Tbilisi Walks: Mikheil Javakhishvili Street and Galaktion Tabidze Bridge

Mikheil Javakhishvili Street is a historically significant street that emerged in the 19th century, named after one of the greatest Georgian writers of the 20th century. He was executed by Soviet authorities in 1937 and remained banned until rehabilitation in the 1950s. Mikheil Javakhishvili lived at house number 21, which currently houses the Javakhishvili House-Museum established in 1997.

In this video, we will walk down this street from its starting point near #Rustaveli Metro Station towards the Kura River, crossing it via the Galaktion Tabidze Bridge. Originally opened to traffic in 1885, the bridge underwent reconstruction from 1951 to 1953 based on the design by engineer G. Chomakhidze and architect M. Melia.

Initially named Vere Bridge after the Vere district, Mikheil Javakhishvili Street was called Vere Rise, later renamed to Vere Street and Vere Bridge Street. During the Soviet era, the bridge was renamed Stalin Bridge and later Arkadi Elbakidze Bridge, named after the revolutionary who attempted the assassination of General Nikolai Baratov, the personal representative of Anton Denikin in Georgia, here on Vere Rise. Interestingly, Vere Rise was also renamed to Elbakidze Rise in 1923. The street got its modern name Mikheil Javakhishvili in 1999, while the bridge reverted to its original name in 1991 and was named after Galaktion Tabidze, a prominent Georgian poet of the 20th century, in 2001.

In 2008, four lion sculptures by the renowned sculptor Gia Japaridze were installed on the bridge. At the square in front of the bridge, built on the site of a former market, stands the sculptural composition 'Samaia.' Samaia is an ancient Georgian ritual dance dating back 5,000 years, performed by three women symbolizing the sacred trinity—Sun, Moon, and Stars—representing the three visible aspects of the one god Gmerti. However, today's Samaia is an depiction of Tamar of Georgia, the first empress of Georgia who ruled in the 12th-13th centuries. The concept of the trinity in this dance represents Tamar of Georgia as a young princess, a wise mother, and a powerful empress.

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