Photos of the Medieval Dzveli Old Shuamta Monastery Georgia

Home  /  Medieval Middle Ages Index /  Romanesque Churches & Monasteries

Photos of the picturesque Medieval Georgian Dzveli Old Shuamta Monastery, Georgia (country). Photos by photographer Paul E Williams.  (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

How To Download These Photos ?

Photos of the picturesque Medieval Georgian Dzveli Old Shuamta Monastery, Georgia (country)

---

Photos of the medieval 6th century Dzveli (Old) Shuamta Monastery complex, Kakheti , Georgia (country).

The medieval Georgian Orthodox monastery complex of Dzveli (Old) Shuamta Monastery was founded by the 13 Syrian Fathers in the 6th century.

Dzveli Shuamta Basilica

The first of the three churches of Dzveli Shuamta Monastery was a triple naive basilica. Typical of this style of church, the basilica has three parallel barrel vaulted naves, the central one being higher than the side naives. The basilica is built form brick cemented together with a mortar that has been extremely durable. The mortar was made by a mixing lime, eggs and other binding agents. The exterior of all 3 churches are undecorated.

Dzveli Shuamta Tetraconch Churches

To the north and east of the basilica are two tetraconch cupola churches from the first quarter of the seventh century. This style of church was modelled on the Jvari Church of Mtskheta. It consisted of a cruciform plan with 4 knaves and apses. In the centre of the church a cupola rests on walls and is supported by squinches.

The central space is lit by a window above the altar and four windows in the cupola drum. The altar is raised on three steps and is distinguished by a stone throne in the middle of the space. The inner walls contain traces of frescoes that were probably executed in the 11th and 12th centuries. A cross can be discerned in the vault of the cupola.

These small churches were probably designed by the Father Superior of the monastery as places for solitary worship.

Today the three churches of Dzveli Shuamta Monastery complex sit amongst trees on a high bluff overlooking the Alazani River valley. Until the 16th century, when a new monastery was built nearby, Dzveli Shuamta Monastery was an important place of pilgrimage.