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Tzunda 7 Monuments

Georgia (Country) / Javakhk (District) / Aspindza (District) / Tzunda (Village)

Location

Tzunda, which forms an administrative part of the district of Aspindza, is situated on fertile terrain abounding in water and gardens, in the middle part of the highway of Khertvis-Vardzunik, on the right bank of the river Kur, about 2 kilometres north-east of Tmuk Castle, 12 kilometres east of Akhalkalak.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 269.

Historical Introduction
BC 4 y․

In the 4th century B.C., Tzunda is mentioned among the villages conquered by Alexandre of Macedonia (356 to 323 B.C.): “...Tzunda, Kherdis [Khertvis], Undzerkhe built at the top of Ladaso...”

«Համառօտ պատմութիւն Վրաց ընծայեալ Ջուանշէրի պատմըչի», Վենետիկ, 1884, էջ 20: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 269.

BC 2 y․

In the 2nd century B.C., King Artashes unified Kajatun-Tzunda, as well as the entire province of Gugark with the Kingdom of Armenia Major.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 270.

BC 1 y․

In the days of Georgian King Arbak V (93 to 81 B.C.), in the 1st century B.C., the town of Tzunda was fortified: “...[he] built a great number of castles and strengthened the ramparts of Javakheti, viz. the town of Tzunda...”

«Համառօտ պատմութիւն Վրաց ընծայեալ Ջուանշէրի պատմըչի», Վենետիկ, 1884, էջ 27: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 270.

8 c․

In the early 8th century, Tzunda is mentioned in connection with the military actions of Smbat Byuratian (birth date unknown - 726) against the highlanders: “Then victorious Smbat arrived in Kartli and devastated the [entire] country, with the exception of the local castles and cities. He escaped engaging in battles against them, for he was not prepared for it due to the hastiness [with which the hostilities had been launched]. He erected a fort in a site named Demot, which was situated very close to Mount Ghado, in Vodzerkhe [Undzerkhe], which is called Samtskhe, and left a unit of soldiers there to come to the aid of the inhabitants of Tzunda, as he himself was moving away to fight against the people of Vodzerkhe.”

Մելիքսեթ-Բեկ Լ. Մ., Վրաց աղբյուրները Հայաստանի և հայերի մասին, հ. Ա, Երևան, 1934, էջ 157: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 270.

821 y․

In the times of Catholicos David II (806 to 833), in 821 the Armenian population of Tzunda converted to the Greek faith under the pressure of a certain priest named Parman Kakaghetsy: “Under His Holiness David, Priest Parman Kakaghetsy decided to separate the Armenian inhabitants of Tzonda [from their Apostolic compatriots] and unite them with Georgians...”

Մխիթարայ Այրիվանեցւոյ Պատմութիւն Հայոց, Մոսկվա, 1860, էջ 54: L. Davlianidze-Tatishvili, who is the author of the Georgian translation of the Chronicles by Mkhitar Ayrivanetsy, holds the viewpoint that this conversion to the Greek faith took place not in Tzunda Village of Javakhk, but on the left-bank territory of the middle course of the river Iori. This scholar also states that those who embraced the new creed were the Tzad, who formerly lived in Artsakh-Utik (Arran) and belonged to the Armenian Church. See (მხითარ აირივანეცი, ქრონოგრაფიული ისტორია, ძველი სომხურიდან თარგმნა, შესავალი, შენიშვნები და საძიებლები დაურთო ლიანა დავლიანაიძე-ტატიშვილმა, თბ., 1990, էջ 99): Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 270.

1215 y․

In 1215 Tzunda is mentioned in the form of Tsunda in an inscription engraved on the eastern part of the southern facade of Ani’s Tigran Honents Church—a fact suggesting that it was one of the places providing income for this sanctuary: “...Tsunda: 2 dangs...”

«Դիվան հայ վիմագրության», պրակ 1, կազմ.` Հ. Ա. Օրբելի, Երևան, 1966, էջ 63: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 270.

In the late Middle Ages, we find Tzunda as reduced to a village, but the recently-established Georgian version of its name, Nakalakevi, which means City Site in Georgian, keeps the memory of the prosperity and welfare it once enjoyed.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 270-271.

Population

Tzunda, which represented an Armenian-inhabited locality in the Middle Ages, was totally depredated after the Russo-Turkish wars. Later it was re-populated by Kurds who lived there until their exile in 1944. Since then it has been inhabited by Georgians.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 271.

Foundation

As legend has it, the place was founded by Kartlos’ son Metskhetos’ son Javakhos: “And Javakhos built two village towns with castles, Tzunda and Artahan, the former being also called Kajats Kaghak [City of Devils, as translated literally].”

«Համառօտ պատմութիւն Վրաց ընծայեալ Ջուանշէրի պատմըչի», Վենետիկ, 1884, էջ 11: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 269.

Name Origin

The name of the village is supposed to have derived from the word ‘kajk,’ i.e. the Armenian equivalent for ‘devil’: “Then Yervand (Iarvand) the Great became King of Hayk (Somkhit). Forgetting the favours the Georgians had done to him, he entered into alliance with Parsman Armazetsy and conquered the borders of Kartli, including the city of Tzunda and Artahan (Artan), reaching the [river] Kur. He inhabited Tzunda with people of diabolical demeanour who were akin to devils, and renamed it Kajatun, which means ‘House of Devils,’ as translated [literally].”

ქართლის ცხოვრება, I, էջ 44: Also see ქართლის ცხოვრების ძველი სომხური თარგმანი, ქართული ტექსტი და ძველი სომხური თარგმანი გამოკვლევითა და ლექსიკონით გამოსცა აბულაძე ი., თბილისი, 1953, էջ 49: Մելիքսեթ-Բեկ Լ. Մ., Վրաց աղբյուրները Հայաստանի և հայերի մասին, հ. Բ, Երևան, 1936, էջ 155: «Համառօտ պատմութիւն Վրաց ընծայեալ Ջուանշէրի պատմըչի», Վենետիկ, 1884, էջ 31: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 269.

Type Photo
View General
Direction From the north
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative

The mountain of Tmuk Castle rising on the left bank of the river Kur in the background

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Tsunda	1215 y․
Nakalakev
Kajatun