Tao-Klarjeti ( ka, ტაო-კლარჯეთი, tr) is a Georgian historical and cultural region in north-eastern

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

. The region is based around two river basins - Chorokhi and

Kura Rúben de Almeida Barbeiro (born August 21, 1987 in Leiria), better known as KURA, is a Portuguese electro house music DJ and producer. Kura has released tracks through labels such as Hardwell's Revealed Recordings, Flashover Recordings, M ...

(Mtkvari), and also partially includes the upper source of the Aras river. In modern usage it most often denotes the territory that was administrated or claimed by

Georgian Democratic Republic The Democratic Republic of Georgia (DRG; ka, საქართველოს დემოკრატიული რესპუბლიკა ') was the first modern establishment of a republic of Georgia, which existed from May 1918 to F ...

but is nowadays part of Turkey due to the Soviet-Turkish deal in 1921. The term "Tao-Klarjeti" is based on the names of two most important provinces of the region —

Tao ''Tao'' or ''Dao'' is the natural order of the universe, whose character one's intuition must discern to realize the potential for individual wisdom, as conceived in the context of East Asian philosophy, East Asian religions, or any other phil ...

and

Klarjeti Klarjeti ( ka, კლარჯეთი ) was a province of ancient and medieval Georgia, which is now part of Turkey's Artvin Province. Klarjeti, the neighboring province of Tao and several other smaller districts, constituted a larger region wit ...

. The term is equivalent to “

Zemo Kartli Zemo Kartli ( ka, ზემო ქართლი; lit. Upper Kartli or Upper Iberia) is a historical region in south-western Georgia, comprising the lands in the upper basin of the Kura River (from origins of Kura River to Tashiskari) and Choro ...

” (i.e., Upper

Kartli Kartli ( ka, ქართლი ) is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari (Kura), on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial role ...

or Upper Iberia) and is also a synonym for historical

Meskheti Meskheti ( ka, მესხეთი) or Samtskhe ( ka, სამცხე) (Moschia in ancient sources), is a mountainous area in southwestern Georgia. History Ancient tribes known as the Mushki (or Moschi) and Mosiniks (or Mossynoeci) were the ...

Cultural and historical heritage

Many important Georgian cultural monuments from the

middle ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

are located on the territory of Tao-Klarjeti and many of them are preserved as ruins. Several monuments of medieval

Georgian architecture Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1714 and 1830. It is named after the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I, George II, Georg ...

– abandoned or converted churches, monasteries, bridges and castles – are scattered across the area. Best known are the monasteries of

Khandzta Khandzta ( ka, ხანძთა, ) was a medieval Georgian monastery founded by Gregory of Khandzta in 782 AD. It has been identified as probably being the ruined monastery known as Porta, in Pırnallı village, Artvin province, Turkey. History ...

, Khakhuli,

Ancha Theta Aquarii (θ Aquarii, abbreviated Theta Aqr, θ Aqr), officially named Ancha (distinguish Ankaa, with the same pronunciation), is a star in the equatorial constellation of Aquarius. Visible to the naked eye at apparent magnitude 4 ...

, the churches of Oshki,

Ishkhani Ishkani or Ishkhan, ( hy, Իշխան, prince, ka, იშხანი, tr, Işhan) is a ruined Georgian Christian monastery in the territory of Turkey in the village of Arpacık, Artvin province. The name Ishkhani derives from the word “Իշխ� ...

, Bana,

Parkhali Parkhali ( ka, პარხალი), also known in Turkish as Barhal or Altıparmak, is a village that contains a medieval Georgian monastery and cathedral church. It is located near the town of Yusufeli, Artvin Province, Turkey. History T ...

, Doliskana,

Otkhta Eklesia Otkhta ( ka, ოთხთა, Turkish: ''Dörtkilise'') is a 10th-century Georgian monastery which was built in 961–965 by Davit Kurapalat and renewed in 978–1001. Georgian monastery and cathedral church located in Dörtkilise, the town o ...

Opiza Opiza ( ka, ოპიზა) was a medieval Georgian monastery and cathedral church located in historical Klarjeti region, now in Artvin Province, Turkey. It is one of the oldest Georgian churches in the Tao-Klarjeti region. Opiza was reconstruct ...

, Parekhi and Tbeti.

Gallery

Image:Oshki1.jpg, Oshki Cathedral Image:Khakhuli1.jpg, Khakhuli Church Image:DOLISKANA2.jpg, Dolisqana Church Image:Bana, Tao-Klarjeti.jpg, Bana Cathedral Image:ტბეთი, 1888 - პავლინოვის ფოტო.jpg, Tbeti Cathedral Image:Пархали, Тао, Турция. Май 2008.jpg, Parkhali Church Image:Otkhta church.jpg, Otkhta Eklesia Image:Ekeki (ექექი).jpg, Ekeki Church Image:Ghulivati (Ciha) Castle, Atina-Pazar, Lazeti-Rize.jpg, Ghulivati Castle Image:Şeytan Kale - Satan's Castle.jpg, Kajeti Castle Image:Ardanuc-castle.jpg, Artanuji Castle Image:Théophile Deyrolle Le Tour du Monde 1875-76.jpg, Tortomi Castle

References

* "Tao-Klarjeti". (2006) Valeri Silogava and Kakha Shengelia. Caucasian University Press, Tbilisi. {{Authority control Historical regions of Georgia (country) Tao-Klarjeti Bagratid Iberia Historical regions