Tbilisi: A Brief History

The city’s historical and cultural features are amply documented in other travel guide books (my favourite is Bradt’s) but a brief history will supply some background.

The origins of the city date back to the 4th millennium BC, but the official legend attributes its founding to King Vakhtang ‘the Wolf Head’ of Iberia in the late 5th century AD. While the king was out hunting in thick forests with his falcon, a pheasant was wounded and fell into a steaming hot spring. The king was so taken by the healing powers of the waters and the beauty of the area he decided to build a city there. Tbilisi – ‘place of warmth’ – was born.