Stele of Davati | |
---|---|
Material | Relief |
Size | Height 61cm [1] |
Writing | Georgian script |
Created | 5th century |
Discovered | 1985 |
Present location | Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi |
Language | Old Georgian |
The Stele of Davati ( Georgian: დავათის სტელა) is a cross-shaped limestone [2] stele, carrying a bas-relief, depicting Virgin Mary alongside the archangels Michael and Gabriel, with one of the earliest inscriptions in Georgian Asomtavruli script. [3] The upper part of the stele that is assumed to have been depiction of the Feast of the Ascension is broken and lost. [4] It has been dated from the 4th to the 5th century. The stele was discovered in 1985 in a small Church of the Virgin in highland village of Davati, Dusheti Municipality. [5] [6]
The Georgian scholar Ramin Ramishvili conjectures that the combination of letters ႩႲႽ corresponds to the number 5320 (5000 + 300 + 20, correspondingly Ⴉ [k] + Ⴒ [t] + Ⴝ [č]), which may denote, according to Georgian numerals, the year 284 BC, the alleged date of creation of the first Georgian script. [6]