Khelrtva

A khelrtva (Georgian: ხელრთვა, pronounced [χeɫɾtʰʷa]) is a Georgian calligraphic signature, monogram or seal, originally used by the Georgian monarchs, queens consort, patriarchs, royalty and nobility.[1][2][3]

A royal charter of King George IV of Georgia with his khelrtva. AD 1222. Kept at the National Archives of Georgia in Tbilisi.

The word khelrtva literally means 'to decorate, adorn or beautify with hand' in Georgian, kheli (ხელი) meaning a hand and rtva (რთვა) meaning to decorate or adorn.

Khelrtva signatures were written in one of the three Georgian scripts, mostly in Nuskhuri and Mkhedruli scripts, though the monograms especially the royal ones were written in Asomtavruli script. Every Georgian monarch had their own individual khelrtva and was known as საუფლოჲ ხელი (sauploy kheli) literally meaning 'Hand of the Lord'. The tradition of khelrtvas is still in use in Georgia.[4]

Khelrtvas

Kings

Khelrtva of King
David IV
Khelrtva of King
George IV
Khelrtva of King
Archil

Khelrtva of King
Vakhtang VI
Khelrtva of King
Solomon I
Khelrtva of King
George XII,
last Georgian monarch

Queens regnant

Khelrtva of Queen
Tamar
Khelrtva of Queen
Rusudan

Queens consort

Khelrtva of Queen consort
Rusudan of Circassia
Khelrtva of Queen consort
Mariam Dadiani

Patriarchs

Asomtavruli khelrtva of Patriarch
Joseph
Khelrtva of Patriarch
Anton II
Khelrtva of Patriarch
Ilia II

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Speakers

Khelrtva of
President Mikheil Saakashvili
Khelrtva of
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia
Khelrtva of
Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze

See also

References
  1. საგამომცემლო ლექსიკონი/ავტ.-შემდგ.: ვახტანგ დოხნაძე; [რედ.: მურმან სუხიშვილი ; მხატვ.: ვახტანგ რურუა]. - [მე-2 შესწ. და შევს. გამოც.]. - თბ.: საგამომც. საქმის სასწ. ცენტრი, 2006. - 305გვ.; 20სმ.. - ბიბლიოგრ.: გვ. 301–304. (Publishing dictionary, edited by: Vakhtang Dokhnadze; Ed. Murman Sukhishvili; Artist: Vakhtang Rurua, Case Study Center, 2006. Bibliography: p. 301–304. - ISBN 99928-998-1-6 : [ფ.ა.]{
  2. National Parliamentary Library of Georgia: ხელრთვა
  3. ეროვნულ არქივში XI – XVIII საუკუნეების დოკუმენტებზე არსებული ხელრთვების კატალოგი მომზადდა (A catalog of carvings on documents of the XI - XVIII centuries in the National Archives) Archived 2014-03-10 at the Wayback Machine National Archives of Georgia
  4. Sinauridze, A. Hand of the Lord Karibche, 04.02.2010
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