Bochorma fortress

Coordinates: 41°54′32″N 45°08′56″E / 41.90889°N 45.14889°E / 41.90889; 45.14889 (Bochorma)
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Bochorma fortress
ბოჭორმის ციხე
Bochorma fortress
Map
41°54′32″N 45°08′56″E / 41.90889°N 45.14889°E / 41.90889; 45.14889 (Bochorma)
LocationBochorma, Tianeti Municipality,
Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia
TypeFortress, church

The Bochorma fortress (

Iori River, the complex consists of a castle and a domed dodecagonal church, both dated to the 10th century, as well as another small hall church, and some other accessory structures. All structures within the complex are half-ruined or significantly damaged.[1] They are all inscribed on the list of the Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance.[2]

Architecture

Bochorma church of St. George.
Frescoes in the church of St. George.

The Bochorma complex is located 2 km east of the modern village of Bochorma, on the left bank of the Iori, overlooking the river valley from a 300 m-high mountain ridge on the southwestern slopes of the Gombori Range. The fortress is relatively easily accessible from the east. Otherwise, its walls follow the ragged mountainous terrain, making most of the surrounding natural defenses. The fortress occupies the area of 1.5 ha. The inner part of the citadel stands on the irregular ground and is surrounded by a high curtain wall, with towers. The citadel contains the domed church of Saint George, a palace, a small hall church, a cylindrical tower, and some other accessory structures.[1]

The church of Saint George is a hexaconch—a

Helena. The iconography illustrates David's promotion of his status as a Christian monarch and a claim to symbolic succession to the Byzantine emperor in the region, which he had only acquired in 1104.[3]

A nearby small church is a hall church design, with the dimensions of 4.7 × 3.7 m, built of cobblestone. It is a late medieval structure, with a semicircular apse and the southern doorway.[1]

History

The Bochorma fortress is first mentioned in the medieval Georgian chronicles in an account of the

principality of Kakheti, the fortress was abandoned without a fight, in contrast to the earlier steadfast defense of the Ujarma fortress. Later, Bochorma was seized by Shurta, an estranged brother of Kvirike II of Kakheti (r. 929–976), and turned by him over to George II of Abkhazia. The fortress was soon recovered by the Kakhetians, but they lost it to Bagrat III of Georgia in the war of 1008–1010. In 1069, Bagrat IV of Georgia bartered Bochorma and Ujarma away to Aghsartan I of Kakheti in exchange of the captive emir Fadl ibn Muhammad of Arran, whom Bagrat wanted to keep as his prisoner.[1][4] The Bochorma fortress was functional well into the 18th century, being renovated by King Heraclius II in 1749.[1]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-9941-15-896-4
    .
  2. ^ "List of Immovable Cultural Monuments" (PDF) (in Georgian). National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  3. ISBN 0271016280
    .
  4. ISBN 0198263732
    .
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