Publisher's Synopsis
This richly illustrated three-volume set is a treasure for connoisseurs of European culture and history. It is accompanied by audio recordings of 2,445 folk songs and church hymns and 46 dance videos from Georgias diverse ethnographic regions. Readers will discover the unique and distinctive culture of a small country in the Caucasus, the place recognized as the oldest dwelling of man in Europe and the homeland of winemaking. It took ten years of dedicated work of more than one hundred scientists, musicians, and editors, with the generous support of the CARTU International Charity Foundation, to produce this unique publication. In the first volume, readers will find in-depth information about Georgian pre-Christian culture, church architecture, fresco and icon paintings, as well as sacred hymns belonging to the period after the adoption of Christianity by Georgia (IV century A.D.). In the second volume, readers will learn about Georgian architecture, pottery, stone masonry, winegrowing-viticulture, national costumes, and other elements of Georgian folk traditions. The third volume includes informative annotations to the audio and video recordings contained in the book. A movie titled The Country 0.047% of the Land, which inspired us to create this book, is also included as a special gift to our readers.
