GTU Invites Students to Familiarize Themselves With the Collection of Publications of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”
04-11-2025
At the initiative of the Rector, Academician David Gurgenidze and organized by the Niko Muskhelishvili University Library, printed editions of the most important Georgian text - the most important Georgian literary monument of the early Renaissance, one of the masterpieces of world literature – “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, published at various times and decorated with illustrations by famous artists were exhibited especially for students at the Georgian Technical University.
The exposition, located in the Niko Muskhelishvili Library within the university’s administrative building, comprises 65 printed editions of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” in six languages, including rare copies. Students of the Georgian Technical University will be able to familiarize themselves with them until the end of November this year.
According to Academician David Gurgenidze, Rector of the Georgian Technical University, Shota Rustaveli’s poem is not only the pinnacle of Georgian wordplay and philosophical thought, but also a great cultural symbol that has united Georgians for centuries and inspired a sense of national identity.
“The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” is rooted in the spiritual depths of the Georgian nation. This is the most important text that reflects our historical memory, ethical, and philosophical values. It conveys love, friendship, loyalty, and the pursuit of freedom. This is a book that has become increasingly relevant over the centuries and has become a source of inspiration for generations. With this in mind, it is essential for the GTU that students - future specialists, engineers, scientists, and architects - once again appreciate the significance of this great work as the foundation of national culture and the embodiment of universal human ideals. I am sure that getting to know the collection of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” editions kept in the university library will strengthen their motivation and creative vision,” notes David Gurgenidze.
As noted by Vazha Papaskiri, Head of the Niko Muskhelishvili University Library, Professor of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the GTU, the collection of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, which is kept in the repositories of the university library, has been replenished for decades. Among the 65 editions presented, the oldest - the book edited by Ilia Chavchavadze and Ivane Machabeli - dates back to 1888. According to Vazha Papaskiri, among the exhibited editions, there are also translations made at different times.
“The exposition is adorned with the pride of our library, a real jewel - “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, published in 1888, which is a bibliographic rarity. It was published in two versions: with a thin cover and with cloth. The editors were Ilia Chavchavadze and Ivane Machabeli. The book is decorated with illustrations by the famous artist Mikhai Zich, in which all the characters are real people. As you know, “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” was first printed in 1712, with the editing and comments of the king Vakhtang VI. This edition is known as “Vakhtangiseuli”. Its exact copy, which is exhibited in the University Library, was published in Tbilisi in 1931 by the Rustaveli Institute. This is one of the unique editions and, as the first copy of “Vakhtang’s The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin”, is a rarity.
The first anniversary edition dedicated to the 750th anniversary of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” is interesting, published in Russian in 1937 with a translation by Shalva Nutsubidze, which was later reprinted several times with minor corrections. Also of great interest is “The Folk Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, which was published twice in a short and extended version; it even tells the story of Tariel’s great-grandson. “The Folk Knight in the Panther’s Skin” follows the fable and, at the same time expands it.
Extraordinary editions are presented in both Georgian and foreign languages: the famous translation by Ilia Chavchavadze’s friends, Marjorie and Oliver Wardrop; the translation by the Russian symbolist poet Konstantin Balmont, which is one of the oldest and most valuable editions. Balmont became acquainted with “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” through Wardrop’s translation and was even impressed by the Georgian literary masterpiece; the 1971 translation by Venera Urushadze into English, as well as various editions in French – the most famous of which is the translation by Professor Gaston Buachidze in the 1960s; the 1937 Azerbaijani edition is also interesting; The visitor’s attention will certainly be drawn to the rare edition by Pavle Ingorokva, which was printed in 1938 and to which Ingorokva did not include many verses, because he believed that they did not belong to Rustaveli; the 1966 Ukrainian edition, the 1939 translation by Konstantine Chichinadze, the translation by Bachana Bregvadze with his own excellent preface, the 1977 edition by Giorgi Tsagareli, the computer version of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, prose translations in various languages, a small gift edition of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” dedicated to the 800th anniversary, and so on.
It is impossible for a viewer not to be fascinated by the luxurious calligraphic or polygraphic decoration of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” editions, the illustrations by famous artists that adorn these editions, and the portraits of Rustaveli. It is necessary to mention the paintings in the oriental style by the famous artist of the 16th - 17th centuries, Mamuka Tavakalashuri, the illustrations by Mikhail Zich, Mose Toidze, and others. We think that young people will be interested in getting acquainted with and giving a proper assessment of the rich collection of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” kept in the book depository of the Niko Muskhelishvili Library of the Georgian Technical University,” notes Vazha Papaskiri.
The Niko Muskhelishvili University Library of the Georgian Technical University is one of the largest book depositories in the country. The universal library fund consists of educational, scientific, and artistic publications. Among them are such unique and rare publications, most of which are preserved only here and are the rarest copies; namely: Georgian, European and American publications of the XVIII, XIX and XX centuries in technical, engineering and humanitarian specialties, engineering and historical periodicals, which are invaluable for presenting the continuous process of development of the history of technology (and not only). In the fund, you will find unique encyclopedias of Brockhaus, Larousse, and Grant. The library of the Georgian Technical University, equipped with a complete electronic database of books and magazines, has implemented an integrated library system KOHA, which allows searching for both printed and electronic literature in the library.
