{"id":37860,"date":"2016-08-24T12:04:04","date_gmt":"2016-08-24T08:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/kazbek\/"},"modified":"2019-05-13T17:39:09","modified_gmt":"2019-05-13T13:39:09","slug":"mount-kazbek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.armgeo.am\/en\/mount-kazbek\/","title":{"rendered":"Mount Kazbek"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mount Kazbek is a dormant volcano located on the border of Georgia\u2019s Kazbegi District and Russia\u2019s Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. It is the seventh highest summit in the Caucasus mountains, and the third highest peak in Georgia. It lies just west of the town Stepantsminda. <\/span><\/p>\n

The name \u201cKazbek\u201d is a Russian name. It was given to the mountain by Russians who inhabited the northern side. It\u2019s original, native name is Georgian: Mkinvartsveri, which means \u201cmountain with a frozen peak\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

The first to ascend Mount Kazbek were <\/span>D. W. Freshfield, A. W. Moore, and C. Tucker of the London Alpine Club<\/span> in 1868. A Georgian scientist, G. Nikoladze, made a significant mark in Georgian mountaineering when he ascended to the peak of Kazbek in 1923. <\/span><\/p>\n

In Legend and Mythology<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The legend of Prometheus being tied to a rock by Zeus is believed by some to have been on Mount Kazbek. In this myth, Prometheus stole fire from the gods, and showed it to mankind. Zeus was furious about this, and decided to tie Prometheus to the side of Mount Kazbek and send a bird to eat his liver. Several mountains are believed to be possible locations of this legend: Mount Elbrus in Southern Russia, or perhaps some other mountain in the Caucasus. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to Georgian legend, the story takes place on Kazbek for sure, or Mkinvartsveri as they call it. There is a Georgian version of this myth, not identical, but very similar. In this version, a heroic figure named Amirani challenges God, and is imprisoned on Mkinvartsveri as a result. Amirani is considered to be the Georgian representation of Prometheus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Historical Landmarks<\/strong><\/h4>\n

About 4000 meters above sea level, there lies a cave on the mountain, called Betlemi (Georgian for \u201cBethlehem\u201d). This cave is often believed to have been the resting place of Jesus\u2019 manger and Abraham\u2019s tent. Later, a monastery was built in this cave, and was used by orthodox monks. There is a legend about Betlemi. When Mongols invaded Georgia, Georgian warriors fled to this cave to hide their country\u2019s most valuable things. Once they hid them in the cave, they vowed to keep the location secret. In fact, their vow was so strong that they killed themselves to insure its secrecy. Betlemi then became a sacred place that held church treasury, and served as a monastery for orthodox monks. It was closed off by an iron gate, and the only way to get in was by a long iron chain. <\/span><\/p>\n

Not on the mountain, but nearby, stands the old monastery of Saint Trinity Sameba. It was built in the 14th century, and lies on a hill above the Kazbegi village. <\/span>Its isolated location on top of a steep mountain surrounded by the vastness of nature has made it a symbol for Georgia. The 18th century Georgian author Vakhushti Batonishvili wrote that in times of danger, precious relics from Mtskheta, including Saint Nino’s Cross were brought here for safekeeping.<\/span><\/p>\n