Colchis (Kolkis), Kingdom of

In ancient geography, Colchis or Kolkhisiis an ancient Georgian state, kingdom, and region in Western Georgia, which plays an important role in the ethnic and cultural formation of the Georgian nation.

The Kingdom of Colchis contributes significantly to the development of medieval Georgian statehood after its unification with the eastern Georgian Kingdom of Iberia.

The term Colchians is used as the collective term for early Georgian tribes that populate the eastern coast of the Black Sea.

In Greek mythology, Colchis is the home of Aeëtes and Medea and the destination of the Argonauts; Colchis is also thought to be the possible homeland of the Amazons.

Its geography is mostly assigned to what is now the western part of Georgia and encompasses the present-day Georgian provinces of Samegrelo, Imereti, Guria, Adjara, Abkhazeti, Svaneti, Racha; the modern Turkey’s Rize, Trabzon and Artvin provinces (Lazistan, Tao-Klarjeti); and the modern Russia’s Sochi and Tuapse districts.

The Colchians are probably established on the Black Sea coast by the Middle Bronze Age.

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