Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) hosted on November 14 an exhibition of unique handwritten maps dedicated to the 100th birth anniversary of Alexander Aslanikashvili, famous Georgian cartographer and geographer. Among the exhibited handwritten maps, most ancient are the maps created in the 18th century: Map of Western Georgia (Imereti) by Timote Gabashvili and Map of Georgia by Vakhushti Bagrationi. A part of these maps are kept in the funds of the TSU Museum of Geography, Department of Geography, National Center of Manuscripts, other institutions and private collections.
The maps and atlases created under the authorship and editorship of Aleksandre Aslanikashvili were exhibited, among them: Georgian SSR Resorts and Resort Resources (1989); Georgian SSR Atlas (1964).
Rector of TSU, Giorgi Sharvashidze, President of the International Cartographic Association, Menno-Jan Kraak, students, professors and invited guests attended the event.
“The exhibited collection will be interesting for the specialists and students involved in this sphere as well as for the broad public. Foreign cartographers are also attending the event. It is very important because our cartography will be popularized globally,” Rector Sharvashidze said.
President of the International Cartographic Association, Menno-Jan Kraak said: “Aleksandre Aslanikashvili had a serious professional attitude towards the discipline of cartography. He worked on Meta Cartography and theory of cartography. These are very important educational materials for current students.”
Among the exhibits were a handwritten map created by Ivane Javakhishvili in 1913 (Historical Map of Georgia for the 7th-12th Centuries, created according to old sources) and Old Georgia’s Map by Svimon Tsitsishvili (1935-1936), as well as physiographic maps created by Demur Tabidze, so called “birds-eye” view of Georgia; cartographic works created by TSU students and school pupils.
