The Archaeological Museum of Batumi The Batumi Archaeological Museum is the oldest in Georgia and one of the best in the country. The objects on display at the museum reflect the close trade, economic and cultural ties with the ancient world, as well as the results of Greek colonization, Roman and Byzantine expansion. Among the exhibits of the first level: • Greek and Roman tableware of the ancient era, including painted plates, vases and amphorae, lacquer ceramics, colored glass tableware, perfume bottles; • extensive numismatic collection: Colchian tetris, Sinopean, Aeginian, Greek coins, Roman coins with images of Nero, Trajan, Hadrian, Anthony Pius, Gordian, Aurelian, (many of them found in a treasure discovered near the Gonio fortress), as well as Byzantine, Arabic, Turkish, Polish, Dutch and Venetian coins; • various Roman statues and sculptures, as well as a sculptural image of the Hellenic god Serapis; • Greek rings with images of Hermes, Aphrodite, Eros, which were made in the best workshops of Ancient Greece; • Roman jewelry; • Christian icons and crosses, relief image of St. George from ancient Orthodox churches; • a treasure from the village of Khelvachauri, which confirmed the existence of close ties between Adjara and the Arab world in the Early Middle Ages; • exhibits related to the Late Middle Ages - the period when Adjara was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. The museum has a collection of exhibits found at archaeological excavations in different parts of Adjara, the age of which varies from 10,000 years (Bronze Age) to 5-6 centuries (Late Middle Ages). But the most ancient exhibits are represented by stone tools dating back 300-400 thousand years, which were discovered in mountainous Adjara, the resort of Beshumi. These exhibits indicate that the territory of Adjara falls under the area where the transition from an appropriated economy to a producing one began approximately 10,000 years ago. It is recognized that the Chorokhi river basin was one of the oldest centers of metallurgy, the center of the origin of the Kolkho tribal culture. The popular Greek myth of the Argonauts is associated with this place. The museum's collection has been replenished for more than a hundred years. But the museum was officially opened only in 1994. The building in which the museum is located is one of the architectural monuments of the 50s of the 20th century. In 2014, the reconstruction of the museum was completed: The "Golden Fund" has appeared - a separate exhibition of gold products of Adjara: coins, jewelry. An important place is occupied by samples of Colchian jewelry, which confirms the information of ancient authors about Colchis as a "gold-rich country" The Museum complex includes a restoration laboratory. They are engaged in the restoration of museum objects, as well as a photo archive and a scientific library, which stores detailed information about all the exhibits of the museum. The museum attracts the attention of tourists, especially those who are interested in the history of Georgia and archaeology. Information about the exhibits in the museum is presented in three languages: Georgian, Russian, and English. There is a souvenir shop at the museum, where you can buy copies of the exhibits you like - ancient jewelry, amphorae, jugs. The most ancient artifacts are presented on the second floor of the spacious hall of the museum, so many visitors recommend starting acquaintance from this level. The exhibits on the second floor belong to the Stone Age (Acheulean culture) and the Iron Age (Colchian tribal culture). Among them you can see stone scrapers, Colchian axes and other artifacts of ancient weapons, as well as a variety of dishes and utensils, including clay jugs and amphorae. These objects testify to the period of development of metallurgy, which is especially interesting, given the presence of early mines in the vicinity of Batumi. Many of the exhibits in this hall are more than ten thousand years old. Ground floor The exposition of the first floor of the museum includes collections reflecting the ancient period, the Early and Late Middle Ages. The exhibits of this floor were discovered during archaeological excavations in ancient and medieval fortresses of Adjara, such as the Pichvnarsky settlement from the ancient period, Gonio-Apsaros fortress (first mentioned in the I century AD), as well as in the vicinity of the settlements of Tsikhisdziri, Maho, Kapandibi, as well as in Kolkhskoye (V century BC), Greek (V-IV centuries BC) and Hellenistic burial grounds (IV-III centuries BC). Museum address: Georgia, Adjara, Batumi, 77 Chavchavadze str. #batumi #georgia #adjara #batumilive #museum
The Archaeological Museum of Batumi
The Batumi Archaeological Museum is the oldest in Georgia and one of the best in the country.
