Anatomy of Miracles in Medieval Georgia (According to European Narratives)

Abstract

The research focuses on the anatomy of medieval miracles, highlighting the miracles mentioned about Georgia in European sources, particularly in the texts of Hayton, Marco Polo, John Mandeville, Hildesheim, Plano Carpini, and Marino Sanudo.

During the 11th and 12th centuries, Latin-language sources about Georgia primarily provided general information along with semi-mythical and legendary narratives. However, in the subsequent period of Mongol rule during the 13th and 14th centuries, accounts of Georgia began to take on more concrete details. These narratives clarified the political context, landscape, customs, and other cultural-anthropological references, including descriptions of miraculous events.

The objective of this study is to analyze the nature and character of miracles that occurred in Georgia as presented in Western sources, as well as the types of interpretations these texts allow.