XXXI Международный конгресс ИИСАА. 23–25 июня 2021 г. Т. 1

164 XXXI Международный Конгресс по источниковедению и историографии стран Азии и Африки Секция V with white pearls, George is without a crown and appears instead to be shown in a helmet. However, there were helmet-like hats in Georgia during this period, and we can find parallels between such headgear and frescoes dating from the same era. These are the magnificent frescoes of the Ktetors 1 inside the Church of the Archangel in Zemo Krikhi 2 in western Georgia: here the noblemen wear three almost identical hats (Illustration 2). Two of the hats are shaped like cylindrical helmets, and the third is in the shape of a lancet arch (illustration 3–5). All three hats are finished with a decorative element — a peculiar spike. The ornaments on them lead us to believe that the frame of the hat was mostly covered with cloth or leather. They are also wearing furs. Georgians often used furs of sable, marten, squirrel and rabbit, and, in the charter of Nikortsminda 3 (X c.), fabric with fox fur (which at that time was considered expensive) is mentioned, the value of which was equivalent to one cornfield 4 . Byzantine historian Eustathius of Thessalonica writes about the Iberian style “smoky-coloured” hat. The colour of the hat had a symbolic meaning, as Byzan- tine nobleman David Komnenos had worn such a hat, and it was assumed that the nobleman would cover in smoke every opponent who did not defer to his authority. 5 Such a symbolic meaning attached to headdress was a common practice among the peoples of both ancient and Western Europe. Ivane Javakhishvili considered such hats to be a sign of the Eristavt-eristavi's 6 position, and for this reason he wrote: “Much importance is attached to the veil depicted in the painting of Vachia Eristavi 7 (Zemo Krikhi). Such veils were mainly worn by representatives of the military. Firstly they put on a helmet, and then they had a veil let down on both sides. The veil was of transparent fabric, and used more as decoration than as a headscarf. It was impossible to wear a helmet all the time because of its weight (it had to be made of metal / steel), and the riders [only] used to put it on before battle. 1 Ktetor (Greek: κτήτωρ) or ktitor meaning “founder». 2 Medieval Georgian Church in western Georgia. 3 Medieval Georgian Church in western Georgia. 4 Javakhishvili I. Materials for the History of the Material Culture of the Georgian Nation. Vol.3. Clothing, textiles and handicrafts; Vol.4. Military equipment and military affairs. Geor- gia. The USSRAcademy, Institute of Georgian Art History, Vol. III–IV, Tbilisi, 1962. P. 116. 5 Georgika— Information of ByzantineWriters on Georgia. Vol. VIII. Texts were published with Georgian translation and explanations were added by Simon Kaukhchishvili — Foreign Sources on Georgia. Book XXII. Tbilisi, 1970. P. 16. 6 “Duke of dukes” or archduke. 7 Literally, “head of the nation”; equivalent to the Byzantine strategos, and normally translated into English as “duke”. In Georgian aristocratic hierarchy, it was the title of the third rank of prince and governor of a large province.