Khelrtva
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A khelrtva (Georgian: ხელრთვა, pronounced [χɛlrtʰvɑ]) is a Georgian calligraphic signature, monogram or seal, originally used by the Georgian monarchs, queens consort, patriarchs, royalty and nobility.[1][2][3]
The word khelrtva literally means 'to decorate, adorn or beautify with hand' in Georgian, kheli (ხელი) meaning a hand and rtva (რთვა) meaning to decorate or adorn.
Khelrtva signatures were written in one of the three Georgian scripts, mostly in Nuskhuri and Mkhedruli scripts, though the monograms especially the royal ones were written in Asomtavruli script. Every Georgian monarch had their own individual khelrtva and was known as საუფლოჲ ხელი (sauploy kheli) literally meaning 'Hand of the Lord'. The tradition of khelrtvas is still in use in Georgia.[4]
Khelrtvas[edit]
Kings[edit]
![]() Khelrtva of King David IV |
![]() Khelrtva of King George IV |
![]() Khelrtva of King Archil |
![]() Khelrtva of King Vakhtang VI |
![]() Khelrtva of King Solomon I |
![]() Khelrtva of King George XII, last Georgian monarch |
Queens regnant[edit]
![]() Khelrtva of Queen Tamar |
![]() Khelrtva of Queen Rusudan |
Queens consort[edit]
![]() Khelrtva of Queen consort Rusudan of Circassia |
![]() Khelrtva of Queen consort Mariam Dadiani |
Patriarchs[edit]
![]() Asomtavruli khelrtva of Patriarch Joseph |
![]() Khelrtva of Patriarch Anton II |
![]() Khelrtva of Patriarch Ilia II |
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Speakers[edit]
![]() Khelrtva of President Mikheil Saakashvili |
![]() Khelrtva of Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia |
![]() Khelrtva of Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze |
See also[edit]
- Kaō (Japanese: 花押), stylised calligraphic signatures used in Japan
- Tughra (Ottoman Turkish: طغرا), stylised Arabic signatures used by Ottoman sultans
References[edit]
- ^ საგამომცემლო ლექსიკონი/ავტ.-შემდგ.: ვახტანგ დოხნაძე; [რედ.: მურმან სუხიშვილი ; მხატვ.: ვახტანგ რურუა]. - [მე-2 შესწ. და შევს. გამოც.]. - თბ.: საგამომც. საქმის სასწ. ცენტრი, 2006. - 305გვ.; 20სმ.. - ბიბლიოგრ.: გვ. 301–304. (Publishing dictionary, edited by: Vakhtang Dokhnadze; Ed. Murman Sukhishvili; Artist: Vakhtang Rurua, Case Study Center, 2006. Bibliography: p. 301–304. - ISBN 99928-998-1-6 : [ფ.ა.]{
- ^ National Parliamentary Library of Georgia: ხელრთვა
- ^ ეროვნულ არქივში XI – XVIII საუკუნეების დოკუმენტებზე არსებული ხელრთვების კატალოგი მომზადდა (A catalog of carvings on documents of the XI - XVIII centuries in the National Archives) Archived 2014-03-10 at the Wayback Machine National Archives of Georgia
- ^ Sinauridze, A. Hand of the Lord Karibche, 04.02.2010
External links[edit]
- ჯიმშერ რეხვიაშვილი ხელრთვა - ისტორიისა და ხელნაწერის მშვენება (Jimsher Rekhviashvili - The Beauty of History and Manuscript) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
- ოთხი რესტავრირებული ეტრატი "განადგურებას გადარჩენილი საბუთები საცავში ბრუნდება" თამარ კიკნაველიძე, 24 საათი (Four Restored Etrats Documents Surviving the Destruction Returned to the Repository, Tamar Kiknavelidze)