The Significance and Position of the Tao-Klarjeti Region Within the Tradition of Georgian Literary Heritage

Muhammed Enes Canöz

Article Details

The Significance and Position of the Tao-Klarjeti Region Within the Tradition of Georgian Literary Heritage

Authors:

Muhammed Enes Canöz

Publisher:

Trakya University

Main Topics:

Bizans Sanatı

Journal:

Trakya Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.15 Issue 30, pp.47-62

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354096

pISSN:

1309-7660

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The region, which today encompasses Kars, Ardahan and partly Erzurum, centred in the Ardanuç district of Artvin, was called Tao-Klarceti by the Georgians. The Georgian Bagratid dynasty, which ruled in the region in the IX-XIIth centuries, supported the construction of religious institutions such as monasteries in order to develop the cultural infrastructure of the region. Thanks to these monasteries, the cultural development of the region increased and a Tao-Klarceti School emerged in which aesthetic concerns came to the fore over time. As a reflection of this school, the manuscripts produced in the workshops of the monasteries have a very important place. It is known that about 70 manuscripts, most of which are preserved in the manuscript institute in Georgia, were produced in this region. Tao-Klarceti manuscripts can be distinguished from other regions in terms of literary language, miniature style, ornamental compositions, materials and production techniques. The earliest known miniaturised manuscripts, the first historical collections, hagiographic collections and bibles in a style unique to the region, vitae on the lives of saints, and theological books reflect the characteristics of the Tao-Klarceti School as a whole. When we look at the diversity of literary sources, the preferred themes and translation methods, it is seen that, like other Orthodox groups, it was fed from Antioch and Jerusalem. At the same time, due to their religious and political unity with Byzantium, it is understood that the direction of development was the centres in Constantinople and Athos. After the XIIth century, as a result of the political unity and economic stability in Georgia, cultural centres shifted to Georgian territory and manuscript production largely ceased.

 The region, which today encompasses Kars, Ardahan and partly Erzurum, centred in the Ardanuç district of Artvin, was called Tao-Klarceti by the Georgians. The Georgian Bagratid dynasty, which ruled in the region in the IX-XIIth centuries, supported the construction of religious institutions such as monasteries in order to develop the cultural infrastructure of the region. Thanks to these monasteries, the cultural development of the region increased and a Tao-Klarceti School emerged in which aesthetic concerns came to the fore over time. As a reflection of this school, the manuscripts produced in the workshops of the monasteries have a very important place. It is known that about 70 manuscripts, most of which are preserved in the manuscript institute in Georgia, were produced in this region. Tao-Klarceti manuscripts can be distinguished from other regions in terms of literary language, miniature style, ornamental compositions, materials and production techniques. The earliest known miniaturised manuscripts, the first historical collections, hagiographic collections and bibles in a style unique to the region, vitae on the lives of saints, and theological books reflect the characteristics of the Tao-Klarceti School as a whole. When we look at the diversity of literary sources, the preferred themes and translation methods, it is seen that, like other Orthodox groups, it was fed from Antioch and Jerusalem. At the same time, due to their religious and political unity with Byzantium, it is understood that the direction of development was the centres in Constantinople and Athos. After the XIIth century, as a result of the political unity and economic stability in Georgia, cultural centres shifted to Georgian territory and manuscript production largely ceased.

