THE MYTH OF ETERNAL SPRING IN TAO-KLARJETI FOLKLORE

Abstract

The myth of the eternal spring, or the paradise lost, is a common theme found in the folklore of almost all ancient peoples globally. In Georgian oral tradition, the myth of eternal spring is linked to the name of King Tamar and is known in various versions. It is entirely expected and natural, as in the consciousness of the society where this myth originated, Tamar’s kingdom was envisioned as the ‘Golden Age’—a paradise on Earth with King Tamar as its unequaled creator, ruler, and devoted, caring guardian. Today, the myth of eternal spring is no longer associated with the name of King Tamar in the historical memory of the Georgian-speaking, though Muslim, population in the historical Georgian regions of the Republic of Turkey - Tao and Klarjeti. This phenomenon is associated with the arrival of snow, disrupting the lives of Christian monks. Such transformations serve as evidence that the consciousness of Tao and Klarjeti Georgians shares a common cultural source rooted in Georgian culture.