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Aya/Kolkheti - to the History of Synonymous Toponyms 
Nargiz Akhvlediani1, Lela Chotalishvili2, Nino Jorbenadze3, Iamze Gagua4 

Abstract 

The great wisdom of knowledgeable writers has played a crucial role in studying the ancient history of Georgia. 

They have preserved not only invaluable historical facts but also, at times, unique information about the traditions 

of our country. The study of epistolary heritage vividly reflects the socioeconomic relationships, lifestyle 

differentiation, and the political-economic history of the Colchis region, as well as the cultural ties and political-

economic interaction with neighbouring countries in the history of the Colchis Kingdom. "Aia" is the most ancient 

name for Colchis. The name "Kolkha" (Kikha) is found in Assyrian cuneiform writings up to the 13th century 

BC. Colchis had relatively strong unity. Such a union was recognised by ancient wise men, who experienced such 

an alliance of wisdom that their sayings and words became respected authorities. The term "Kolkhida" or 

"Colchis" is not known in the Georgian language in any form unless it appears in Georgian sources and is derived 

from the language of the learned, bringing with it its peculiar concepts and expressions. In Georgian sources, it is 

identified as Egrisi. The well-known fact for the day is that from ancient times, in the Euro-Asian part of the 

Caucasus, as well as in Crete, the smaller parts of Asia, the South Caucasus, the Black Sea region, and other 

widespread areas, the worship of the goddess of fertility and the protector of life, the "Mother of Gods," the "Great 

Mother," was prevalent. It was also closely associated with the realm of animals, plants, and celestial bodies. Its 

manifestations are found in many cultures across Europe, the smaller parts of Asia, and the territories of the 

Caucasus. 

Keywords: Aia, Colchis, Toponym, Argonauts 

Introduction 

Toponyms (place names) are "living memories" that contain information about local cultures and 

languages. They are passed down from generation to generation and carry centuries-old traditions. The 

goal of the study is to explore the historical context of two synonymous toponyms ("Aia" and "Colchis") 

and the complex problematic questions related to their interconnection. This issue is intricately linked 

to folkloric historicity and the transmission mechanism of information about the distant past through 

the difficult and somewhat controversial path of folk traditions and the discursive problematics of 

folklore. 

Methods and Materials 

In the process of research, starting from the objectives of the investigation, we will systematically 

conduct specific analyses, aligning them with existing data from the scientific literature and related 

studies. When working on the article, we will present insights through both descriptive and historical-

comparative methods. 

 The name "Colkheti" was first used by the ancient Greek historian Hesiod and the poet Pindaros and 

later by the Greek geographer Strabo. This name is mentioned in BC. In the 8th century, Eumelos with 

Corinthian. 

It should be noted that the first mention of Kolkheti closely coincides with the historical context of 

the foundation of the kingdom. Namely, the reign of King Ayet. Ancient scholars often refer to her as 

"Aia" in connection with Medea's kingdom. You should pay attention to the fact that the first name of 

Kolkheti exactly corresponds to the official name of the ruler of the state: "Kulkha || Colchi". The old 

name "Kolkha" comes from "Kulkha", and this toponym originates from this region. 

Results 

The main goal of the Argonauts' campaign is that the name of the geographical area, "Aya" (Αἶα), is 

found in the most ancient variants of Argonauts. 

Homer does not know the name Colchis. He only speaks of a country that should be called Αἶα. 

 
1 Department of Folklore, Dialectology and Emigrant Literature of Niko Berdzenishvili Institute, Batumi Shota Rustaveli State 

University, Georgia, Batumi, 
2 Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Language Centre Teacher of classical Languages 
3 TSU Arn. Chikobava Institute of Linguistics 
4 TSU Institure of Classical Philology, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies 

* Corresponding author: nargiz.akhvlediani@bsu.edu.ge 

mailto:nargiz.akhvlediani@bsu.edu.ge


Akhvlediani et al. Georgian Geographical Journal 2023, Vol.3 (2) 

For a while the legendary Aya and Colchis were interchangeable (Herodotus was the first to associate 

Aya with Colchis). It is noteworthy that the first mention of Colchis in Greek sources coincides with 

the mention of the state of Colchis under the name Kulkha/Kolkha (Kulcha/Kolcha) in the Urartian 

inscriptions of the 8th century BC. Two synonymous toponyms (Aya and Kolkheti), according to 

researchers, should reflect two different archaeological levels, of which Aya is chronologically older 

and Colchis is a later version. 

Most likely, the story of the Argonauts' campaign against Aya developed in the Greek mythopoetic 

tradition, when the name of Colchis did not yet exist and the country was called Aya. Georgian sources 

do not know the names of Colchis and Kolkheti. It should be noted here that other ancient toponyms 

and names associated with the legend of the Argonauts show a connection with the Georgian linguistic 

world, which should echo the results of a specific Mycenaean expedition, which was actually carried 

out; contacts that the Mycenaean world was supposed to have with the Georgian world of the eastern 

Black Sea region; and the realities that were supposed to be related to the intended purpose of the 

Argonauts' expedition. 

