. If language is used as a guide, Georgia has four subdivisions
within its own unique South Caucasian family. Additionally Abkhaz comes from
the North Caucasian group, and Ossetian from its own Persian roots. The
dominant religion is Georgian Orthodox Christianity, with sprinklings of
Islam, Judaism, and even remnants of paganism.
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| The polyphonic choral music of Georgia is a unique traditional art form, underscoring the country's art and soul. Choirs like the Ensemble Tbilisi evoke sonic patterns thousands of years old, and bring them into the present with an ear-opening power.
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| As with many ancient cultures, the oral tradition has propelled literature through the centuries. Epic works like Rustaveli's "Knight in the Panther's Skin" are among the classics of medieval literature, while poets of the last century had a profound impact on the country's recent history.
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The churches and public buildings of Georgia evoke a monumental sense of importance coupled with natural gracefulness, as if the architects and masons have learned to dance with stone. The tradition of creativity continues with painters and sculptors of today.
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