The objects on display at the museum reflect the close trade, economic and cultural ties with the ancient world, as well as the results of Greek colonization, Roman and Byzantine expansion.
Among the exhibits of the first level:
• Greek and Roman tableware of the ancient era, including painted plates, vases and amphorae, lacquer ceramics, colored glass tableware, perfume bottles;
• extensive numismatic collection: Colchian tetris, Sinopean, Aeginian, Greek coins, Roman coins with images of Nero, Trajan, Hadrian, Anthony Pius, Gordian, Aurelian, (many of them found in a treasure discovered near the Gonio fortress), as well as Byzantine, Arabic, Turkish, Polish, Dutch and Venetian coins;
• various Roman statues and sculptures, as well as a sculptural image of the Hellenic god Serapis;
• Greek rings with images of Hermes, Aphrodite, Eros, which were made in the best workshops of Ancient Greece;
• Roman jewelry;
• Christian icons and crosses, relief image of St. George from ancient Orthodox churches;
• a treasure from the village of Khelvachauri, which confirmed the existence of close ties between Adjara and the Arab world in the Early Middle Ages;
• exhibits related to the Late Middle Ages - the period when Adjara was under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
The museum has a collection of exhibits found at archaeological excavations in different parts of Adjara, the age of which varies from 10,000 years (Bronze Age) to 5-6 centuries (Late Middle Ages).
But the most ancient exhibits are represented by stone tools dating back 300-400 thousand years, which were discovered in mountainous Adjara, the resort of Beshumi. These exhibits indicate that the territory of Adjara falls under the area where the transition from an appropriated economy to a producing one began approximately 10,000 years ago. It is recognized that the Chorokhi river basin was one of the oldest centers of metallurgy, the center of the origin of the Kolkho tribal culture. The popular Greek myth of the Argonauts is associated with this place.
The museum's collection has been replenished for more than a hundred years. But the museum was officially opened only in 1994.
The building in which the museum is located is one of the architectural monuments of the 50s of the 20th century.
In 2014, the reconstruction of the museum was completed: The "Golden Fund" has appeared - a separate exhibition of gold products of Adjara: coins, jewelry. An important place is occupied by samples of Colchian jewelry, which confirms the information of ancient authors about Colchis as a "gold-rich country"
The Museum complex includes a restoration laboratory. They are engaged in the restoration of museum objects, as well as a photo archive and a scientific library, which stores detailed information about all the exhibits of the museum.
The museum attracts the attention of tourists, especially those who are interested in the history of Georgia and archaeology. Information about the exhibits in the museum is presented in three languages: Georgian, Russian, and English.
There is a souvenir shop at the museum, where you can buy copies of the exhibits you like - ancient jewelry, amphorae, jugs.
The most ancient artifacts are presented on the second floor of the spacious hall of the museum, so many visitors recommend starting acquaintance from this level.
The exhibits on the second floor belong to the Stone Age (Acheulean culture) and the Iron Age (Colchian tribal culture). Among them you can see stone scrapers, Colchian axes and other artifacts of ancient weapons, as well as a variety of dishes and utensils, including clay jugs and amphorae. These objects testify to the period of development of metallurgy, which is especially interesting, given the presence of early mines in the vicinity of Batumi. Many of the exhibits in this hall are more than ten thousand years old.
Ground floor
The exposition of the first floor of the museum includes collections reflecting the ancient period, the Early and Late Middle Ages. The exhibits of this floor were discovered during archaeological excavations in ancient and medieval fortresses of Adjara, such as the Pichvnarsky settlement from the ancient period, Gonio-Apsaros fortress (first mentioned in the I century AD), as well as in the vicinity of the settlements of Tsikhisdziri, Maho, Kapandibi, as well as in Kolkhskoye (V century BC), Greek (V-IV centuries BC) and Hellenistic burial grounds (IV-III centuries BC).
Museum address: Georgia, Adjara, Batumi, 77 Chavchavadze str.
#batumi #georgia #adjara #batumilive #museum