Armaziskhevi Archaeological Site

Armaziskhevi is located near historical town Mtskheta, in Kartli region, in about 20 km from the capital Tbilisi. These areas were settled already in the Bronze and early Iron Ages. Moreover, Mtskheta used to be the capital of ancient Iberia Kingdom, from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD.

Armaziskhevi integrates several important excavation sites that laid the foundation to numerous archaeological discoveries. Discoveries include remains of ancient Armaztsikhe, part of the historical Greater Mtskheta, where archaeologists found remnants of the fortress and citadel, castle of Eristavis, bathhouse from 2nd-3rd c.c., churches and monasteries from different historical periods etc. Excavations also discovered burial sites of local noble families and Eristavis (Georgian feudals) and their numerous belongings (jewelry, utensils etc.), as well as of ordinary people, from late Bronze and early Iron periods, II-IV c.c. and IV-IX c.c.

One of the most notable findings in Armaziskhevi is arguably Stele of Serapeitis, often referred as Armazi Bilingual. This funerary stele found in 1940, has an inscription written in Ancient Greek and Armazic – an extinct Aramaic written language, which was used as a language of administration locally. Inscriptions mention local aristocracy and monarchs – Pharnavaz I and Pharasmanes II of Iberia. Stele of Serapeitis is dated 150 AD, and is currently kept in the Georgian National Museum.

Translation of Armazic or Aramaic inscription:

I am Serapit, daughter of Zewah the Younger, pitiaxes of King Pharasmanes, wife of Yodmangan the victorious and winner of many victories, master of the court of King Xepharnougos and the son of Agrippa, master of the court of King Pharasmanes, victorious over the mighty, which Pharnavaz could not accomplish. Serapit was so fine and beautiful that no one was her equal in beauty. And she died in her twenty-first year.

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