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Lamp with the images of Ganymede and Zeus transfi- Three-nozzle lamp, decorated with four figures of dancing
gured into an eagle, bronze, Vani, 3rd-1st centuries B.C. Erotes, bronze, Vani, 3rd-1st centuries B.C.
From Excavation Six-nozzle Lamp, representing Dionysus' triumph in India, decorated with
images of elephants and figures of Dionysus, Heracles and Ariadne holding
torches, bronze, Vani, 3rd-1st centuries B.C.
to Exhibition Halls
B
efore finding a home in the col-
Research > Nino Chimakadze lections of the Georgian Natio-
nal Museum (GNM), most of the
Before finding a home in the collections of the Georgian National Museum, most of the items discovered items discovered in Georgia as a result
as a result of archaeological excavations in Georgia are taken to the museum's Archaeological Restoration of archaeological excavations are tre-
Laboratory. Sometimes, after cleaning and treatment, valuable artifacts that were covered in rust, salts or ated at the Museum's Archaeological
soil for centuries change their appearance so much that they can hardly be recognized as the same object. Restoration Laboratory. It takes several
month or more to restore and conserve
an object. Artifacts are often deformed
or damaged, so restoring their original
shape means careful and difficult work
over a long period of time with specia-
lized tools.
Bronze and iron artifacts from a ho-
ard, containing true masterpieces of
Hellenistic art, discovered in Vani in
2007 are being studied at the Labora-
tory of the GNM. Archaeological excava-
tions have confirmed that Vani still has
many secrets waiting to be uncovered.
It is notable for its treasures of luxurious
gold items as well as for its bronze and
iron artifacts. In 2007, the unique ma-
terials unearthed in the area prompted
historians and archaeologists, as well
as researchers of ancient religions to
reconsider many notions. The artifacts
were most likely produced in the 3rd to
1st centuries B.C. However, those that
survived in the hoard had been buried
in a special pit dug into parent material
in the 1st century B.C. The archaeologist
who conducted the excavations of the
hoard, Dimitri Akhvlediani, linked the
hoard containing the artifacts to the
destruction of the temple city in the 1st
century B.C., when they must have been
hidden away in the time of danger. This
is indicated by the pit having been dug
in a hurry.
A large part of the hoard was treated
at the Georgian National Museum. Ite-
ms of various forms, large ritual vessels,
bronze legs of kline, lamps and other
bronze artifacts were restored in 2007-
2014.
From 2009, the Georgian National
Museum has been cooperating on tech-
nical study and restoration of artifacts
with the Getty Villa, the Getty Conser-
vation Institute and the Metropolitan
Museum of Art known for their research
and conservation. In the frame of this
cooperation archaeological discoveries
Incense Burner with images of elephants, bronze,
Vani, 3rd-1st centuries B.C.
from Vani were presented in many lea-
ding museums of the world.
Among the objects treated at the
Getty Villa's Conservation Institute was
a three-nozzle lamp decorated with
an image of an eagle and a mythologi-
cal personage Ganymede, as well as a
three-nozzle lamp, decorated with four
figures of dancing Erotes. The Metropo-
litan Museum of Art restoration labo-
ratory examined an incense burner de-
corated with images of elephants, and
a six-nozzle lamp adorned with images
of human busts and elephant heads.
With the help of advanced technology,
it was possible to thoroughly study and
restore these artifacts. In addition to
being unique objects of art, these items
provide specialists with an exceptional
opportunity to understand historical
processes and cultural development.
Specialists continue studying these tre-
asures both in Georgia and in the United
States. If these suppositions hold true
soon new facts about Georgia during the
Hellenistic era will be uncovered, which
will then lead to new research.
GEORGIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM 59