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{{Short description|Mythology of pre-Christian Georgians}}
{{Essay-like|date=April 2020}}
{{Georgians}}
{{Mythology}}
'''Georgian mythology''' ({{lang-ka|ქართული მითოლოგია|tr}}) refers to the [[Myth#Mythology|mythology]] of pre-Christian [[Georgians]] ([[Help:IPA/English|/kʌrtˈvɛliənz/]]; [[Georgian language|Georgian]]: ქართველები, [[Romanization of Georgian|romanized]]: kartvelebi, <small>pronounced</small> [[Help:IPA/Georgian|[ˈkʰaɾtʰvelebi]]]), an indigenous [[Peoples of the Caucasus|Caucasian]] [[ethnic group]] native to [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and the [[South Caucasus]]. The mythology of the [[Kartvelian peoples]] is believed by many scholars to have formed part of the religions of the kingdoms of [[Diauehi]], [[Colchis]] and [[Kingdom of Iberia (antiquity)|Iberia]].

Later influences include the mythologies of the [[Ancient Greek religion|Ancient Greeks]],<ref name="Tuite Meaning Dæl">[[Kevin Tuite|Tuite, Kevin]], ''The Meaning of Dæl, Symbolic and Spatial Associations of the South Caucasian Goddess of Game Animals'', [[Université de Montréal]]</ref> the [[Vainakh religion|Vainakh]] peoples<ref name= "Tuite Meaning Dæl"/> and [[Iranian peoples|Iranians]] – the last-named comprising both the belief systems of the Northern Iranian nomad [[Scythians]] and [[Sarmatians]] (still preserved to some extent in the mythology of their descendants the [[Ossetians]]) and that of the [[Zoroastrian]] religion of the Ancient Persian empire, which has left an enduring legacy among the nations of the Caucasus.<ref>''Medes and Persians in Transcaucasia: Archaeological Horizons in Northwestern-Iran and Transcaucasia'' by Stephan Kroll in ''Continuity of Empire. Assyria, Media, Persia'' ed. G. B. Lanfranchi,<!--- not the 17th century bishop ---> [[Michael Roaf|M. Roaf]], [[Robert Rollinger|R. Rollinger]] (Padova 2003).
</ref> (See also [[Iranian religions]])<ref name="Marshall Lang 1966">[[David Marshall Lang|Marshall Lang, David]], ''The Georgians'',  pub. Thames and Hudson 1966 as vol. 51 in the series Ancient Peoples and Places</ref>

Georgian myths and legends are preserved mainly as popular tales, many of them eventually fusing with [[Christianity|Christian]] legends after the [[Christianization of Iberia|Christianization of Georgia]] seventeen centuries ago. The evangelizing of Georgia, however, was far from uniform. While the lowland populations embraced Christianity in the fifth century, the highlanders of the mountain valleys in the [[Greater Caucasus]] range were converted some ten centuries later – and only superficially. Survivals of pagan beliefs and practices in the Georgian plains are thus, understandably, heavily influenced by Christianity, lacking in mythological unity and essentially folkloric.<ref>[[Georges Charachidzé|Charachidzé, Georges]], ''Le système religieux de la Géorgie païenne: analyse structurale d’une civilisation'', pub. Paris: Maspero 1968.</ref><ref name="Charachidzé, Bonnefoy 1991">Charachidzé, Georges : essay : ''Religion and Myths of the Georgians of the Mountains'' in Bonnefoy, Yves ''Mythologies'', translated from the original French edition of 1981 (and restructured in more encyclopedic form) by various translators under the direction of Prof. [[Wendy Doniger]], pub. The [[University of Chicago]] Press 1991, vol. 1 pps. 308–316 ( in part 3 ''Celts, Norse, Slavs, Caucasians and their Neighbors'' ).</ref> {{Quote
|text=The mountain Georgians, on the other hand, preserved a rich and well-organized [pagan] religious system to the beginning of the twentieth century, with differentiated cults that continued to be productive [thanks largely to the persistence of] a priestly class with an orally-transmitted body of knowledge.<ref name= "Charachidzé, Bonnefoy 1991" />
|author=[[Georges Charachidzé]]
}}

