Rustaveli’s „Blood“ and some Significant Contexts in the „The Knight in the Panther“

Abstract

It has been numerously noted in the Georgian scientific literature that the reflection of the historical reality of the 12^th century creates quite significant segments in the plot of the Knight in the Panther. We will initially say that in our opinion the central character of the Knight in the Panther’s Skin - Tariel, is the prototype of Prince Demetre [Demna]. Historical sources clearly show that King Giorgi III responded to the orphan Prince's claim for the Royal Throne by gouging out his eyes and castrating him. We believe, the lexical element „Blood“ used by Rustveli in different chapters of the epic poem is directly connected with the misfortune and tragic events that befell upon Prince Demna in the second half of the 12^th century. M. Kekelia also specifically touches on the issue of „Bloodshed“ used in different contexts of The Knight in the Panther and notes: „In ancient Georgian Law, „bloodshed“ is a legal term related to the price of blood, carrying a social content.“

The verse of the poem −  „I killed the youth without shedding blood, eh, though his blood cried out as it shed“ („უსისხლოდ მოვკალ იგი, გლახ, თუცა ხმდა სისხლისა დენით“) [112, 550] – should be read as follows: „It was needed make them bleed“, which means that this obligation, debt or  sin should have been borne specifically by Tariel. Lexical observation of the cited verse shows that to make Khvaramza „bleed“ was to be done out of necessity (of course based on state interest). It had to be done by someone and Tariel, in agreement with his beloved, took responsibility for this important task for the benefit of India. The use of interjection „glakh“ (with the modern meaning of – „eh“). We believe, it expresses Tariel's mental state at the moment of the narration, due to the murder committed and it is an exclamation caused by the Christian repentance of the character, which organically merges with the unpleasant action dictated by the state's needs.

Historical sources tell us that in the era of Rustveli, there were streams of blood of the „sinners“ and of the „innocents“. We believe that the notice of Stefanoz Orbeliani is enough to prove the aforementioned. According to him, Giorgi III mercilessly executed not only the Orbelians who participated in the rebellion, but also their entire relatives, the boys of the Orbeliani family and their mothers. Of course, executing the leaders of the rebellion or gouging out their eyes was a matter of Georgian justice, but in our opinion, it was the result of excessive ruthlessness against innocent mothers and boys.

We think that Farsadani's threat-attempt to execute his sister is just as „common bloodshed“ as that of Khvarazmeli's son-in-law to be. The death sentence from the brother's side is heard only in the address of Davari, which is clear why - Parsadani is the murderer of his sibling and his family, just like Giorgi III, youngest son of Demetre I [indeed, he is the murderer of his brother based on the Armenian chroniclers and of his nephews - according to the facts provided in Georgian and Armenian sources].

To make them pay with blood - this is what worries Rustveli and not just one man, but many; that is why the lexical element „blood“ is presented to us with special expressiveness in many passages of the epic poem.