Shukhuti

Shukhuti (Georgian: შუხუთი) is a village community near Lanchkhuti, Guria, Georgia, which includes the villages of Zemo Shukhuti and Kvemo Shukhuti.[1] The area produces limestone, which is used for making lime.

## History[edit]

The area has been inhabited since antiquity. A Roman villa with a bath mosaic, the Shukhuti mosaic, was discovered here during excavations in 1961.[2] The inhabitants have been Christians since the 5th or 6th centuries. A castle was located there at that time. The name "Shukhuti" is first recorded in the 1708 documents. According to tradition, it originated from the Turks, who called this place ukhuti ("impossible").

In 1855, during the Crimean War, the Battle of Nigoiti (ნიგოითის ბრძოლა) was fought nearby between the Russian and Ottoman forces.

## Lelo[edit]

Shukhutis play a type of rugby, called Lelo[3] every Easter to commemorate the battle.[4] The President of Georgia visited the village in 2012 to watch the game.[5][6]

## See also[edit]

* Shukhuti mosaic
* Guria

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Kvemo Shukhuti". Wikimapia.
2. ^ Zakaraia P.; Lekvinadze V. (1968). "Shukhutskaya banya" [The Shukhuti Bath]. Vizantiiskii Vremennik=Byzantine Annals (in Russian). 28: 225–237.
3. ^ Rimple, Paul (April 28, 2009). "In a Georgian village, Easter hunts involve bruises, honor, and the fight over a 35-lb. ball". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
4. ^ Metreveli, Irakli (4 May 2011). "Georgians cherish anarchic traditional 'rugby' game". Star Africa. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
5. ^ "The President of Georgia visited the Shukhuti village". 2012-04-15. Archived from the original on 4 Oct 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
6. ^ "President visited Shukhuti". AjaraTV. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2013.

## External links[edit]

* Reports from shukhuti (in Georgian)

42°05′N 42°05′E﻿ / ﻿42.083°N 42.083°E﻿ / 42.083; 42.083