The Road from Turkey to the Georgian Arena: The Semantic-Contextual Transformation of Chokhi

Abstract

   The history of the traditional Georgian garment and cultural symbol - chokhi - is one of the clearest examples of how material objects can undergo profound semantic transformations and become key symbols of national identity. The research revealed that the name of the fabric "chukha", which moved from the Turkic linguistic space to the Georgian context, has been recorded in Georgian literary sources since the tenth century. Specifically, since 951. Over time, it underwent both linguistic and contextual transformation.

   This name for the fabric was adapted to describe a distinctive form of national clothing worn by Georgian nobles, warriors, and public figures. As a result of a semiotic transformation, the chokha garment became an integral part of Georgian wrestling - a wrestling uniform. When this happened is difficult to determine, although we have a unique ancient visual source - one of the walls of the Alaverdi Cathedral with a 15th-century fresco - a wrestling scene, which directly connects chokha and wrestling.

   It is noteworthy that for centuries, the "chokha" has been and remains one of the most prominent symbols of national identity not only in Georgia, but also throughout the Caucasian space. Its cultural transformation confirms that the "chokha" is no longer just a piece of clothing - it is a kind of "Caucasian code" that expresses dignity, freedom, heritage, and a rebellious spirit.