Georgian Sports in Georgian Literature

Abstract

Historical, archaeological, folkloric, and ethnographic materials, literary sources, and accounts by both Georgian and foreign chroniclers confirm that Georgians have been outstanding competitors since ancient times. The history of Georgian sports begins in Classical Antiquity — a period to which belong the earliest artifacts and materials depicting specific types of sport. Archaeological excavations across Georgia have unearthed weapons from different eras, the use of which required physical strength and training. In historical reality, physical exercise was tied to warfare and labor.

According to Greco-Roman and later Georgian sources, Georgian tribes were remarkable warriors, trained in horsemanship, archery, and the casting of arrows during hunts.

With the development of Georgian literature, it is only natural that significant information about martial and hunting traditions has been reflected in literary texts. Notably, literary texts often influence readers more than the dry facts presented by historians. While writers study the environment and era they depict, they frequently embellish situations with fantasy and legend, leaving lasting impressions that lead readers to accept the portrayal as unquestionable truth.

Thus, a literary text not only reflects reality; it influences it. The revival and restoration of ancient martial traditions have been based on both historical and literary sources. Historians — including sports historians — often rely on fiction as a valuable resource.

Examples from Rustaveli, Alexander Orbeliani, Vazha-Pshavela, Alexander Kazbegi, Akaki Tsereteli, and Konstantine Gamsakhurdia confirm that, unlike historians, writers aim not for technical detail, but for symbolic meaning — with the depiction of sports competitions typically serving to advance the plot.