Upper Svaneti, June 1988
Upper Svanetian villages and landscape
Mestia, the district capital
Commune of Mulakhi seen from the road heading to Ipari
Site of a winter avalanche which destroyed an entire hamlet in Mulakhi
Approaching the commune of Ipari from Mulakhi
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Diapositive PPT
Village Becho, and pass leading to North Caucasus
Medieval defense tower (murq’wam) built atop a boulder in the Inguri River, on the road between Ipari and K’ala
Interior of a church, with amulets and horns nailed onto a cross. Note the ancient stone iconostasis, with the original painted decorations still visible.
Eteri outside of a traditional two-story house in Mest’ia
Ancient wooden door of the church at Nak’ipari (Ipari commune)
Relief images of animals on exterior wall of Nak’ipari church
Inside the church at Nak’ipari. My friends and I were met by the village elder, who invited us to a small banquet of fish, cheese, bread and the local vodka.
Medieval fresco of legendary hero Amiran slaying the demon Baqbaq, on the outer wall of a church in Lenjer
Almost every homestead in « Free Svaneti » (the communes from Latali to Ushguli, which were never incorporated into the principalities of western Georgia) had its own defense tower.
The commune of Ushguli, where we witnessed the excavation of a local church by archaeologists hoping to locate the tomb of Queen Tamar.
Ushguli, at the head of the Inguri River
Before excavating under the floor of the church, the crosses, icons and other sacred objects that the church had acquired over the centuries were taken out to be stored in a nearby tower, which was converted into a museum.
Inside the home of a Svan artisan and his family, in Ushgul. One of the women is holding a ch’unir, a traditional stringed instrument.
The church of Lamaria, surrounded by a low stone wall and defended by a tower, is situated behind the artisan’s home.
The Svans. Snapshots of people we met during our too-brief stay in Upper Svaneti.
Stopping by one of the numerous mineral-water springs.
A folk-music ensemble in Mest’ia
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