Αἶα must probably represent the second component of the name Κύταια. Some ancient sources 

consider Κύταια to be the city of Ayia, and some call both cities Colchis. 

Since the Hellenistic era, various authors have fixed the name "/" as the capital of both the legendary 

and real Colchis. It is interesting to draw a parallel with the name of the city on the northern coast of 

Crete, Κύταιον, which is repeatedly mentioned in ancient sources. The kinship between these two 

astionyms is clear and undisputed. 

According to ancient sources, Κύταια is the homeland of Medea: “Kvitaia is a city in Colkhis, due 

to which [the poet] calls [Medea] Kuitaiel." (Explanations of Isaac, John Tzetzes for Cassandra by 

Lycophron, 174). 

Some ancient sources consider it the city of Aia: “The High Caucasus and the city of Aia, "Kvitaisi,” 

towered on the left” (Apollonius of Rodos, Argonautica, II, 1266). 

Some of them refer to both as cities of Colchis: "Aias," the city of Colchis; and "Kvitaia, Kvitaia- 

the city of Colchis. In addition, people of Colchis as the tribe near Libistines” (Footnotes to Alexandra 

by Lycophron, 1024, 1312). 

It is interesting to draw a parallel with the name of the city Κύταιον on the northern coast of Crete, 

which is repeatedly mentioned in ancient sources. 

According to Stephanus of Byzantium, “Kuita is the city of Colchis, the homeland of Medea. There 

is another city in Scythia as well as Kuitaia in Lycophron: he/she came to Kuitaia of the Libistines 

(Libistines are neighbouring people of Colchis). It is also called Kuitaisi, from Kuitaiosi. According to 

some, Kuita is two—from here and European. There also exists the city of Kuitaioni on the island of 

Crete” (Stephanus of Byzantium, the Ethnica, summary). 

According to numerous references in BB-linear documents, this city was already present on the 

island of Crete during the Mycenaean era. R. Brown considers the geographical name Κύταιον to be 

pre-Greek and suggests that it must be associated with Κυταία, the birthplace of the Colchis Medea [1]. 

In the sources, the name Κύταια occurs in several variants: Κύτα, Κύτη, Κυταίς, Κυταΐς, Κύτηΐς, etc. 

It is true that Κύταια/Κυταία appears in Greek sources from the Hellenistic era, which may indicate 

a relatively late origin. However, it seems that the name of the settlement of Aeetes did not occur in the 

Hellenistic era. This is probably indicated by the name of the son of Phrixus, Κυτίσωρος (who is already 

known to Herodotus), and the names of cities in Anatolia: Κύτωρος (Paphlagonia), Μασσί-κυτος 

(Lycia), and, possibly, Κότα (Caria). 

Κυταία must be linked with "Kutaisi," which is confirmed by regular correspondences in all three 

Kartvelian languages: Georgian (Kutaisi), Mingrelian (Kuteshi), and Svan (Kutashi), which gives us 

reason to assume that this settlement or residence already existed in the era of the circulation of the 

Proto-Kartvelian language. 

The etymology of the toponym is remarkable. In this case, the root should reflect the pre-Greek κυτ- 

and Kartvelian *kut [2]. 

The same root must be contained in a "pomegranate flower bud." It is noteworthy that κύτινο belongs 

to the pre-Greek lexical fund, and lexical forms containing a similar root are also named in the 

etymological dictionary of Beekes: κύταρον "spoon, ladle", κύταρος "honeycomb, pod of Egyptian 

beans", κύδαρος “small ship”, κυττοί "nests, boxes". According to Hesychius, κύστεροι = ἀγγεῖα τῶν 

μελισσῶν "honeycomb". [3]. 



Akhvlediani et al. Georgian Geographical Journal 2023, Vol.3 (2) 

Based on the analysis of various forms, Brown concludes that the meaning of the root κυτ must be a 

"hollow receptacle." Gordeziani also suggests that *kut is related to the root confirmed in Georgian 

(kut-n-a) and has the meaning of a hollow object, hollow, pod, or bud. [4]. 

It is noteworthy that *Kurt-/*Kut- was recently restored by H. Fenrich to the Proto-Kartvelian level: 

Kartvelian Kurd-/Kut-, e.g., Kut-n-a/ga-mo-kuT-na "Pumpkin Heart Removal," Kurd-i "Thief," or 

"someone who empties everything"; Mingrelian Kvirt-i "Thief"; Svan Kvit-, kvt- "Thief" [5]. 

All of the above revealed the connections of the pre-Greek κυτ with the general Kartvelian root and, 

accordingly, the relationship between κύταιον and Kutaisi. 

