Archaeopolis

Archaeopolis was the Greek/Roman name of Tsikhegodji, the capital of ancient Georgian state of Egrisi, known to the Greek and Roman world as Lazica. The city was situated at the Tekhura River, near the modern village of Nokalakevi, western Georgia.

The city was founded by the Lazic ruler (eristavi) Kuji in the early 3rd century BC. Archaepolis was a perfectly fortified and well populated city. It served as a battlefield during the Lazic War of 542–562. The city declined to a small village in the 830s after the devastating invasion of the Arab military leader Marvan Ibn Muhammad , known to the Georgians as Murvan Kru (Murvan the Deaf). The territory of the former Lazic capital nowadays is an archaeological site.

See also

• History of Georgia