The exposition, located in the Niko Muskhelishvili Library within the university’s administrative building, comprises 65 printed editions of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” in six languages, including rare copies. Students of the Georgian Technical University will be able to familiarize themselves with them until the end of November this year.
According to Academician David Gurgenidze, Rector of the Georgian Technical University, Shota Rustaveli’s poem is not only the pinnacle of Georgian wordplay and philosophical thought, but also a great cultural symbol that has united Georgians for centuries and inspired a sense of national identity.
“The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” is rooted in the spiritual depths of the Georgian nation. This is the most important text that reflects our historical memory, ethical, and philosophical values. It conveys love, friendship, loyalty, and the pursuit of freedom. This is a book that has become increasingly relevant over the centuries and has become a source of inspiration for generations. With this in mind, it is essential for the GTU that students - future specialists, engineers, scientists, and architects - once again appreciate the significance of this great work as the foundation of national culture and the embodiment of universal human ideals. I am sure that getting to know the collection of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” editions kept in the university library will strengthen their motivation and creative vision,” notes David Gurgenidze.
As noted by Vazha Papaskiri, Head of the Niko Muskhelishvili University Library, Professor of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the GTU, the collection of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, which is kept in the repositories of the university library, has been replenished for decades. Among the 65 editions presented, the oldest - the book edited by Ilia Chavchavadze and Ivane Machabeli - dates back to 1888. According to Vazha Papaskiri, among the exhibited editions, there are also translations made at different times.
“The exposition is adorned with the pride of our library, a real jewel - “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, published in 1888, which is a bibliographic rarity. It was published in two versions: with a thin cover and with cloth. The editors were Ilia Chavchavadze and Ivane Machabeli. The book is decorated with illustrations by the famous artist Mikhai Zich, in which all the characters are real people. As you know, “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” was first printed in 1712, with the editing and comments of the king Vakhtang VI. This edition is known as “Vakhtangiseuli”. Its exact copy, which is exhibited in the University Library, was published in Tbilisi in 1931 by the Rustaveli Institute. This is one of the unique editions and, as the first copy of “Vakhtang’s The Knight in the Tiger’s Skin”, is a rarity.
The first anniversary edition dedicated to the 750th anniversary of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” is interesting, published in Russian in 1937 with a translation by Shalva Nutsubidze, which was later reprinted several times with minor corrections. Also of great interest is “The Folk Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, which was published twice in a short and extended version; it even tells the story of Tariel’s great-grandson. “The Folk Knight in the Panther’s Skin” follows the fable and, at the same time expands it.
Extraordinary editions are presented in both Georgian and foreign languages: the famous translation by Ilia Chavchavadze’s friends, Marjorie and Oliver Wardrop; the translation by the Russian symbolist poet Konstantin Balmont, which is one of the oldest and most valuable editions. Balmont became acquainted with “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” through Wardrop’s translation and was even impressed by the Georgian literary masterpiece; the 1971 translation by Venera Urushadze into English, as well as various editions in French – the most famous of which is the translation by Professor Gaston Buachidze in the 1960s; the 1937 Azerbaijani edition is also interesting; The visitor’s attention will certainly be drawn to the rare edition by Pavle Ingorokva, which was printed in 1938 and to which Ingorokva did not include many verses, because he believed that they did not belong to Rustaveli; the 1966 Ukrainian edition, the 1939 translation by Konstantine Chichinadze, the translation by Bachana Bregvadze with his own excellent preface, the 1977 edition by Giorgi Tsagareli, the computer version of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin”, prose translations in various languages, a small gift edition of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” dedicated to the 800th anniversary, and so on.
It is impossible for a viewer not to be fascinated by the luxurious calligraphic or polygraphic decoration of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” editions, the illustrations by famous artists that adorn these editions, and the portraits of Rustaveli. It is necessary to mention the paintings in the oriental style by the famous artist of the 16th - 17th centuries, Mamuka Tavakalashuri, the illustrations by Mikhail Zich, Mose Toidze, and others. We think that young people will be interested in getting acquainted with and giving a proper assessment of the rich collection of “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” kept in the book depository of the Niko Muskhelishvili Library of the Georgian Technical University,” notes Vazha Papaskiri.
The Niko Muskhelishvili University Library of the Georgian Technical University is one of the largest book depositories in the country. The universal library fund consists of educational, scientific, and artistic publications. Among them are such unique and rare publications, most of which are preserved only here and are the rarest copies; namely: Georgian, European and American publications of the XVIII, XIX and XX centuries in technical, engineering and humanitarian specialties, engineering and historical periodicals, which are invaluable for presenting the continuous process of development of the history of technology (and not only). In the fund, you will find unique encyclopedias of Brockhaus, Larousse, and Grant. The library of the Georgian Technical University, equipped with a complete electronic database of books and magazines, has implemented an integrated library system KOHA, which allows searching for both printed and electronic literature in the library.
