The Mtatsminda Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures ( ka, მთაწმინდის მწერალთა და საზოგადო მოღვაწეთა პანთეონი, ''mtats'mindis mts'eralta da sazogado moghvats'eta p'anteoni'') is a necropolis in

Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, where some of the most prominent writers, artists, scholars, and national heroes of Georgia are buried. It is located in the churchyard around St David’s Church " Mamadaviti" on the slope of Mount Mtatsminda (Geo. მთაწმინდა, meaning the Holy Mountain) and was officially established in 1929. Atop the mountain is

Mtatsminda Park Mtatsminda Park is a landscaped park located at the top of Mount Mtatsminda overlooking the Georgian capital Tbilisi. The park has carousels, water slides, a roller-coaster, dark ride, funicular, and a big Ferris Wheel at the edge of the mountain ...

, an amusement park owned by the municipality of Tbilisi. The first celebrities to be buried at this place were the

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

n writer

Alexander Griboyedov Alexander Sergeyevich Griboyedov (russian: Александр Сергеевич Грибоедов, ''Aleksandr Sergeevich Griboedov'' or ''Sergeevich Griboyedov''; 15 January 179511 February 1829), formerly romanized as Alexander Sergueevich Gr ...

(1795–1829) and his Georgian wife

Nino Chavchavadze Princess Nino Chavchavadze (; also known as Nina Alexandrovna Griboyedova in a Russian manner) (November 4, 1812June 28, 1857) was a daughter of the famous Georgian ''knyaz'' (prince) and poet Alexander Chavchavadze and wife of Russian diplomat ...

(1812–1857). The Pantheon was officially opened in 1929 to mark the centenary of Griboyedov's death during his time as the Russian ambassador. The Pantheon was conceived of as a symbol of collective identity of Georgia. Since then, several illustrious Georgians have been buried or reburied there. The Pantheon is administered by the Government of Tbilisi and is frequented by locals as well as the city’s visitors.

History

Origins

The earliest attempt to create a Pantheon in Tbilisi was the

Pantheon of Kukia Pantheon may refer to: * Pantheon (religion), a set of gods belonging to a particular religion or tradition, and a temple or sacred building Arts and entertainment Comics *Pantheon (Marvel Comics), a fictional organization *Pantheon (Lone Star Pr ...

, which the Dramaturgical Society of Georgia began work on to honor its artists by 1900, but which had disappeared by the 1950s. Later, the Society for Spreading Literacy Among Georgians managed to established the

Didube Pantheon The Didube Pantheon ( ka, დიდუბის მწერალთა და საზოგადო მოღვაწეთა პანთეონი) is a cemetery in Tbilisi, Georgia, where some of the most prominent writers, artists, s ...

in 1915. In 1929, the

Government of the Soviet Union The Government of the Soviet Union ( rus, Прави́тельство СССР, p=prɐˈvʲitʲɪlʲstvə ɛs ɛs ɛs ˈɛr, r=Pravítelstvo SSSR, lang=no), formally the All-Union Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, commonly ab ...

, which controlled Georgia at the time, established another pantheon on a former cemetery near the

Mtatsminda Church The Mtatsminda Pantheon of Writers and Public Figures ( ka, მთაწმინდის მწერალთა და საზოგადო მოღვაწეთა პანთეონი, ''mtats'mindis mts'eralta da sazogado mo ...

; its opening was dedicated to the 100-year anniversary of the

, who was buried there in 1829 with his wife (and whose grave had a sculpture of a mourning woman on it). Under Soviet rule, the Didube Pantheon was nearly abolished in the 1930s. There was an order issued in 1934 to remove unknown or unimportant tombs from Mtatsminda and to transfer some distinguished people, including

Nikoloz Baratashvili Prince Nikoloz "Tato" Baratashvili ( ka, ნიკოლოზ "ტატო" ბარათაშვილი; 4 December 1817 – 21 October 1845) was a Georgian poet. He was one of the first Georgians to marry modern nationalism with European R ...

and

Vazha-Pshavela Vazha-Pshavela ( ka, ვაჟა-ფშაველა), simply referred to as Vazha ( ka, ვაჟა) (26 July 1861 – 10 July 1915), is the pen name of the Georgian poet and writer Luka Razikashvili ( ka, ლუკა რაზიკა ...

from Didube to Mtatsminda; this order marked the fall of Didube's status and the rise of Mtatsminda's. In 1937, the pantheon's administration adopted regulations indicating that the decision-making council should consist mainly of government official, party members, and Georgian scholars. Because of the

totalitarian Totalitarianism is a form of government and a political system that prohibits all opposition parties, outlaws individual and group opposition to the state and its claims, and exercises an extremely high if not complete degree of control and reg ...

system, it was easy to create the impression that the Mtatsminda Pantheon was the most desirable place of rest for Georgians, an impression which still persisted in 2014.

