Shorapani Fortress (Region of Imereti)
Shorapani Fortress (Georgian: შორაპნის ციხე) – The ancient fortress, the cradle of Georgian statehood, is distinguished not only by its military-strategic, but also historical significance. Numerous artifacts discovered on the territory of the fortress indicate that this place was inhabited several millennia ago. According to historical sources, the fortress was built in the third millennium BC and since then served as an important administrative center. The quality and scale of the ancient engineering structures of the fortress city, including secret tunnels and aqueducts for drinking water, eloquently testify to the high level of Georgian architecture. For centuries, Shorapani was an important transport crossroads, where river and land routes converged from the eastern trade arteries to the west.
In ancient times, the fairly developed and large fortified city of Shorapani, known as “Sarapani” (Georgian: სარაპანი), is often mentioned as a strategically important settlement of the Colchis Kingdom and a major port located on the Kvirila River (Georgian: ყვირილა), where a large number of trade goods were collected and stored. Due to its strategic and geographical position, the fortified city was a powerful link, a safe and reliable meeting place and economic ties for numerous civilizations. The fortified city provided travelers and traders with food, transportation, temporary accommodation and rest areas, markets and essential goods, and much more. Residential and utility buildings were erected on its territory. The vast territory was surrounded by a protective wall, as evidenced by the fragments of the wall found in these areas.
Shorapani Village (Georgian დაბა შორაპანი), Zestaponi Municipality (Georgian ზესტაფონის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
