Tmok Castle :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Tmok Castle

Georgia / Javakhk / Akhalkalak / Tmok

Location

The ruins of Tmok Castle are preserved at the summit of a mountain rising on the left bank of the river Kur, a kilometre and a half south-west of the historical village of Tmok (formerly known as Margastan; nowadays officially renamed Tmogvi), 14 kilometres west of Akhalkalak in a straight line.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 192.

Historical Introduction
9 c․

One of the earliest references to the castle of Tmok traces back to the 9th century, when it was conquered during the Arab invasions of the region: “...Tmok and Khuila...”

«Համառօտ պատմութիւն Վրաց ընծայեալ Ջուանշէրի պատմըչի», Վենետիկ, 1884, էջ 107: Below follows the translation of what Georgian historiographer Ananun (11th century) writes in connection with these events: “...thence [he] entered Samtskhe and devastated it together with Javakhk (Javakhet). Then [he] approached the castle of Tmogvi, but soon retreated, seeing how strong and impregnable its position was...” (Մելիքսեթ-Բեկ Լ., Վրաց աղբյուրները Հայաստանի և հայերի մասին, հ. Ա, էջ 202). Also see idem, vol. 3, p. 39. “Летопись Картли”, перевод, введение и примечания Цулая Г., Памятники грузинской исторической литературы, т. IV, Тбилиси, 1982, стр. 52. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 192.

1410 y․

The available sources keep silence about the monument until the 15th century. The colophon of a manuscript dating from this period (1410) mentions it as the birthplace of “Blessed and invincible philosopher St. Grigor Tatevatsy, the brilliant Armenian Archimandrite”: “Born in the castle of Tmok, in the Georgian land...” A record of 1426 states: “In the year 1426, in the magnificent, impregnable castle of Tmok, under the protection of Sourb Astvatzatzin, by sinful scribe [and] bishop of Ani Father Hovhannes...” Below follow two more quotations bearing reference to the stronghold: “And I ...false hermit Vohannes from a district in Georgia, created this in the castle of Tmok as well as my unworthiness permitted me...” (quoted from the colophon of a manuscript of 1442). “...and Priests Mkrtich and Arakel from among the clergymen of Tmok...” (excerpted from the colophon of a manuscript of 1448).

ԺԵԱ դարի հայերեն ձեռագրերի հիշատակարաններ, մասն Ա, կազմ.` Խաչիկյան Լ., Երևան, 1955, էջ 103, 354, 535, 618: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 192-193.

Armenian and Georgian literary sources preserve some legends relating to the circumstances of the fall of the castle in the aftermath of Shah Abbas’ invasions.

Լալայան Ե., Երկեր, հ. 1, Երևան, 1983, էջ 403։ Also see Ղանալանյան Ա., Ավանդապատում, Երևան, 1969, էջ 292։ ”ივერია”, 1893, N 40, էջ 2: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 192.

Earthquakes
1089 — 1319 yy․

The disastrous earthquakes of 1089, 1283 and 1319 inflicted severe damage upon the castle.

Закарая П., Памятники Восточной Грузии, Москва, 1982, стр. 198. Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 192.

Name Origin

‘Tmogvi’ derives from the word ‘mog’ (T-mogv-i), i.e. the Armenian equivalent for ‘pagan priest’ and ‘magus.’

Մելիքսեթ-Բեկ Լ., Վրաց աղբյուրները Հայաստանի և հայերի մասին, հ. Ա, Երևան, 1934, էջ 197: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 192.

