Pylonology ● The Human Gateway

2026-10-20

Nikifore Irbakhi, also known as Nikoloz Cholokashvili (c. 1585–1658), is one of the most prominent figures in 17th-century Georgian diplomacy. A diplomat, clergyman, and cultural intermediary, he sought to bridge the gap between Georgia and Europe.

His significance is particularly evident when viewed through the lens of "pylonology." A pylon is a gateway—a structure that enables the transition between distinct spaces. Irbakhi himself became such a gateway: an individual who connected Georgia’s political, ecclesiastical, and cultural spheres with Europe.

Between Languages ​​and Royal Courts

Irbakhi was multilingual. According to historical sources, in addition to Georgian and Mingrelian, he was proficient in Greek, Turkish, Arabic, Russian, French, Spanish, and Italian. This linguistic mastery provided a unique advantage to his diplomatic endeavors, allowing him to establish direct connections between disparate worlds.

Commissioned by Teimuraz I, Irbakhi traveled to Europe, where he established diplomatic relations with various European political and ecclesiastical centers. His activities were linked to the Spanish royal court and the Papal court in Rome, while sources regarding his travels across Europe also point to Italy, France, Germany, Hungary, and Poland. Since the level of evidence for each segment of this route varies, historical accuracy is of particular importance here.

His primary role was not merely to speak on behalf of Georgia; he sought to open a political and cultural path for Georgia toward Europe.

When Diplomacy Became a Book

Irbakh’s involvement extended beyond diplomatic negotiations. In 1629, in Rome, he collaborated with Stefano Paolini to compile a Georgian-Italian dictionary. Containing approximately 3,084 entries, this work holds special significance in the history of printed Georgian books.

Here, the central theme of Irbakh’s story becomes especially clear:

Individual → Language → Translation → Book → New Connection.

If Irbakh himself served as a gateway between Georgia and Europe, the dictionary became the tangible extension of this connection. He made the Georgian language more accessible to the European world.

His work demonstrates that diplomacy is not merely about treaties and political negotiations. Sometimes, the most significant outcome of diplomacy is that people begin to understand one another.

Irbakhi as a Pylon

Pylonology (the study of gateways) is the science of connecting worlds that are distant from one another; it is a field that examines spaces, pathways, and economic, political, and cultural interactions.

From the perspective of pylonology, the example of Irbakhi illustrates that a gateway is not just a physical structure. A gateway can be a person, a language, a diplomatic mission, or a book—anything that creates mutual access between distinct realms.

Irbakhi is precisely such a "living pylon." He is:
Georgian, yet active in Europe;
An Orthodox cleric, yet working within the Catholic world;
A diplomat, yet also engaged in the cultural sphere;
A translator—not just of languages, but of political interests as well;

An ambassador, whose mission leaves behind a lasting legacy in the form of a book. Georgia and Europe were separated by more than just geographical distance. They were distinguished by different languages, religious traditions, political interests, and cultural experiences.

Irbakh’s mission was, in essence, to navigate these very differences.

He had to be capable of engaging with diverse people, grasping the norms of different worlds, and articulating Georgia’s interests in a way that others could understand.

Thus, Irbakh was not merely someone who crossed a border; he was a mediator of that boundary—an individual who created the possibility for a relationship between two sides. He forged a path across the divide.

And this, precisely, is the core tenet of the *pylonological* perspective: a gateway does not merely separate two spaces—it connects them.

Zurab Maghradze, DBA