==Khevsur/Pshav creation myth (northeastern Georgia)==
In the beginning, there existed only the head god (მორიგე ღმერთი) and his Sister. She made him unhappy, so he cursed her. The sister became a demon. For every good thing that the head god created, the Demon created an evil thing to mar/oppose it. Women too was a creation of the Demon, as were the lesser demons ({{Lang-ka|დევი|tr}} – see below), while men and the lesser gods were creations of Morige Ghmerti. The lesser gods grew weary in their unceasing fight with the demons and fled to the upper world of Zeskneli (ზესკნელი), leaving behind the men. The men however lacked the power to resist the demons, so the lesser gods ({{Lang-ka|ღვთის შვილნი|tr}} – see below) hunted down the demons and drove them underground to the netherworld of Kveskneli (ქვესკნელი). The demons left behind them the women who, like them, were part of the evil creation.<ref name= "Charachidzé, Bonnefoy 1991" />

Men and women are thus only emanations of, or substitutes for, the gods above and the demons below, respectively. The same principle holds true for all created things: the entities and substances of the universe are divided into two antagonistic series, one wild and demonic, the other social and divine. The only entities or substances that are truly real are those of the upper world of Zeskneli and the lower world of Kveskneli. The middle world inhabited by humans is thus only a place of passage and meeting, and the beings who people it have no essence in themselves, being only emanations of the divine or subterranean worlds, or else their unions.<ref name= "Charachidzé, Bonnefoy 1991" />

== Cosmology ==

In pre-Christian Georgian mythology, the universe is perceived as a [[sphere]]. It comprises three worlds or levels, known as ''skneli'' (სკნელი):

* ''Zeskneli'' (ზესკნელი) – the highest world, and the home of the gods. White is the color of Zeskneli.
* The Earth – the middle world, home of mortals. Its center is divided into two regions, anterior (''tsina samkaro'', წინა სამყარო; or ''tsinaskneli'', წინასკნელი) and posterior (''ukana samkaro'', უკანა სამყარო; or ''ukana skneli'', უკანასკნელი); – beyond which the lands of Earth are divided by seven or nine mountains (or seas), which a hero can traverse only by first undergoing a spiritual transformation (known as ''gardatsvaleba'' (გარდაცვალება) – which is also the word for "death") and seeking the help of magical animals, such as the Paskunji, the Rashi and others. Red is the colour of this world.
* ''Kveskneli'' (ქვესკნელი) – the lowest world or [[underworld]], inhabited by the ogres, serpents, and demons. Black is the colour of Kveskneli.

== Practices of Shamanic Type ==
The mountain Georgian equivalent of the shaman is the ''Kadagi'', a person (of either gender) who has become permanently possessed by one of the class of minor (i.e. local / specialised) divinities known most often by the name of ''Hat'i'' (= 'sign' ), but also by those of ''Dzhuar'' (= 'cross') and ''Saghmto'' (= 'divinity'). The ''Hat'i'' numbered several hundred at the turn of the nineteenth century and the word ''Hat'i'' could designate not only a divinity of this class but also its manifestation ( as image, object or real or imaginary animal ) and the place (temple / sanctuary) where it was worshipped. The  ''Kadag'' would go into trance, both at religious rituals and at events important in individual or collective life, and his or her indwelling ''Hat'i'' would foretell the future in a special secret or sacred 'language of the ''Hat'i'' '<ref name= "Charachidzé, Bonnefoy 1991"/> (see also [[Spirit possession]]).

