History, Archaeology, Ethnography

D. Akhvlediani, G. Kipiani

Vani Double-Protomed Capital

A small double-protomed capital (max. length 70 cm.) was found at the northern plot of the Antique period Vani town (West Georgia) in 2004.

It is made according the Achaemenian artistic canons but completely differs from the originals with its appearance. Instead of severe images of oxen we have got calves, like the one found at Tsikhia-Gora (East Georgia).

It seems possible that double-protomed capitals with the images of oxen/calves were used as some kind of emblems.

Stratigraphically the capital is almost strictly dating from the earlier half of the 4th century BC.

 

Mtskheta Institute of Archaeology
Centre of Archaeological Researches of the Georgian Academy of Sciences
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