The area occupied by the historical Principality of Samegrelo has had numerous names throughout history, including Colchis, Egrisi, Lazika, Odishi, and Mingrelia. It is located in a region that for much of its history has been of great strategic importance, and where powerful empires ran up against one another and often did battle. As a result, it has witnessed repeated incursions of armies of Romans, Byzantines, Mongols, Turks, Persians, Russians, and others.
In antiquity, Samegrelo was a part of the Kingdom of Colchis, which encompassed much of what is today western Georgia. In Greek mythology, Colchis—which lay at the outermost edge of the world known to the Greeks until perhaps the seventh century BCE—was the land of the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and his Argonauts. The region was also known in pre-modern times as Lazika (after the Greek name for the tribes of western Georgia) and Egrisi (after a river that runs through it into the Black Sea). Its political center was Archeopolis (or Nokalakevi), near modern-day Senaki
The Romans conquered the region in the first century BCE, and dominated it for most of the next 400 years. In the fourth century, as the Roman Empire disintegrated in the West and its capital was moved to Constantinople, Lazika embraced Christianity and allied itself culturally with Rome’s successor, the Byzantine Empire, against the Persian Empire to the East.
Today, Samegrelo is well known for its warm, subtropical climate, which is on display in the forest- and marsh-covered Kolkhetian National Park, a favorite destination for bird watchers. Like other Georgian provinces, Samegrelo produces several types of wine, the most famous of which is ojaleshi—a red, naturally semi-sweet wine made from the grape variety of the same name.
Given its lively and long history, the region boasts many historical monuments and structures. This history is also on display in the Dadiani Palace Museum in Zugdidi, with its impressive collections of art and historical artifacts.
In antiquity, Samegrelo was a part of the Kingdom of Colchis, which encompassed much of what is today western Georgia. In Greek mythology, Colchis—which lay at the outermost edge of the world known to the Greeks until perhaps the seventh century BCE—was the land of the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and his Argonauts. The region was also known in pre-modern times as Lazika (after the Greek name for the tribes of western Georgia) and Egrisi (after a river that runs through it into the Black Sea). Its political center was Archeopolis (or Nokalakevi), near modern-day Senaki
The Romans conquered the region in the first century BCE, and dominated it for most of the next 400 years. In the fourth century, as the Roman Empire disintegrated in the West and its capital was moved to Constantinople, Lazika embraced Christianity and allied itself culturally with Rome’s successor, the Byzantine Empire, against the Persian Empire to the East.
Today, Samegrelo is well known for its warm, subtropical climate, which is on display in the forest- and marsh-covered Kolkhetian National Park, a favorite destination for bird watchers. Like other Georgian provinces, Samegrelo produces several types of wine, the most famous of which is ojaleshi—a red, naturally semi-sweet wine made from the grape variety of the same name.
Given its lively and long history, the region boasts many historical monuments and structures. This history is also on display in the Dadiani Palace Museum in Zugdidi, with its impressive collections of art and historical artifacts.