Stele of Davati
5th-century Georgian stele
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The stele of Davati (Georgian: დავათის სტელა, romanized: davatis st'ela) is a kvajvari, 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] Two other men depicted in the bas-relief could not yet be identified; maybe they are the sponsors of the stele.[4] The upper part of the stele that is assumed to have been depiction of the Feast of the Ascension is broken and lost.[5] It has been dated to the 6th century. The stele was discovered in 1985 in a small Church of the Virgin in highland village of Davati, Dusheti Municipality.[6][7]
| Stele of Davati | |
|---|---|
| |
| Material | Relief |
| Size | Height 61cm[1] |
| Writing | Georgian script |
| Created | 6th century |
| Discovered | 1985 |
| Present location | Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia, Tbilisi |
| Language | Old Georgian |
Hypothesis
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.[7]