This publication intends to show the distinct character of Georgian folk narratives that are as
diverse as the country's geography itself. It offers the translation of the selected myths and
folktales many of which represent the Georgian regional dialect versions and linguistically
complicated texts some of which quite differ from the present-day standard Georgian. Every
attempt has been made to preserve the original essence of the texts and the cultural context.
The publication includes original translations of forty Georgian folk tales and fifteen myths.
The latter are stories representing mythologized chronicles of holy wars of old times once
carried out on the border of Europe and Asia by the ancestors of the Georgian highlanders.
These mythological narratives may be considered as unparalleled examples of mythologizing real
events that have taken place in the past as well as incomparable representations of demonizing
the opponent image. The introduction notes and glossary of the publication help the reader to
better understand the cultural and historical contexts of the traditional Georgian folk
narratives.