New pantheon

In 2009,

Tbilisi City Hall Tbilisi City Hall ( ka, თბილისის მერია) is a body that provides executive-regulatory activities of the city of Tbilisi. The government consists of: the mayor, deputy mayors and heads of Tbilisi city services. Tbilisi d ...

announced that the old Mtatsminda Pantheon had no more space and that there were ongoing consultations about a new one with the

Patriarch of Georgia The highest-ranking bishops in Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Catholic Church (above major archbishop and primate), the Hussite Church, Church of the East, and some Independent Catholic Churches are termed patriarchs (and in cert ...

. In October 2009, the

vice-mayor The deputy mayor (also known as vice mayor, assistant mayor, or mayor ''pro tem'') is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official that is present in many, but not all, local governments. Duties and functions Many elected depu ...

of Tbilisi declared, "a new place has to be selected, where a church can be erected and public funerals can be held. It is important to build the new pantheon at an especially good location, accessible for society and approved by society". However, since the official closure of the old site, there have been exceptions:

Mukhran Machavariani Mukhran Machavariani ( ka, მუხრან მაჭავარიანი; April 12, 1929 – May 17, 2010) was a Georgian poet, a member of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia The Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia ( ka ...

was buried there in 2010 and

Chabua Amirejibi Mzechabuk "Chabua" Amirejibi, (often written as "Amiredjibi", ka, მზეჭაბუკ "ჭაბუა" ამირეჯიბი; 18 November 1921 – 12 December 2013) was a Georgian novelist and Soviet-era dissident notable for his mag ...

was buried there in 2013 (the latter of which caused controversy). As of 2014, there are three Pantheons in Tbilisi under city hall supervision, which are Mtatsminda Pantheon, Didube Pantheon, and Khojivank Pantheon (the last of which is

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

List of burials

* Vaso Abashidze (1854–1926), Georgian theater actor and director *

Veriko Anjaparidze Veriko (Vera) Ivlianovna Anjaparidze ( ka, ვერიკო ანჯაფარიძე, in Kutaisi – 1987 in Tbilisi) was a Soviet and Georgian stage and film actress. Life and career Andjaparidze studied at the Aidarov Drama Studio ...

(1897–1987), Georgian theater and movie actress *

(1817–1845), Georgian

romanticist Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate ...

poet * Vasil Barnovi (1856–1934), Georgian novelist *

Nikoloz Berdzenishvili Nikoloz Berdzenishvili ( ka, ნიკოლოზ ბერძენიშვილი) (1895–1965) was a Soviet and Georgian historian who served as a Vice President of the Georgian Academy of Sciences from 1951 to 1957 and chaired the Departm ...

(1894–1965), Georgian historian *

Vakhtang Chabukiani Vakhtang Mikheilis dze Chabukiani (Russian: Вахта́нг Миха́йлович Чабукиа́ни, ka, ვახტანგ ჭაბუკიანი) (March 12, 1910 – April 6, 1992) was a Soviet and Georgian ballet dancer, choreogra ...

(1910–1992), Georgian ballet dancer * Ilia Chavchavadze (Saint Ilia the Righteous) (1837–1907), Georgian writer and public figure; and his wife Olgha Guramishvili (1842–1927) *

Zakaria Chichinadze Zakaria Chichinadze ( ka, ზაქარია ჭიჭინაძე; 1854 – 27 December 1931) was a self-educated Georgia (country), Georgian literary critic, bibliophile, historian, and a book publisher. Early years Zakaria Chichinadze was ...

(1853–1931), Georgian amateur historian and publisher * Simon Chikovani (1902–1966), Georgian poet and public figure * Otar Chiladze (1933–2009), Georgian writer *

Kakutsa Cholokashvili Kaikhosro "Kakutsa" Cholokashvili ( ka, ქაიხოსრო ��აქუცაჩოლოყაშვილი; french: Kakoutsa Tcholokachvili; russian: Кайхосро �акуцаЧолокашвили �елокаев}, ''Kaikhosro Che ...