A second type of practitioner of shamanic type (exclusively female) was the ''Mesultane'' – the word deriving from Georgian ''suli''  'soul'. A ''Mesultane'' – usually a woman, although sometimes as young as a girl of nine – was a female who possessed 'the faculty of visiting [[Afterlife|the beyond]] in spirit'. At certain times these females would plunge into 'a [[lethargy]] broken by mutterings', following which they would awaken and describe their 'journey', communicating the requests of the dead to particular individuals or to the community at large. From their ability to enter these [[trance]] states they would derive honours and prestige.<ref>[[Carlo Ginzburg|Ginzburg, Dr. Carlo]] ''Ecstasies: Deciphering the Witches' Sabbath'', first published in English by Hutchinson Radius 1990 {{ISBN|0 09 174024 X}}, page 194.</ref>

== List of supernatural beings from Georgian myth ==
===Gods===
*'''[[Adgilis Deda]]''' (ადგილის დედა) – A goddess of fertility and livestock revered by the inhabitants of the mountainous areas of northeastern Georgia (such as [[Khevsureti]]) as the patroness of certain places and of travellers. She is portrayed as a beautiful lady with silver jewellery. She later became associated with the [[Virgin Mary]] when the area was converted to Christianity. Her name means "Mother of Locality".
*'''[[Ainina and Danina]]''' (აინინა და დანინა) – A pair of goddesses who are mentioned in [[Conversion of Kartli (chronicle)|''The Conversion of Kartli'']] and the mediaeval [[Georgian Chronicles]].
*'''Elia''' (ელია) – The god of rain and thunder in Georgian mythology.<ref>Zurab Kiknadze, Georgian Mythology, Tbilisi, 2007, p. 72</ref>
*'''[[Apsat (mythology)|Apsat]]''' (აფსათი) – A male god of birds and animals in [[Svaneti|Svan]] mythology.<ref>Virsaladze, Elena Bagratovna, 1976 ''Gruzinskij okhotnichij Mif i Poeziia'' (translation : 'Georgian Myth and Poesy of the Hunt') pub. Nauka, Moscow.</ref>
*'''Shavkhan''' (შავხანი) – God of blacksmithing in [[Svaneti|Svan]] mythology.<ref>Akaki Gelovani, Mythological Dictionary, Tbilisi, 1983, p. 525</ref>
*'''Bedis Mtserlebi''' (ბედის მწერლები) – Deities who write the fate of humans and all other spiritual beings with the help of their magic book. <ref>D. Karichashvili, I. Bukurauli, Explanation of words used in Tushetian poems, Vol. II. Tbilisi, 1913, p.129-139</ref>
*'''[[Armazi (god)|Armazi]]''' (არმაზი) – Chief of the gods; central figure in the official religion of (Caucasian) [[Sasanian Iberia|Iberia]] (= [[Kartli]]) established by King [[Pharnavaz I of Iberia]] (4th century BC). According to the ''Life of Saint Nino'' an immense statue of Armazi – along with images of other deities and the temple that housed them – was destroyed by a storm of giant [[hail]]stones raised by the prayers of [[Saint Nino]]. Armazi is also the name of an ancient fortress near [[Mtskheta]] that dates from the same period.<ref name= "Marshall Lang 1966" /> Various complementary strands of research suggest that the origins of this deity lie in a syncretism between conceptions of the [[Zoroastrian]] supreme being [[Ahura Mazda]] ({{lang-hy|'Aramazd'}}) and a native Georgian supreme lunar  deity (see also [[Tetri Giorgi]] below) – a regional variant of the [[Hittites|Hittite]] moon god  [[Arma (deity)|Arma]].<ref>Gvelesiani, Mariam. To Interrelations of Georgian Armazi, Armenian Aramazd and Iranian Ahuramazda.New Alliance Foundation.</ref>
*'''Barbale''' (ბარბალე) – The goddess of cattle and poultry fertility, the sun, women's fertility, and healing.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Batonebi''' (ბატონები) – Spirits of disease. Their name means "the masters". In modern use "Batonebi" is used as a term to refer to a small set of infectious diseases, that are often prominent among children ([[measles]], [[chickenpox]] and few others) If anyone is infected by the Batonebi, following one tradition their family will prepare special food and candies, and place presents under trees to appease the Batonebi (Traditions vary, but general motif is for whole family to appease the sick child).<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Beri Bera''' (ბერი ბერა) – An agricultural god of fertility, harvests, and animals who is worshipped in eastern Georgia. His festival is held at the end of the year.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''[[Dali (goddess)|Dali]]''' (დალი), Svanetian 'Dæl'<ref name="Tuite Meaning Dæl" /> – the goddess of the hunt. She was believed to have extraordinary beauty, with long golden hair and radiant white skin. She dwells high up in the mountains, in a shining golden cave <ref name="auto">{{cite book |last=Tsanava |first=Apolon |date=1992 |title=ქართული მითოლოგია |trans-title=Georgian Mythology |language=ka |publisher=მერანი}}</ref> where she watches over and protects wild animals. She sometimes shares animals with hunters, as long as they respect her rules by not hunting more than their needed amounts or taking aim at animals that are her manifestations. In some myths, she will enter into a sexual relationship with a hunter, while warning him not to reveal their liaison  upon pain of death by causing him to fall to his death from a cliff, usually during a hunt <ref name="auto"/> – the fate also of those who break promises they have made her. She is the mother of the hero [[Amirani|Amiran]].
