Georgia in antiquity : a history of Colchis and Transcaucasian Iberia, 550 BC-AD 562

## Abstract This is the first full history of the ancient Georgia ever to be written outside Georgia itself. It is also an introduction to the substantial archaeological work that has been carried out in Georgia in recent decades. The principal purpose of this book is to open up ancient Georgia for the world of scholarship at large. It is not only the history of a neglected region, but also a sustained attempt to inform topics and issues that are more familiar to the historians of antiquity: myths of the periphery, Caucasian mountains and their passes, Greek colonization, the Persian, Athenian, and Selecuid empires, Pompey's conquest of Mithridates' empire, the development of the Roman frontier in the eastern Black Sea region, Roman diplomancy in Iberia, the Christianization of Iberia, Sassanian ambitions in Transcaucasia and Byzantine warfare there. The author has lived in Georgia for substantial periods during the last decade: he has made extensive use of scholarship in Georgian and Russian, and has first-hand knowledge of most of the sites which he discusses. This Is The First Full History Of Ancient Georgia Ever To Be Written Outside Georgia Itself. It Is Also An Introduction To The Substantial Archaeological Work That Has Been Carried Out In Georgia In Recent Decades. The Principal Purpose Of The Book Is To Open Up Ancient Georgia For The World Of Scholarship At Large. It Is Not Only The History Of A Neglected Region, But Also A Sustained Attempt To Inform Topics And Issues That Are More Familiar To Historians Of Antiquity: The Myths Of The Periphery, Particularly Of Medea And The Golden Fleece; The Caucasus Mountains And Their Passes; Greek Colonization; The Persian, Athenian, And Seleucid Empires; Pompey's Conquest Of Mithridates' Empire; The Development Of The Roman Frontier In The Eastern Black Sea Region; Roman Diplomacy In Iberia; The Christianization Of Iberia; And Sassanian Ambitions In Transcaucasia And Byzantine Warfare There. 1. Imagining Georgia In Antiquity -- 2. The Geography And Economy Of Ancient Georgia -- 3. Archaic Georgia: The Arrival Of Greeks In Colchis -- Excursus: The Early Coinage Of Colchis -- 4. Achaemenids And Seleucids In Georgia -- 5. Mithridates, Pompey, And The Emergence Of Iberia -- 6. Colchis Under The Principate -- 7. Iberia Under The Principate -- 8. Between Romans And Sassanians: The Third And Fourth Centuries -- 9. War In Lazica: The Fifth And Sixth Centuries. David Braund. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [315]-348) And Index. The first full history of ancient Georgia ever to be written outside Georgia itself, this book also serves as a valuable introduction to the substantial archaeological work that has been carried out there in recent decades. Designed to open up ancient Georgia for the world of scholarship at large, it is not only a history of a neglected region, but also a sustained attempt to inform topics and issues that are more familiar to the historians of antiquity. Examples include myths of the periphery; Caucasian mountains and their passes; Greek colonization; the Persian, Athenian, and Selecuid empires; Pompey's conquest of Mithridates' empire; the development of the Roman frontier in the eastern Black Sea region; Roman diplomacy in Iberia; the Christianization of Iberia; Sassanian ambitions in Transcaucasia; and Byzantine warfare there. Preface Contents List of Illustrations Abbreviations Introduction 1 Imagining Georgia in Antiquity 2 The Geography and Economy of Ancient Georgia 3 Archaic Georgia: The Arrival of Greeks in Colchis 4 Achaemenids and Seleucids in Georgia 5 Mithridates, Pompey, and the Emergence of Iberia 6 Colchis under the Principate 7 Iberia under the Principate 8 Between Romans and Sassanians: The Third and Fourth Centuries 9 War in Lazica: The Fifth and Sixth Centuries Bibliography Index A work on ancient Georgia, the mythical home of Medea and Prometheus, and historically at the centre of the successive struggles for power by the Persians, Greeks, Romans and later, the Byzantine Empire. The author has first-hand knowledge of most of the area discussed.