(1888–1930), Georgian national hero and fighter against the

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nation ...

regime * Shalva Dadiani (1874–1959), Georgian playwright and actor * Nodar Dumbadze (1928–1984), Georgian writer * (1847–1890), Georgian journalist, translator and playwright *

Zviad Gamsakhurdia Zviad Konstantines dze Gamsakhurdia ( ka, ზვიად გამსახურდია, tr; russian: Звиа́д Константи́нович Гамсаху́рдия, Zviad Konstantinovich Gamsakhurdiya; 31 March 1939 – 31 December 1 ...

(1939–1993), Soviet-era

dissident A dissident is a person who actively challenges an established political or religious system, doctrine, belief, policy, or institution. In a religious context, the word has been used since the 18th century, and in the political sense since the 20th ...

and the first democratically elected President of Georgia *

Keke Geladze Keke may refer to: People Given name * Keke Coutee (born 1995), American football wide receiver * Keke Geladze (1858–1937), Georgian mother of Joseph Stalin * Barkevious "KeKe" Mingo (born 1990), American football player * Keke Mortson (193 ...

(1858–1937), mother of

Joseph Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili; – 5 March 1953) was a Georgian revolutionary and Soviet political leader who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secretar ...

Iakob Gogebashvili Iakob Gogebashvili ( ka, იაკობ გოგებაშვილი) (October 15, 1840 – June 1, 1912) was a Georgian educator, children’s writer and journalist, considered to be the founder of the scientific pedagogy in Georgia. Throug ...

(1840–1912), Georgian writer and educator *

(1795–1829), Russian writer; and his wife

(1812–1857) * Ioseb Grishashvili (1889–1965), Georgian writer, poet and scholar *

Lado Gudiashvili Lado Gudiashvili ( ka, ლადო გუდიაშვილი; 30 March 1896 – 20 July 1980) was a Georgian artist of the 20th century. Gudiashvili was born into a family of a railroad employee. He studied in the Tbilisi school of sculp ...

(1896–1980), Georgian painter *

Olga Guramishvili-Nikoladze Olga Guramishvili-Nikoladze ( ka, ოლღა გურამიშვილი-ნიკოლაძე, 29 July 1855 – 24 May 1940) was a Georgian biologist and educator. One of the first women to study abroad, she earned a degree in pedag ...

(1855–1940), Georgian educator *

Simon Janashia Simon Janashia ( ka, სიმონ ჯანაშია; July 13, 1900 – November 5, 1947) was a Georgian historian and public figure. He was a professor of history and one of the founding members of the Georgian Academy of Sciences. Janash ...

(1900–1947), Georgian historian * Mose Janashvili (1855–1934), Georgian historian *

Ana Kalandadze Ana Kalandadze ( ka, ანა კალანდაძე) (15 December 1924 – 11 March 2008) was a Georgian poet and one of the most influential female figures in modern Georgian literature. Kalandadze was born in the village Khidistavi near ...

(1924–2008), Georgian poet *

Akaki Khorava Akaki Khorava ( ka, აკაკი ხორავა; 29 April 1895 - 23 June 1972) was a Georgian and Soviet actor, theater director and pedagogue. He appeared in more than fifteen films from 1924 to 1965. He is best known for his performances ...

(1895–1972), Georgian actor * Leo Kiacheli (1884–1963), Georgian writer *

Dimitri Kipiani Prince Dimitri Ivanes dze Kipiani ( ka, დიმიტრი ყიფიანი alternatively spelled as Qipiani) (April 14, 1814 – October 24, 1887) was a Georgian statesman, publicist, writer and translator. A leader of Georgia's liberal ...

(1814–1887), Georgian journalist and public figure *

Davit Kldiashvili David Kldiashvili ( ka, დავით კლდიაშვილი, ''Davit' Kldiašvili'') (August 29, 1862 – April 24, 1931) was a Georgia (country), Georgian prose-writer whose novels and plays are concentrated on the degeneration of the c ...

(1862–1931), Georgian writer *

Merab Kostava Merab Kostava ( ka, მერაბ კოსტავა) (May 26, 1939 – October 13, 1989) was a Georgian dissident, musician and poet; one of the leaders of the National-Liberation movement in Georgia. Along with Zviad Gamsakhurdia, he led ...

(1939–1989), Soviet-era

and national hero of Georgia *

Giorgi Leonidze Giorgi Leonidze ( ka, გიორგი ლეონიძე) (27 December 1899 – 9 August 1966) was a Georgian poet, prose writer, and literary scholar. Biography Leonidze was born in the village of Patardzeuli in the eastern Georgian p ...