 The region, which today encompasses Kars, Ardahan and partly Erzurum, centred in the Ardanuç district of Artvin, was called Tao-Klarceti by the Georgians. The Georgian Bagratid dynasty, which ruled in the region in the IX-XIIth centuries, supported the construction of religious institutions such as monasteries in order to develop the cultural infrastructure of the region. Thanks to these monasteries, the cultural development of the region increased and a Tao-Klarceti School emerged in which aesthetic concerns came to the fore over time. As a reflection of this school, the manuscripts produced in the workshops of the monasteries have a very important place. It is known that about 70 manuscripts, most of which are preserved in the manuscript institute in Georgia, were produced in this region. Tao-Klarceti manuscripts can be distinguished from other regions in terms of literary language, miniature style, ornamental compositions, materials and production techniques. The earliest known miniaturised manuscripts, the first historical collections, hagiographic collections and bibles in a style unique to the region, vitae on the lives of saints, and theological books reflect the characteristics of the Tao-Klarceti School as a whole. When we look at the diversity of literary sources, the preferred themes and translation methods, it is seen that, like other Orthodox groups, it was fed from Antioch and Jerusalem. At the same time, due to their religious and political unity with Byzantium, it is understood that the direction of development was the centres in Constantinople and Athos. After the XIIth century, as a result of the political unity and economic stability in Georgia, cultural centres shifted to Georgian territory and manuscript production largely ceased.

 Günümüzde Artvinin Ardanuç ilçesi merkez olmak üzere Kars, Ardahan ve kısmen Erzurumu kapsayan bölge Gürcüler tarafından Tao-Klarceti olarak adlandırılmıştır. IX-XII. yüzyıllarda bölgede hüküm süren Gürcü Bagratlı hanedanı bölgenin kültürel altyapısını geliştirmek için manastır gibi dini kurumların inşasını desteklemişlerdir. Bu manastırlar sayesinde bölgenin kültürel gelişimi artmış, estetik kaygının zaman içerisinde ön plana çıktığı bir Tao-Klarceti Ekolü ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu ekolün bir yansıması olarak manastırların atölyelerinde üretilen el yazmaları oldukça önemli bir yer tutmaktadır. Büyük bir kısmı Gürcistandaki el yazmaları enstitüsünde muhafaza edilen 70 kadar el yazmasının bu bölgede üretildiği bilinmektedir. Tao-Klarceti yazmaları kullandığı edebî dil, minyatür üslubu, süsleme kompozisyonları, malzeme ve üretim teknikleri açısından diğer bölgelerden ayırt edilebilmektedir. Bilinen en erken minyatürlü yazmalar, ilk tarih konulu koleksiyonlar, bölgeye özgü üslupta hazırlanmış hagiografik koleksiyonlar ve İnciller, azizlerin hayatlarının anlatıldığı vitalar ve teolojik kitaplar bir bütün olarak Tao-Klarceti Okulunun özelliklerini yansıtmaktadır. Edebî kaynakların çeşitliliğine, tercih edilen temalara, tercüme yöntemlerine bakıldığı zaman diğer Ortodoks gruplar gibi Antakya ve Kudüsten beslendiği görülmektedir. Aynı zamanda Bizansla dinî ve siyasi açıdan birliktelik içerisinde olmaları nedeni ile gelişim yönünün Konstantinopolis ve Athostaki merkezler olduğu anlaşılmaktadır. XII. yüzyıldan sonra Gürcistanda siyasi birliğin ve ekonomik istikrarın sağlanması sonucunda kültür merkezleri Gürcistan topraklarına kaymış ve el yazması üretimi sona ermiştir.

Article Details

The Significance and Position of the Tao-Klarjeti Region Within the Tradition of Georgian Literary Heritage

Authors:

Muhammed Enes Canöz

Publisher:

Trakya University

Main Topics:

Bizans Sanatı

Journal:

Trakya Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.15 Issue 30, pp.47-62

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354096

pISSN:

1309-7660

Tao-Klarjeti

Georgians

Monastery

ManuscriptsTao-Klarceti

Gürcü

Manastır

El Yazması

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Muhammed Enes Canöz

Publisher: Trakya University

Main Topics: Bizans Sanatı

Journal: Trakya Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.15 Issue 30, pp.47-62

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 7/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001354096

pISSN: 1309-7660

Issues

Authors:

Muhammed Enes Canöz

Publisher:

Trakya University

Main Topics:

Bizans Sanatı

Journal:

Trakya Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi Dergisi Vol.15 Issue 30, pp.47-62

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

7/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001354096

pISSN:

1309-7660