Description

The castle of Tmok is built in compliance with the techniques and strategic contrivances accepted in the construction of Armenian castles in the Middle Ages. The vulnerable parts of the rocky summit are strengthened by ramparts fortified by semi-circular towers. Inside the stronghold are preserved the remnants of a princely palace of finely-finished stone, as well as some annexes adjoining the ramparts, and an underground passage leading to the bank of the Kur through rocky steps. Ethnographer Yer. Lalayan is one of the first scholars to provide a description of Tmok Castle: “The ramparts, which are an arshin and a half wide, are built of mortar and partly finely-dressed stone. They surround these three mountains, each of which has a tower, and extend up to the nearby ridges, joining the turrets built on each of them. In the east, opposite the castle proper rises a low hill which touches these three mountains and has fortified walls. On the whole, the castle has three entrances opening from the south, north and east, the last of them leading to the [aforementioned] hill... An underground opening, found nearby the southern entrance, descends towards the Kur through the rock, serving for the conveyance of water [to the castle].”

Լալայան Ե., Երկեր, հ. 1, Երևան, 1983, էջ 71: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, pp. 193-197.

Research Materials
1953 y․

In 1953 the History Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Soviet Georgia made a scientific expedition to the castle of Tmok. While working in the territory of the castle, the group of scholars, headed by Sh. Khantadze, G. Jamburia and N. Shoshiashvili, found a five-line inscription in the Georgian Mesropian script which had remained undiscovered by that time.

Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 204.

Monuments

Recently P. Gaprindashvili, the Head of the Department of Georgia’s Cultural Heritage, made the following statement: “Throughout Javakhk, Armenian inscriptions can be seen only near the castle of Tmogvi—they are carved on tombstones and mainly date from the 19th century.” This allegation is beyond any comment... As is apparent, he makes absolutely no reference to the Armenian historical monuments preserved in Tmok Castle.

“კვირის პალიტრა”, N 30, 25-31.07.2005: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 204.

Inscription, Georgian Mesropian, Engraved, Construction 1350 y․

[†. შწვ]ნითა და ძლ(ი)ერ(ე)ბ(ი)თა ვარძი(ი)სა ღ|(მრთი)ს მშ(ო)ბლ(ი)ს(აჲ)თა ქ(რონი)კ(ონ)ს ლჱ (38) დ(ა)ვ(ი)წყე | [ზ]ღო(ჳ)დე ესე მე, მეფე(თა) მეფი[ს] | დ(ავი)თ(ი)ს ვ(ა)რძ(ელ)მ(ა)ნ ს(ა)წოლის მწიგნ(ო)ბ(ა)რმ(ა)[ნ] | თმ(ო)გ(უ)ს, მ(უ)რვ(ა)ნ კჳთხისძ(ე)მ(ა)ნ. თ(ევდორ)ე დ(ად)გა. Transl.: Through the support and power of Vardzunik’s Sourb Astvatzatzin, in the year 38 (1350) of the Chronicon, I started [building] these ramparts in Tmok. I, King of Kings David’s... Murvan, the son of ...Kvitkh (Murvan Kvitkhisdze. Erected by Tevdore.

Published in: ცისკარიშვილი ვ., idem, p. 107: სილოგავა ვ., სამცხე-ჯავახეთის ისტორიული მუზეუმის ქართული ეპიგრაფიკული ძეგლები, էջ 49, 119, 135: Karapetian. Samvel, Javakhk, Yerevan, 2011, p. 204. Note: The inscription, which was carved in 1350, dates from the times of King David IX (1346 to 1360).

Type Copied Lapidary Inscription
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Graphical Drawing

Type Photo
View General
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

Type Photo
View Partial view
Source Colour Negative
Date 1984 — 1985 yy․

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

The ramparts of the castle

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

The ramparts of the castle

Type Photo
View Partial view
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

The gate of the castle

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

The remnants of the buildings erected inside it

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

The cut-in-rock underground passage leading to the riverside

Type Photo
View Detail
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 1988 — 1989 yy․

Cut-in-rock steps descending towards the river Kur

Type Photo
View Exterior
Source Colour Negative
Date 1984 — 1985 yy․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north-east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

Partial view of the ramparts

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

The remnants of some buildings located inside the castle

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Tmkaberd
Tmogvii