*'''[[Gatsi and Gaim]]''' (გაცი და გაიმი) – Gods in the official Iberian pantheon according to the medieval annals.
*'''Ghmerti''' (ღმერთი) – The supreme divinity and the head of the pantheon of gods. He is the all-powerful Lord of the Universe and its Creator. He lives in the ninth sky, where he rules from a golden throne. His children include the moon (as his son), the sun (as his daughter), and the ''Ghvtis Shvilni'' who protect people against evil. He is also addressed as Morige Ghmerti (მორიგე ღმერთი, "God the Director") and Dambadebeli (დამბადებელი, "The Creator"). His name is later used to refer to [[God the Father]] in Christian belief.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Kamar''' (ყამარი) The daughter of the god of the sky. She is a symbol of divine fire. Her beautiful appearance caused Amiran to abduct her from heaven.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''[[Lamaria]]''', also '''Lamara''' (ლამარია) – goddess of fertility, cattle, and the hearth
*'''Mamber''' (მამბერი) – The lord of wolves ( compare Ossetian Tutyr – see below under heading 'Tevdore' ), who was worshiped in [[Svaneti]] and other mountainous regions.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Michpa''' (მიჭპა) – The patron god of cattle and other domestic animals who was worshiped in Svaneti during winter.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Mindort Batoni''' (მინდორთ ბატონი) – The god of valleys, fields, and wild flowers. Humans have to ask his permission before exploring or attempting to cultivate the fruitful lands that make up his domain. His daughter, Mindort Brdzanebeli, is the beautiful goddess of flowers.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Mindort Brdzanebeli''' (მინდორთ ბრძანებელი) – The goddess of flowers. She is the daughter of the god Mindort Batoni. She flutters over plants, feeding on their pollen.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Ochopintre'''<!--don't link, it redirects here--> (ოჩოპინტრე) – A spirit of the forest and protector of wild animals. The first part of his name (ocho, ოჭო) is connected to the ancient pagan god Bochi, the second part (pintre, პინტრე) to the Greek god Pan. Born with the legs and horns of a goat, he assists the goddess Dali in herding the animals. Hunters usually made sacrifice in his name since no one could hunt the animals without his help. The fate of a person entering his forest was believed to be fully in his hands.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''[[Samdzimari]]''' (სამძიმარი) – demon-born goddess of fertility and oracles, seducer of men.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=http://www.mapageweb.umontreal.ca/tuitekj/publications/Tuite-2000-Dali.pdf|title=Language, Culture and the Individual. A Tribute to Paul Friedrich|chapter=The meaning of Dæl. Symbolic and spatial associations of the south Caucasian goddess of game animals.|pages=165–188|last=Tuite|first=Kevin|date=2006-02-20|website=University of Montreal|editor-first1=Catherine| editor-last1=O’Neil| editor-first2=Mary|editor-last2=Scoggin |editor-first3=Kevin|editor-last3=Tuite|access-date=2020-05-31}}</ref>
*'''Tamar''' (თამარი) – Goddess who enslaved the [[Venus|Morning Star]] and controlled the weather patterns; was called "eye of the earth" and rode a [[Serpent (symbolism)|serpent]].
*'''[[Tetri Giorgi]]''' (თეთრი გიორგი, "White George"), form of [[Saint George]] venerated in [[Kakheti]], variously identified as a reflex of the ancient lunar god, and as a reflex of the ancient storm/weather god ([[Kopala]]).<ref>Tuite (2004)</ref>
*'''Tevdore''' (თევდორე) – God of agriculture and horses. After Christianization, he became associated with [[Theodore of Amasea|St. Theodore]]. In feudal times the special festival of Tedoroba was organised to honor him and ensure a bountiful harvest.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Tskarishdida''' (წყარიშდიდა) – A mermaid-like goddess of rivers, lakes and fish, in Mingrelian folklore. She uses magic powers against humans.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''[[Zadeni|Zaden]]''' (ზადენი) – God of fertility in the official pantheon established by Pharnavaz I. He was believed to be as powerful as Armazi. He was added into the official pantheon by [[Pharnajom of Iberia|Parnajom]] in the second century BC, and had a statue of him erected at a fortress near Mt. Zedazeni, near Mtskheta. His statue was said to have been destroyed with the statues of other gods through the prayers of St. Nino. The worship of him declined after Christianization.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>

