Colchis Fountain: A Glimpse into Ancient Georgia

The Colchis Fountain, situated in Kutaisi's central square (David Agmashenebeli Square), is a relatively recent addition to the city's landscape, having been built in 2011. Designed by architect David Gogichaishvili, the fountain was part of an effort to revitalize the city's image. It has been called the most expensive fountain in Georgia. The fountain's design features multiple tiers adorned with gilded sculptures of animals, which are meticulous, enlarged replicas of ancient bronze statues and jewelry pieces unearthed from the Kingdom of Colchis. This ancient realm once encompassed western Georgia, with Kutaisi as one of its central cities. The originals of these sculptures date back to the 3rd–2nd centuries BCE and are now preserved in the National Museum of Georgia. The sculptures include figures of animals once sacred to the Colchians: a lion, a ram, a tiger, a sheep, a mountain goat (tur), and a deer. Over the past century, the square has undergone numerous transformations. Until 1924, it was home to the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky. The church was demolished to make way for a statue of Lenin, which was later replaced with a monument to Stalin. Decades later, Stalin too was removed, and the statue of King David the Builder on horseback took its place. Fortunately, unlike his predecessors, King David's statue was spared from demolition during the construction of the new fountain. Instead, it was respectfully relocated to the square in front of the city's railway station. Both during the day and at night, the fountain is a striking visual. By day, the water and gold surfaces glimmer; by night, the lights add a mystical aura to the scene.