Zurab Kiknadze (1933-2022) was a famous Georgian Orientalist, Semitologist, and Sumerologist, Emeritus Professor of Ilia State University. He researched the cultures of the ancient Near East, issues of Bible Studies, Christology, Georgian folklore, and mythology. "Georgian Mythology" introduces an unknown world of myths to English-speaking readers. Its creator is one of the world's oldest nations which traces the history of its statehood back to the 4th century BC. The Georgian mythological world is valuable not only for its antiquity but, most importantly, for its originality. Its significance is further increased by the fact that in the mountainous regions of Georgia (especially in eastern Georgia), the traditional lifestyle was preserved until almost the middle of the 20th century and fragmentarily is still found today. The worldview, customs, and traditions of such a society are completely based on mythical stories. Myths tell us about everything that happened from the creation of the world to the establishment of social institutions - ancestors, heroic adventures of supernatural beings, secret initiation, and others. Georgian mythological texts are truly unique and universal; they provide us with invaluable information about the existence and life of traditional society. They introduce us to the ancient mytho-religious consciousness, moral and legal values, and spiritual culture of the Georgian people which, in the words of the author of the book, "fully expresses the hidden abilities of the whole nation, its potential." The book is notably valuable for specialists in various fields of humanities, researchers interested in traditional society, and students. Yet, every educated person will find it fascinating, especially a literate reader keen on the history of culture.