===Demigods, heroes, and notable people===
*'''[[Amirani|Amiran]]''' (ამირანი) –  Mythic hero and titan, son of Dali. Equivalent of the Greek [[Prometheus]].<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Iakhsar''' (იახსარი) – A mythic hero who aided Kopala in his adventures to slay demons and monsters, and was deified and venerated as a popular deity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/beer-and-blood-sacrifices-meet-the-caucasus-pagans-who-worship-ancient-deities-10451756.html|title=Beer and blood sacrifices: Meet the Caucasus pagans who worship ancient deities|date=2015-08-15|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2019-11-06}}</ref>
*'''Ghvtis Shvilni''' (ღვთის შვილნი, Children of God or Children of Gmerti) – A group of demigods who protected humans, assured good crops and milk yields, fought against devis and kudiani witches. Amiran, Giorgi, Iakhsar, and Kopala were among them, and they fought alongside Iakhsar and Kopala to drive out the devis from the land, and to help Giorgi to raid the impregnable fortress of the kajis to plunder their treasures, cattle, and women.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''[[Kopala]]''' (კოპალა) – A mythic hero, mighty warrior, and demon-killer – also a lightning god.<ref>[[Kevin Tuite|Tuite, Kevin]] (2000). "Lightning, sacrifice and possession in the traditional religions of the Caucasus".
</ref> He and Iakhsar lead a campaign to drive underground  the devis who are persecuting humans in the middle realm. His weapons include a [[Mace (bludgeon)|mace]] and an iron [[Bow and arrow|bow]] made for him by the [[blacksmith]] god Pirkusha (პირქუშა) (with whom compare Ossetian divine smith [[Kurdalægon]] and Circassian [[Tlepsh]]).<ref>Colarusso, John, ''Nart Sagas from the Caucasus'', pub. Princeton University Press 2002 {{ISBN|0-691-02647-5}}. Tales 16, 17, 20 and 21.</ref> He alone has the power to defeat the most stubborn demons, believed to seize a person's soul and cause madness, and, by this means, he cures those afflicted by insanity.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Kviria''' (კვირია) – A hero and a son of the gods who served as a mediator between Ghmerti and humanity. He is invoked as the protector of human society and an instrument of divine justice. In some regions of Georgia, he was also believed to be a deity of fertility and the harvest, while in the mountains of western Georgia he was worshiped as the supreme deity. The festival of Kviratskholovba (კვირაცხოვლობა) was celebrated to honour him,<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/> as also ([[David Marshall Lang|Marshall Lang]] surmises) were the erotic and orgiastic cults and festivals, such as the ''Berikoba'' and ''Murqvamoba'', celebrated regularly until recent times among the [[Pshavi|Pshavs]], [[Khevsurs]], [[Svans]] and other mountain Georgian tribes. The curious [[ithyphallic]] figurines discovered by G.D. Filimonov at the settlement of [[Kazbek]] on the [[Georgian Military Highway]] may also (Marshall Lang further surmises) relate to erotic aspects of the cult of Kviria. Such figurines have been the subject of much debate among archaeologists and anthropologists and examples continue to come to light in various parts of Georgia, as far east  as central Kakhetia, in association with finds of bronze daggers of specific 'Kakhetian type', dating to between the thirteenth and eighth centuries B.C.E. Some of these ithyphallic figurines had been designed to be hung from [[drinking horn]]s.<ref name= "Marshall Lang 1966" />
*'''Natsiliani''' (ნაწილიანი) – Humans who received magic gifts or divine signs ({{Lang-ka|ნაწილი|tr}}) from the gods. Their signs are usually located on their shoulder-blades and glow with magic light, empowering their bearers. These signs must be kept hidden, as their bearers will lose their powers if they reveal them.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>