(1899–1966), Georgian poet *

Kote Marjanishvili Konstantine "Kote" Marjanishvili ( ka, კონსტანტინე (კოტე) მარჯანიშვილი), also known by the Russified name Konstantin Aleksandrovich Mardzhanov (russian: Константи́н Алекса́н ...

(1872–1933), Georgian theatre director *

Nikoloz Muskhelishvili Nikoloz (Niko) Muskhelishvili ( ka, ნიკოლოზ (ნიკო) მუსხელიშვილი ; – 15 July 1976) was a renowned Soviet Georgian mathematician, physicist and engineer who was one of the founders and first President ...

(1891–1976), Georgian mathematician *

Niko Nikoladze Niko Nikoladze ( ka, ნიკო ნიკოლაძე) (27 September 1843 – 5 June 1928) was a Georgian writer, pro-Western enlightener, and public figure primarily known for his contributions to the development of Georgian liberal journali ...

(1843–1928), Georgian journalist and public benefactor *

Iakob Nikoladze Iakob Nikoladze ( ka, იაკობ ნიკოლაძე; , 1876 – March 10, 1951) was a Georgian sculptor and artist. He was from the a Georgian noble (aznauri) family, Nikoladze. The Georgian National Museum, Iakob Nikoladze Hous ...

(1876–1951), Georgian sculptor * (1868–1934), Georgian conductor *

Galaktion Tabidze Galaktion Tabidze ( ka, გალაკტიონ ტაბიძე), simply referred to as Galaktioni ( ka, გალაკტიონი),(November 17, 1892 – March 17, 1959), was a Georgian poet of the twentieth century whose writings pr ...

(1892–1959), Georgian poet *

Ekvtime Takaishvili Ekvtime Takaishvili (also spelled Taqaishvili) () (January 5, 1862 – February 21, 1953) was a Georgian historian, archaeologist and public benefactor. Born in the village of Likhauri in the western Georgian province of Guria to a local noblema ...

(1862–1953), Georgian historian and archaeologist * (1844–1929), Georgian linguist * Akaki Tsereteli (1840–1915), Georgian poet *

Grigol Tsereteli Grigol Tsereteli ( ka, გრიგოლ წერეთელი; March 12, 1870 – 1938) was a distinguished Georgian scientist, one of the founders of Papyrology, founder of the Georgian scientific school of Classical Philology, Doctor of ...

(1870–1938), Georgian papyrologist *

Mikhail Tskhakaya Mikhail Grigoryevich Tskhakaya ( ka, მიხეილ გრიგოლის ძე ცხაკაია, russian: Михаил Григорьевич Цхакая; 4 May 1865 — 19 March 1950), also known as Barsov, was a Georgian revolution ...

(1865–1950), Georgian communist *

Anastasia Tumanishvili-Tsereteli Anastasia Tumanishvili-Tsereteli (1849–1932) was a Georgians, Georgian writer and educator who made important contributions to cultural developments in her country, particularly those of women. She first founded the Women’s Circle, Georgia ...

(1849–1932), Georgian woman writer *

(1861–1915), Georgian poet * Ilia Vekua (1907–1977), Georgian mathematician *

Sergo Zakariadze Sergo Zakariadze ( ka, სერგო ზაქარიაძე ; – 12 April 1971) was a Soviet and Georgian stage and film actor and pedagogue. People's Artist of the USSR (1958). Zakariadze was born in Baku in 1909. He won several pri ...

(1909–1971), Georgian actor *

Solomon Dodashvili Solomon Dodashvili ( ka, სოლომონ დოდაშვილი), also known as Solomon Ivanovich Dodaev-Mogarsky (russian: Соломон Иванович Додаев-Могарский) (May 17, 1805 – August 20, 1836), was a Ge ...

(1805–1836), Georgian philosopher, journalist, historian, grammarian, belletrist and enlightener *

(1921–2013), Georgian novelist and Soviet-era dissident *

Niko Pirosmani Niko Pirosmani ( ka, ნიკო ფიროსმანი ''Nik’o Pirosmani''), simply referred to as Nikala (ნიკალა ''Nik’ala''; 1862–1918), was a Georgian painter who posthumously rose to prominence. Relatively poor for ...

(1862–1918), Georgian artist * Jansug Charkviani (1931–2017), Georgian poet *

Giorgi Kvinitadze Giorgi Kvinitadze ( ka, გიორგი კვინიტაძე; russian: Георгий Иванович Квинитадзе, ''Georgy Ivanovich Kvinitadze''; his real surname was Chikovani, ჩიქოვანი) (August 21, 1874 � ...

(1874–1970), Georgian general

History

Origins

New pantheon

List of burials

See also