Caucasian Circles

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In The Media

Carnegie Europe

Caucasian Circles

Although set in a mythological period of Georgian history, the narrative of Otar Chiladze's latest work is an allegory of the Georgian Soviet era.

By Thomas de Waal

Published on Apr 5, 2013

Source: Times Literary Supplement

Some countries are burdened with troublesome myths. Georgia, supposedly the heir to the ancient kingdom of Colchis, has to deal with Medea, who, according to various legends, betrayed her father, colluded in the theft of the Golden Fleece and the death of her brother, and murdered her children. Medea still evokes passionate opinion in Georgia. In 2007 President Mikheil Saakashvili unveiled a tall column in the Black Sea city of Batumi, topped by a slender bronze Medea holding up the Golden Fleece. The anthropologist Tamta Khalvashi recorded one local intellectual railing that “they” (the pro-Western authorities) wanted to “trample on our traditions” by putting up a statue to a woman who “betrayed our country”.

This article was originally published in the Times Literary Supplement.

About the Author

Thomas de Waal

Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe

Thomas de Waal is a senior fellow at Carnegie Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

Recent Work

Commentary
There Is No Shortcut for Europe in Armenia
- Thomas de Waal
Article
Rewiring the South Caucasus: TRIPP and the New Geopolitics of Connectivity
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Caucasus Georgia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

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For the Middle Corridor to fulfill its promises, one of these routes must become scalable. At present, neither is.

Friedrich Conradi

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Is Frustration With Armenia’s Pashinyan Enough to Bring the Pro-Russia Opposition to Power?

It’s true that many Armenians would vote for anyone just to be rid of Pashinyan, whom they blame for the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, but the pro-Russia opposition is unlikely to be able to channel that frustration into an electoral victory.

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