National Museum celebrates Rustaveli’s 850th anniversary

On Georgia’s Independence Day on May 26 country-wide activities will be themed after the anniversary of the birth of the iconic, 12th century poet, Shota Rustaveli.

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The slogan of this year’s Independence Day will be ‘I come from the country of Rustaveli’ because the date coincides with the 850th anniversary since the birth of the Georgian poet who penned the iconic poem The Knight in the Panther’s Skin.

An exhibition dedicated to Rustaveli and his iconic poem will open on May 26 and remain at the Georgian National Museum until June 12. Photo by the Georgian National Museum

An exhibition dedicated to Rustaveli and his iconic poem will open at the Georgian National Museum tomorrow showcasing unique editions from a private-collector Guram Akhalaia both in Georgian and foreign languages.

Akhalaia began collecting the iconic poem 50 years ago, and now owns unique editions of the poem uniting more than 450 different editions, including the King Vakhtang VI’s unique Georgian edition of 1712.

Tomorrow's exhibition showcases unique editions from a private-collector Guram Akhalaia both in Georgian and foreign languages. Photo by the Georgian National Museum

The epic poem handwritten in 2003-2016 will also be in special focus of the exhibition. Upon the initiative of Akhalaia The Knight in the Panther’s Skin has been rewritten by different public figures and decorated by the artist-restorer Lia Sikharulidze with miniatures, ornaments and ancient Georgian manuscripts.

The exhibition will remain at the Georgian National Museum until June 12.