Culture
The paper deals with several gemstones found on the territory of Georgia and an intaglio of unknown origin from the National Library of France. Having studied these relics of glyptics we arrived at a conclusion:
1 There are two versions about the cameo of three-layered (white, yellow, white) chalcedony bearing the impression of one male, one eagle and two female heads: a) represented as the Capitolian deities, does being the symbolic expression of the Roman State. Along with the main deities, one of the first symbol of the Roman empire – an eagle – a symbol of victory, companion of Jupiter is offered; b) they represent some kind of ruler from the eastern province of Rome idolized together with his family. We hold to the first version. In our opinion the cameo needs to be studied carefully.
2. Intaglio set with oval carnelian depicting Venus Victrix. According to stylistic features and carving, can be dated from the 2nd A.D.
3. The golden ring set with the carved oval carnelian decorated with the figure of prawn, fixed in the journal as a peacock, can be dated from the late antique age; to be more exact, intaglio can be dated from the 2nd-3rd cc.A.D., while the ring – 3rd-4th cc. A.D.
4. The intaglio of the oval carnelian decorated with the figure of a lion, according to the stylistic point of view, as well as to the mannere of carving, can be related to the Sassanid Iran and dated from the 5th c.A.D.
5. nbsp;The intaglio of carnelian offering a butterfly of the unknown origin, according to its stylistic features and the mannere of carving can be dated from the 1st c.B.C. – the 1st c. A.D.
These gemstones are of greate interest to study the cultural level of the late antique and early Christian Georgia. Their study corroborates the widespread opinion on trade-economic relationships of the eastern Georgia of the above mentioned period.
Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University