===Spirits, creatures, and other beings===
[[File:H599, tavaqarashviliseuli vefxistkasoani, tarielis shebma devebtan, 199r.jpg|thumb|"Tarielis shebma devebtan". A miniature by Mamuka Tavakalashvili from the manuscript of Shota Rustaveli's "[[Knight in the Panther's Skin]]". H599. 199r. National Center of Manuscripts, Tbilisi, Georgia]]

*[[Al (folklore)|'''Ali''']] (ალი) – A type of [[Lilith]]-like demon that afflicts pregnant women, the elderly, and infants who happen to stumble into remote woods, caves, and ruins. Alis can be male or female (the females being known as ''alkali''); male alis generally appear monstrous, while female alis can shift between tempting beauty and hag-like ugliness.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future">{{Cite web|url=http://rustaveli.tripod.com/mythology.html|title=Georgia: Past, Present, Future...|website=rustaveli.tripod.com|access-date=2019-11-06}}</ref> Their name may be related to the word for "flame" (ალი). This supernatural being occurs not only in the folklore of the Caucasus, but also in the folk beliefs of [[Iran]], [[Central Asia]] and [[Mongolia]] and conceptions of its appearance may derive from folk memories of [[List of cryptids|relict hominins]] (see also [[Almas (cryptozoology)]]).
*'''[[Daeva|Devi]]''' (დევი) – Many-headed ogres whose heads can regenerate if any of them are cut off (compare [[Lernaean Hydra]]). These malevolent giants live in the underworld or in remote mountains, where they hoard treasure troves and keep their captives. In Georgian mythology, they live in a family, consisting usually of nine brothers. Bakbak-Devi (ბაყბაყ-დევი) was the strongest and the most powerful of the devis. To defeat them, heroes would outwit them by means of various tricks and games.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/> Their name (a borrowing into the [[Kartvelian languages|Kartvelian]] (language family) [[Georgian language]] from [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]) is related to that of the [[daeva]]s of Zoroastrian and Persian mythology, derived in turn from [[Proto-Indo-European]] *deiu̯ó 'god'.
*'''Dobilni''' (translation: 'the ones who became sisters'; დობილნი) – disease-spreading spirits, appearing usually in the form of women, children or animals. Dobilni towers ({{Lang-ka|დობილთ კოშკი|tr}}) were built in [[Khevsureti|Khevsurian]] shrines to keep them at bay. Some Dobilni are benevolent, such as Princess Samdzimar (სამძიმარი) of [[Khevsureti]] legend, who is invoked for an easy childbirth, the birth of healthy children, and women's health in general. Benevolent Dobilni were also invoked at certain shrines in order to bless cattle and also for the protection of travellers.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Gveleshapi''' ({{ill|გველეშაპი|ka|გველეშაპი (პერსონაჟი)}}, in ancient sources გველ-ვეშაპი – Snake-whale) – Evil serpent<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/> that ruled and lived in lakes, rivers, and water sources (compare [[Nāga]]). In folklore, they were associated with water-related disasters, and heroes fought against them. (See also [[Serpent (symbolism)]].
