Adgilis Deda ( ka, ადგილის დედა) — literally, the "mother of locality" or "place-mother" — is a deity in the pre-Christian Georgian pantheon, especially revered by the mountaineers of northeast Georgia, such as the

Khevsurs Khevsurians ( ka, ხევსურები) are an ethnic sub-group of Georgians, mainly living in Khevsureti, on both sides of the Caucasus Mountains, Caucasus Mountain Chain in the watersheds of the rivers Aragvi River, Aragvi and Argun Rive ...

, as a protective spirit of a place (''

genius loci In classical Roman religion, a ''genius loci'' (plural ''genii locorum'') was the protective spirit of a place. It was often depicted in religious iconography as a figure holding attributes such as a cornucopia, patera (libation bowl) or snake. ...

'') and also as a deity of fertility of humans and livestock alike. The ancient Georgians believed that each place — mountain, hill, ravine — had a "mother" which they called the "place-mother". She was portrayed as a beautiful lady with silver jewelry who patronized not only the location but also the foreigners who travelled in this area. With the advent of Christianity, this cult became closely associated with that of the Virgin Mary (Mother of God). They share some common features of rituals and ''Adgilis Ghvtismshobeli'' ("Mother of God of the Place") is still worshipped as a patroness of the community among the Georgian highlanders. Tuite, Kevin (1994), ''An anthology of Georgian folk poetry'', p. 135. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, , 9780838635278

References

Fertility goddesses Georgian mythology Georgian words and phrases Liminal deities {{Georgia-stub