GEORGIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM

This museum contains a real treasure: the gold of Colchis. Do you remember the legend of the Golden Fleece and the Argonauts? (See chapter "History".) In ancient times, Colchide was described as a land of cocagne where gold made the streams glisten. It was, in fact, a gold digger's technique: the water was filtered using sheep skins. This section alone makes for a fantastic visit to the museum. Start your visit in the basement and you will be amazed. The museum has one of the most beautiful archaeological and historical treasures in the country. Its masterpiece? The exhibition presenting the works of art of the "Gold of Colchis" (treasure of Vani). The second kingdom of Colchis (6th-1st century BC) is, according to archaeologists, the first kingdom of Georgia. The objects were unearthed at the archaeological site of Vani, in Amerecia. The exhibits, remarkable for their refinement, date from a period stretching from the 3rd millennium BC to the beginning of our era. One can admire the admirably crafted jewellery and objects of daily life.

On the upper floors, mosaics and bones of the man from Dmanissi, dated 1.8 million years ago, one of the first men found outside Africa, are on display.

The museum brings together important collections of fauna, flora, and presentations of the various ethnic groups of the Caucasus. On the top floor, the Museum of the Soviet Occupation evokes the very dark Russian period of the country's history.