Akaki Shanidze and the Silk Road

2026-04-23

On December 5, 1917, Akaki Shanidze wrote an eight-stanza poem entitled "The Georgian National Anthem" and which ends with the following words:

"Well, watch out, Georgians! Let us follow in the footsteps of our fathers!

Let us remember the past with feeling, let us think about the future!

Let us keep one eye on Pontus, let us not turn away from Gurgan!

Let us listen to Gurji-Bogazi, let us not, not open the door of Dariali!"

What message did Mr. Akaki leave with this recording of the "Georgian National Anthem"?

"Let us keep one eye on Pontus, let us not turn away from Gurgan!"

So, the Georgians' attention must first be focused on the Black Sea, that is, on Europe. In addition, we should turn our other eye (also equally) to the Caspian Sea, that is, to Central Asia and Iran.

"Let us listen to Gurji-Bogazi, let us not, not open the door of Dariali!"

Gurci-Bogaz (Gürci boğaz) is translated from Turkish as "the throat of Georgia". This is the Turkish name for the gorge and pass that crosses the watershed of the Kara-Su River (the source of the Euphrates River) and the Tortum-Chay River, a tributary of the Chorokhi River. The main road from Erzurum to Georgia passed through Gurci-Bogaz.

Therefore, Georgians should also listen to Asia Minor, the transit route to the south. In modern times, this is the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which will connect to Alexandria via the port of Mersin. And in the northern direction, the author's message is unequivocal - the gate of Dariali must be closed!

A writer and a scientist, then he is a great writer and a great scientist if he is best versed in geopolitics. Otherwise, he cannot be great and glorious.

Akaki Shanidze was a Georgian linguist, dialectologist, philologist, lexicologist, Rustaveliologist, folklorist, Armenologist, Albanologist, co-founder and academician of the Georgian Academy of Sciences (1941), co-founder of Tbilisi State University (1918), Honored Worker of Science of Georgia (1943), Honored Worker of Science of Armenia (1967), Corresponding Member of the Institute of Oriental Studies in Prague (1937), Honorary Doctor of the University of Jena Schiller (1966), Honorary Member of the English Philological Society (1979), Vice-President of the Georgian Academy of Sciences (1948–1950).

Like Akaki Shanidze, many great Georgian writers have left a message for the future about the Silk Road and its gateway country:

“On Georgian soil, the Occident (West) and the Orient (East) should unite, their harmonious fusion,” - Konstantine Gamsakhurdia.

“Western Europe is precious, but we cannot give up the East for Europe, it would be better to pay for their wedding with a Georgian feast,” - Grigol Robakidze.

Author: Zurab Maghradze