Turkish Realities in Iona Gedevanishvili's Travel Narrative Mimosula (A Journey)

Abstract

Iona Gedevanishvili began his journey to the Eastern countries from Tbilisi. The traveler recorded his impressions and subsequently compiled them into his book entitled Mimosula (A Journey). Once he crossed Georgia’s borders, the traveler immediately entered Ottoman lands, as the Pashalik of Akhaltsikhe had long been a direct neighbor of our country. Although many Georgians had previously traveled to Ottoman territories, whether by choice or circumstance, the detailed descriptions and representations of Turkish realities found in Iona Gedevanishvili’s Mimosula have a distinct purpose and significance. The book offers a unique perspective on Georgia’s neighbor, which had firmly established its presence on the lands of ancient Greece.
Departing from Tbilisi, the traveler reached Surami. From there, he joined a caravan and entered the Atabag’s land, arriving in the city of Akhaltsikhe.
Remarkably, the Georgian traveler was received kindly wherever he arrived. He was accommodated in a cell of the Church of Saint Marina, which served as lodging for visiting Greek high priests. After that, at the Atabag’s command, Iona was honorably accompanied with a caravan of merchants to Constantinople. Iona carefully recounts the details of the journey and, once in Constantinople, presents a detailed depiction of the city’s life and atmosphere.
Along the road to Constantinople, Jonah's geographical reflections are of considerable interest. He saw the source of the Chorokhi River and compared its size to that of the Mtkvari. Numerous forests and rivers encountered on the journey were described through comparison with the rivers of Kartli. He considers the Chorokhi as being as large as the Mtkvari and a river in the Goli Valley as comparable to Ksani. He further depicts the surrounding villages and woodlands, and turns to a descriprion of the Bosphorus and, especially, the city of Constantinople, where he had an audience with the Sultan.
Scholars have suggested that Iona's triumphant reception at the Sultan's court was the result of the protection afforded to him through a credential issued in his name by the Russian Emperor.