*'''Kaji''' (ქაჯი) – A race of spirits who are often portrayed as magic-wielding, demonic metal-workers ( compare [[Sons of Ivaldi]] ). They lived in Kajeti (ქაჯეთი), and had magic powers that they used against humans. Land kajis were malevolent, while river and lake kajis were friendly to humans. Female kajis were beautiful, and they either seduced heroes or helped them in their quests.<ref>Testen, David. 1989. ''The kingdom of the Kajes'' in ''The Non-Slavic Languages of the USSR: Linguistic Studies'' ed. by H. Aronson, pps. 158–175. Chicago: Chicago Linguistic Society.</ref> They appear prominently in [[Shota Rustaveli]]'s ''[[The Knight in the Panther's Skin|Vepkhistkaosani]]'' (ვეფხისტყაოსანი), in which the Kajis abduct Princess Nestan-Darejan and fight the heroes at Kajeti fortress, although Rustaveli [[Euhemerism|euhemerises]] them, portraying them, not as a race of supernatural beings, but a tribe of human [[Wizard (paranormal)|wizards]] (albeit wizards of awe-inspiring power).<ref>''[[Vepkhistkaosani|The Knight in Panther Skin]]'', a free translation into prose from the Georgian verse of [[Shota Rustaveli]] by Katharine Vivian, pub. The Folio Society London 1977, page 166.</ref> The Kajis also feature in ''The Snake-eater'' by another celebrated Georgian poet, [[Vazha-Pshavela]], in which they appear as the preparers of a stew of snake-meat that confers [[occult]] wisdom on the hero, Mindia<ref>''[[Vazha-Pshavela|Vaja Pshavela]]: 3 Poems'', translated into English by David Rayfield, pub. Borbalo Group, Georgia 2002.</ref> (compare [[The White Snake]]). Their name is related to the Armenian storm and wind spirits, the kaj ([[Armenian language|Armenian]]: քաջ, k'aǰ; plural: քաջք k'aǰk').
*'''Kudiani''' (კუდიანი) – A type of hideous hunchbacked witch, having large teeth and a tail, from the latter of which her name is derived (kudi, კუდი, "tail"). Kudianis can disguise themselves as humans in order to bewitch them. The leader of the kudianis, Rokap (როკაპი), often summons them to a special mountain (compare [[Brocken]], [[Łysa Góra]], [[Lysa Hora (Kiev)]] and [[Lysa Hora (folklore)]]) where they hold a festival similar to the European [[Walpurgis Night]].<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Matsil''' (მაცილი) – Evil spirits from the underworld that plague travelers and hunters. Folk tales refer to Kopala's efforts to defeat them.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''Mgebri''' (მგებრი) - From mountain regions of east Georgia, a spirit of a dying person's passed male relative, sent from the afterlife back to the mortal world to be the first to greet their dying family member when they pass. Normally a Mgebri will be the person's close family member, most often the mother's brothers. The Mgebri appear as young lads, some on horses, some on foot. They have to lead the way into the spirit world, or the deceased person won't be able to enter it. <ref>{{cite book |last=Antelava |first=Nugzar |date=2017 |title=ანდრეზები |trans-title=The Andrez |language=ka |publisher=უნივერსალი |isbn=978-9941-22-996-1}}</ref>
*'''[[Ochokochi]]''' (ოჩოკოჩი) – A forest being in [[Samegrelo|Mingrelian]] folklore who comes into conflict with hunters. Instead of hair on his chest, he has a protuberance in the form of a pointed bone or a [[Stone tool|stone axe]], which he uses to kill passersby by embracing them. He often chases Tkashmapa, the beautiful Queen of the Forest, out of [[lust]], but his uncouth advances are just as often thwarted by mortal hunters (with the worthiest of whom she prefers, on occasion, to mate).
