Within the framework of the Tbilisi City Hall and the UNESCO project ‘Tbilisi – the Capital of the Book World,’ the exhibition ‘Georgian Book Origins’ was opened at the Korneli Kekelidze Georgian National Center of Manuscripts. The exhibition is in two parts and combines important materials preserved in the repositories of the Manuscript Center.
“Tbilisi City Hall celebrated the State Language Day with an interesting event. This exhibition is a continuation of this day, and I’m glad to present to our citizens and guests of Tbilisi the historical wealth of Georgia in this way,” said Deputy Mayor Andria Basilaia. “This week, Tbilisi will host the UNESCO project ‘Tbilisi – World Book Capital,’ and with such projects, I believe that by this time next year, our society, our future generations, will be even closer to books.”
The first part of the exhibition presents the collections of the National Center of Manuscripts as the beginning of the history of Georgian books. Among them are the first written fragments (Palimpsests of V-VIII centuries), the first translations, literary works, unique manuscripts reflecting the thought of medicine, jurisprudence, astrology, chemistry, physics, geography-cartography, or encyclopedic character. This part of the exhibition also features manuscripts of different sizes and shapes.
The second part of the exhibition, ‘Meeting with the classics – in the world of autographs’ presents the autographs of classic works preserved in the collections of the National Center of Manuscripts. Among them are the works of Ioane Shavteli, Chakhrukhadze, Mose Khoneli, Teimuraz I, Archil, Teimuraz II, Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani, Besik, Nikoloz Baratashvili, Davit Guramishvili, Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Vazha-Pshavela, and Grigol Robakidze.
By Ketevan Skhirtladze