It may look like M. Chukhua holds a different view on the etymology of the name Kurt or Kut [6]. 

who believes that the following types of phonetic-semantic transitions occurred in the root of interest 

to us: 

Phonetic: 

Proto-Kartvelian. *Kart-(a) – Georgian-Zan. Kurta/Kuta 

Semantic: 

Fence > fencing > fenced, confined place > City (public name) > The proper name of the city 

Despite the different etymological definitions of the root at first glance, an important point is that 

this opinion of the scientist does not interfere with the theory of Georgian and Greek relativeness and 

unity named above. Moreover, we assume that it is quite possible to combine the aforementioned 

hypotheses and, therefore, semantic values and determine the basic content with the following semantic 

transitions: Fence > Fencing > Fenced > confined place of any volume (spoon, bud, pod, honeycomb, 

nest, box, or ship) City (public name) > Proper name of the city 

There are disagreements regarding the etymology of Αἶα; it has not been restored at the general 

Georgian level, although it is found in some composites associated with religious holidays that have 

survived: in Mengr. Ayia-Zhashka—the name of Great Lenten Sunday, the fifth in order; in Svan. Ayia 

Mizhladeg—the Sunday before Palm Sunday. 

In our opinion, the relationship of the root Aya with the component of identical composition (Jav), 

confirmed in the form of Yav-Nana, is also very interesting. What is extremely important is that the 

form of Yav-Nana, in turn, is associated with the name of the cult of the goddess of fertility and life, 

the mother. 

 
Figure 1. Goddess "Great Mother" statue. A woman sitting sideways on a horse. The composition features a woman, a child, 

a cup, a horse and a place on a horse. The item is covered with a green patina. Tsaishi, kolkhian collective grave N1. 

Dadian Palaces, Historical Architectural Museum, St. 872. H 11.5, L 9.5 (tab. XIII, 2), BC VIII 

In the Colchian archaeological collection, there is displayed "A woman riding a horse" of the gods, 

the great mother—known in the Georgian world as Nana—is widespread both in Georgia and in the 

Mediterranean world (Fig. 1). 

"Yav-Nana" ("Lullaby") is an old Georgian folk poem-song, originally an ancient hymn of a pagan 

ritual. Like the songs of the "Nanina" cycle, "Yav-Nana" is also associated with the name of Nana, the 

goddess of the sun and fertility. 



Akhvlediani et al. Georgian Geographical Journal 2023, Vol.3 (2) 

"Yav-Nana" has lost its original character; today it is a lullaby, although before that, at some point, 

it was sung to children during the "illness of masters" (hence "Ya" and "Vardi"—as an associative 

connection with pimples—and compared to flowers to win the hearts of "masters"). 

As already mentioned above, this song was not of such limited use before and had the form of a 

wider ode and general hymn. The form "rose" was probably added later, perhaps in association with the 

form "ya" as the name of a flower. 

Conclusion 

The extraordinary variety and abundance with which the archaeologically well-studied centres of 

ancient civilisation cannot be compared to Colchis is a visible testimony of the very high level of 

Colchian agriculture, which is completely consistent with the stories of the Argonauts. As a result of 

the research, it can be assumed that the two synonymous toponyms "Aya" and "Kolkheti" reflect two 

different archaeological levels, of which Kolkheti is later and Aya is older, possibly introduced by oral 

transmission. 

Competing interests 

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. 

Authors’ contribution 

    The idea of creating a paper and certain scientific material around the research issue belongs to the 

researcher Nargiz Akhvlediani. Depending on the goals of the research, the specialists of the relevant 

field, in particular, the researcher Lela Chotalishvili, provided us directly from the sources important 

scientific material for the research and a specific synthetic analysis corresponding to the analytical 

research. Researcher Nino Jorbenadze reviewed new studies related to the issue in the scientific 

literature and prepared a paper according to specific requirements. The historical-etymological 

research of the place name "Kutaisi" in the research of toponyms synonymous with Kolkheti belongs 

to Lela Chotalishvili and Nino Jorbenadze. During the research, researcher Iamze Gagua provided 

relevant critical feedback and comments. All authors contributed uniquely to the creation and 

development of this article. 

References 

[1] Brown 1985, Brown R., Evidence for Pre-Greek Speech on Crete from Greek Alphabetic Sources, 

Amsterdam, 1985, p. 132. 

[2] Gordeziani R., Mediterranean-Georgian Relations II, III. Tbilisi, 2007, III, p. 471. 

[3] Beekes R.S.P., Etymological Dictionary of Greek, Brill. Leiden. Boston, 2010, p. 809-810. 

[4] Gordeziani R., Ancient and Georgian, Tbilisi, 1985 

[5] Fähnrich H., Kartwelisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, Brill. Leiden. Boston, 2007, p. 472-73. 

[6] Chukhua M., Georgian-Circassian-Abkhaz Etymological Dictionary, Tbilisi, 2018, p. 419. 

 

 

 

 

 


