Mtskheta

**Mtskheta** (), ane o the auldest ceeties o the kintra o Georgie (in Kartli province o Eastren Georgie), is locatit approximately 20 kilometres north o Tbilisi at the confluence o the Aragvi an Kura rivers. The ceety (population 7940 as o 2014) is nou the admeenistrative centre o the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region. Due tae its historical significance an numerous auncient monuments, the "Historical Monuments o Mtskheta" became a UNESCO Warld Heritage Steid in 1994.

## History
Remains o touns at this location hae been datit tae earlier than the year 1000 BC, an Mtskheta wis caipital o the early Georgie Kinrick o Iberie durin the 3rd century BC – 5t century AD. It wis a steid o early Christian activity, an the location whaur Christianity wis proclaimit the state releegion o Kartli in 337. Mtskheta still remains the heidquairters o the Georgie Orthodox Kirk.

King Dachi I Ujarmeli (beginnin o the 6t century AD), who wis the successor o Vakhtang I Gorgasali, muivit the caipital frae Mtskheta tae the mair easily defensible Tbilisi accordin tae the will left bi his faither. Housomeivver, Mtskheta continued tae serve as the coronation an burial place for maist kings o Georgie till the end o the kinrick in the 19t century.

The auld ceety lees at the confluence o the rivers Mtkvari an Aragvi. The rare blend o cultural values haed ruled in this pairt o the warld syne the Bronze Age till prosperous Christian era ower the unique eclectic lifestyle creatin the muid o the toun which is as auld as the history o Georgie. Mtskheta is the maist releegious ceety o Georgie as it haes been the shrine of pagan idols syne times immemorial an it is whaur Christianity in Georgie taks its oreegin.

## Monuments

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11t century, see photo) an Jvari Monastery (6t century) in Mtskheta are amangst the maist significant monuments o Georgie Christian airchitectur, an are historically significant in the development o medieval airchitectur throuoot the Caucasus. O special significance are early inscriptions, which form a valuable reference in the study o the oreegins o the early Georgie alphabet.

In the ootskirts o Mtskheta are the ruins o Armaztsikhe fortress (3rd century BC), the Armaztsikhe acropolis (datin tae the late 1st millennium BC), remains o a "Pompey's brig" (accordin tae legends built bi Roman legionnaires o Pompey the Great in 1st century BC), the fragmentary remains o a ryal palace (1st–3rd century AD), a nearbi tomb o the 1st century AD, a sma kirk o the 4t century, the Samtavro Monastery (11t century), an the fortress o Bebris Tsikhe (14t century). The Institute o Airchaeologie, an the garden o Mikheil Mamulashvili are wirthy o note an aw.

## Threats
The Historical Monuments o Mtskheta wur recently placit on UNESCO's Leet o Warld Heritage in Danger, citin "serious deterioration o the stanewirk an frescoes" as the main threat tae the steid's lang-term preservation.

## Twin touns — sister ceeties
* Leuville-sur-Orge, Fraunce

## References

*Abashidze, Irakli. Ed. *Georgian Encyclopedia. Vol. IX.* Tbilisi, Georgia: 1985.
*Amiranashvili, Shalva. *History of Georgian Art.* Khelovneba: Tbilisi, Georgia: 1961.
*Grigol Khantsteli. *Chronicles of Georgia.*
*Rosen, Roger. *Georgia: A Sovereign Country of the Caucasus.* Odyssey Publications: Hong Kong, 1999. ISBN 962-217-748-4


## Notes

## Freemit airtins

*Picturs o Mtskheta
*UNESCO Warld Heritage leetin
*Mtskheta.ge - The Guide Tae Mtskheta 
*Mckheta tours