Georgia About

Like most capital cities, Tbilisi honors famous people with statues and monuments. These are some of them.

The sculpture of a man holding a horn in Tbilisi is modeled on an ancient Colchian statuette and is affectionately known as ‘Tamada’ (Georgian: თამადა) – toastmaster at Georgian feasts. The sculpture can be found at the beginning of Bambis Rigi Street near Shardeni Street (named after a French explorer Jan Chardin, who visited Tbilisi in 1863).

Tamada (თამადა). Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Konstantine (Kote) Marjanishvili (Georgian: კონსტანტინე [კოტე] მარჯანიშვილი) (1872 – 1933), was a Georgian theater director particularly famous for his lavish theater shows. The statue can be found next to the Marjanishvili theater in Marjanishvili Street.

Kote Marjanishvili (კოტე მარჯანიშვილი). Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Elene Akhvlediani (Georgian: ელენე ახვლედიანი) (1898 – 1975) was a 20th-century Georgian painter, graphic artist, and theater decorator famous for her depictions of Georgian towns and for designing sets in the Marjanishvili Theater in Tbilisi. The statue can be found in Rustaveli Avenue (Georgian: რუსთაველის გამზირი) in front of the Blue Gallery.

Elene Akhvlediani (ელენე ახვლედიანი). Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Mihály Zichy (1827 – 1906) was a Hungarian painter and graphic artist. He is especially admired in Georgia for his painting “Shota Rustaveli presents his poem to Queen Tamar”. The statue can be found in Alexander’s Park.

Mihály Zichy. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

At the beginning of Baratashvili street there is a statue of the Georgian architect Shota Kavlashvili, the author of the reconstruction and renewal of the old areas of Tbilisi.

Shota Kavlashvili. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Nodar Dumbadze (Georgian: ნოდარ დუმბაძე) (1928 – 1984) was a Georgian writer and one of the most popular authors in 20th-century Georgia. His works are remarkable for the simplicity and lyricism of the prose, humor, and melancholy coupled with optimism. Most of his major works have been dramatized and/or filmed. His statue can be found in Shavteli Street, near Anchiskhati church, on the embankment side.

Nodar Dumbadze. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Sofiko Chiaureli (Georgian: სოფიკო ჭიაურელი; 21 May 1937 – 2 March 2008) was a Georgian actress, thought to be the muse of filmmaker Sergei Parajanov. She appeared in Soviet-era films including Sayat Nova, a 1968 film in which she played no less than six roles. Sofiko also played a wide variety of roles on stage of the Kote Marjanishvili Theatre (1960–1964, 1964–2008) and the Rustavelli Theatre (1964–1968). The statue can be found in the grounds of Sioni Church.

Sophiko Chiaureli (სოფიკო ჭიაურელი). Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Nikoloz Baratashvili (Georgian: ნიკოლოზ ბარათაშვილი) was a Georgian poet, affectionately known as Tato (ტატო). Unpublished at the time of his death, aged 26, his poetry did not receive its deserved recognition until later in the 19th century when he became idolized as a great Romanticist poet. His statue can be found in Baratashvili Square.

Nikoloz Baratashvili. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Saint Abo of Tiflis or Abo Tbileli (Georgian: აბო თბილელი) (c. 756 – 786) is a Christian martyr and the Patron Saint of Tbilisi. In 786 he was denounced as a Christian to the Arab officials in Tbilisi and arrested. He confessed his faith at trial and was martyred on January 6, 786. The statue can be found on Gorgasali Street.

Abo Tbileli by Giorgi Japharidze. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Georgian artist Niko Pirosmani (Niko Pirosmanashvili) (Georgian: ნიკო ფიროსმანი) was self taught and produced an immense number of paintings, many of which have been lost over time. Posthumously, his reputation grew when his naïve style became admired in the art circles of Paris after the end of the First World War. Pirosmani’s statue can be found at the beginning of the Bath area in the Old Town.

Niko Pirosmani by Elguja Amashukeli. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

The statue of a lamplighter by the sculptor Irakli Tsuladze can be found in Baratashvili Street.

Lamplighter by Irakli Tsuladze. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Iliko Sukhishvili and his wife Nino Ramishvili are founders of the Georgian National Ballet. It is due to their efforts that Georgian national dancing and music has become known in many parts of the world. The statues can be found at the entrance to the Jansug Kakhidze Garden, which is situated just off Agmashenebli Avenue.

Nino Ramishvili and Iliki Sukhishvili by Zurab Tsereteli. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Lado Gudiashvili (Georgian: ლადო გუდიაშვილი) (1896–1980) was a 20th-century Georgian painter, book illustrator, cinema and theater decorator. His statue can be found in the 9th of April Park.

Lado Gudiashvili by J Miqatadze. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

A bronze statue, depicting a smiling Reagan sitting on a bench with crossed legs, can be found in Rike Park. Inscribed on the statue is one of Reagan’s more poignant quotes: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

Ronald Reagan by A Monaselidze. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

The nine-figure Statue of Clocks near the Galaktioni Bridge in Tbilisi is a gift to the city from TBC Bank and was created by the talented modern artist Tamar Kvesitadze.

Clocks by Tamar Kvesitadze. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Georgian director Mikhail Tumanishvili (Georgian: მიხეილ თუმანიშვილი) was born in 1921 in Tbilisi. His plays include Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear and Julius Caesar. He died in 1997. The statue is located in front of Mikhail Tumanishvili Theater on Agmashenebeli Avenue.

Mikheil Tumanishvili. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

Sergei Parajanov (1924 — ) was an Armenian film director and artist who made significant contributions to Ukrainian, Armenian and Georgian cinema. The statue was made in Italy and was informed by a picture taken by photographer Urii Mechitov. It can be found at the end of Shardeni street, on the embankment side.

Sergei Farajanov. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

The Freedom Monument (Georgian: თავისუფლების მონუმენტი), commonly known as the St. George Statue, is a statue located in Freedom Square (Georgian: თავისუფლების მოედანი) dedicated to the freedom and independence of the Georgian nation. Made of granite and gold the monument is 35 meters (115 ft) high and was a gift to the city from its creator, Georgian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli. The actual statue — 5.6 meters (18 ft) tall, is made of bronze and covered with gold.

St. George Statue. Sculpture by Zurab Tsereteli. Photo courtesy of Tbilisi Government.

The statue of Kartlis Deda (Georgian: ქართლის დედა) (Mother of Georgia) was designed by Georgian sculptor Elguja Amashukeli, The twenty-meter aluminum statue symbolizes the Georgian national character: in her left hand she holds a bowl of wine to greet those who come as friends and in her right hand is a sword for those who come as enemies. The statue is located on the top of the top of Sololaki hill overlooking the city.

Kartlis Deda

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