*'''Paskunji''' (ფასკუნჯი) – A [[phoenix (mythology)|phoenix]]-like being who helps heroes and humans. He lives in the underworld, and fights the serpents there. Heroes summoned him by burning one of his feathers, and he could transport them to other places and heal wounds and illnesses. In certain other myths, by contrast, paskunjis are portrayed as being hostile to humans and to have persecuted them.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''[[Q'ursha]]''' (ყურშა) – A legendary hunting dog associated with various mythological figures including Dali and Amirani.<ref name="Bonnefoy93">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/americanafricano00bonn|url-access=registration|title=American, African, and Old European Mythologies|last=Bonnefoy|first=Yves|date=1993-05-15|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=9780226064574|pages=[https://archive.org/details/americanafricano00bonn/page/260 260]|language=en}}</ref>
*'''Rashi''' (რაში) – A magical winged horse (compare [[Pegasus]], [[Buraq]], [[Tulpar]], [[Chollima]] and [[Rakhsh]]). There are three types of rashis: land rashis are well disposed to heroes and humans and could perceive the future; sea rashis are more hostile, but can take humans to the bottom of the sea, while their milk was believed to cure many illnesses; and heavenly rashis have wings and can breathe fire, and are difficult to subdue yet loyal to their owners.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/> Kourkik Challaly, a similar magical, fiery, winged horse plays a large part (as the wise and faithful steed of successive generations of heroes) in the [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Armenian]] epic poem [[Daredevils of Sassoun]]. Like the sea rashis, Kourkik Challaly is first encountered underwater – in this instance at the bottom of an enchanted lake.<ref>''The Saga of Sassoun'' a retelling in English from the original Armenian text of Bishop [[Garegin Srvandztiants]] (and later versions) by [[Mischa Kudian]], pub. Kaye & Ward Ltd., London, 1970.</ref>
*'''Rokap''' (როკაპი) – An evil spirit, leader of the Kudiani (witches). Ghmerti punished him by chaining him to a column under the earth, where he devours human hearts brought to him by the Kudiani . Every year, he tries to free himself, but he always fails.<ref name="Georgia: Past, Present, Future"/>
*'''T'q'ashmapa''' (ტყაშმაფა) is a forest entity in [[Samegrelo|Mingrelian]] folklore. In most tales she appears as a pale woman with very long white hair, her dress and accessory (if she wears any) is also all white. She is very strong as well as vicious and violent when displeased. She seeks out men - has a preference for virgin lads - and tries to make them her lovers. Those who refuse will suffer heavy beating and other kinds of physical abuse at her hands.<ref name="auto"/>

==See also==
*[[Armenian mythology]]
*[[Azerbaijani folklore]]
*[[Greek mythology]]
*[[Ossetian mythology]]
*[[Persian mythology]]
*[[Slavic mythology]]
*[[Vainakh mythology]]

== References ==
<references />

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |first=Rusudan |last=Cholokashvili |chapter=EVIL SPIRITS IN GEORGIAN EPIC FABLES |title=Book of Scientific Works of the Conference of Belief Narrative Network of ISFNR (1-4 October 2014, Zugdidi) |publisher=Shota Meskhia State Teaching University, Annual Scientific Work |date=2015 |pages=49–60 |url=http://www.isfnr.org/files/Nature_spirits_Zugdidi.pdf}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Mythology of Georgia}}
* [http://rustaveli.tripod.com/mythology.html Georgia: Past, Present, Future...]

{{Europe topic|Mythology of}} 
{{Asia topic|Mythology of}}
{{Georgia (country) topics}}
{{Georgian mythology}}
{{Religion topics|ancient}}
{{Paganism}}
{{List of mythological figures by region}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Georgian Mythology}}
[[Category:Georgian mythology| ]]
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