SOCIAL COMPOSITION OF FEUDAL GEORGIA ACCORDING TO KOROGHO RELIEFS

Abstract

Two major classes were distinguished in the medieval Georgian social system: the high class composed by the royal family and the nobility, and the lower class of the Georgian society divided among different categories. In our research we examine only several examples of sculpture from Korogho complex that would show an essential picture of medieval Georgian social composition. The church itself is situated in Khada valley (present day Dusheti municipality), Mtskheta-Mtianeti region. The western facade of Holy Virgin church of Korogho, main part of Korogho complex, shows the most vivid illustrations of lower class. This composition is considered to be unique in Georgia. The process of construction of the church is depicted on the cornice of the western facade, where we can find twelve stones divided in two parallel columns on the both side of the church’s cornice. Composition has a central depiction of the Holy Virgin with the head of Jesus Christ placed on her chest and the other figures facing them from both sides of the facade. The main idea of the composition is the dedication of church to Holy Virgin and Jesus Christ. Western facade of the church has a depiction of laymen from various social groups. They are divided into two parts. The closest figure to the central part of facade is bearded ktitor of the church holding its model in his right hand. He is portrayed with a coat which illustrates his noble origin. One more figure has the same outfit to the right from ktitor’s depiction. All other secular laymen belong to the non-privileged social groups, some of them are artisans, and the others are workers specially employed for the construction of the church. The same complex has another ktitorial sculpture which is represented on the capitellum of the church. The relief on the capitellum has a depiction of three laymen. One of them is ktitor, the leading member of group, and two others are youngsters. The Imagery reflects certain participation of feudal house in the construction of the church. The outfit of the ktitor that holds the draft of the church shows his noble birth. The ktitor stands to the right in this composition. He is the head of the family and the others are his sons. Judging from the frame of his crown, the ktitor should had been the official in Georgia, namely Eristavi of certain province. The analysis of the crown is very important. The crown on the ktitor is simple and has rectangular form. The similar crown is visible on the ktitor on the western facade of Korogho the Holy Virgin church. The crown that ktitor has on his head, has several analogies in Georgian monumental sculptures and fresco paintings. Identical crown, but with ornaments and precious stones is depicted on the niche in south-west pillar under the dome of Oshki cathedral. In Oshki the mentioned type of crown is seen on two brothers, sovereigns of Imier-Tao: Bagrat Eristavt-Eristavi and his junior brother David Magistros (2nd half of 10th c.). Since the crowns depicted on Oshki reliefs are skillfully crafted and more ornamented then the crown on the ktitor of Korogho capitellum, presumably the latter should be of earlier period. Hence the church of Korogho could have been erected in the 1st half of 10th century. This opinion is further strengthened when we analyse non-proportional bodies of figures from Korogho capitellum. Therefore suggestion of Rusudan Mephisashvili about date of Korogho Holy Virgin church (edge of the 10th - 11th cc.) must be reconsidered to the first half of the 10th century as latest. Natela Aladashvili places Korogho church among the monuments of 8th - 10th cc. That seems to be very plausible suggestion for the dating of the Holy Virgin church of Korogho. It is likely that the church and the whole complex were built according to the instructions of feudal family. The corresponding social situation was established only after the 8th century when the office of Eristavi gained the strength in the region. Previously Mtianeti region was under the control of King of Kartli. In the 8th – 9th cc. the region was under the control of Korepiskoposi, the prince of Kakheti. From the end of 9th century it passed to the king of Abkhazia, hence none of them should be excluded from the list of potential builters of the church.