AT THE ORIGINS OF SOCIETY SHEVARDENI

GOCHA KUCHUKHIDZE; KETEVAN SHARABIDZE

GOCHA KUCHUKHIDZE Doctor of Philological Sciences TSU, Shota Rustaveli Institute of Georgian Literature Senior Researcher Georgia, Tbilisi http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8707-6766
KETEVAN SHARABIDZE The Georgian National Museum, Georgian Sports Museum Chief Specialist Georgia, Tbilisi http://orcid.org/0009-0009-0662-0749

Abstract

Society Sokol was established in 1862, in Prague, under the leadership of Miroslav Tyrš (1832-1884 /writer, art scientist, doctor of philosophy). Further, similar societies were established in many countries... In analogy of Czech Sokol on August 25, 1918 Giorgi Nikoladze (1888-1931 /mathematician, metallurgist, athlete) in Tbilisi founded the Shevardeni Society (“Shevardeni” means falkon in Georgian).

The society with such name has not formed “from nothing”; it is regarded that in 1900, in Tiflis (pre-1936 name of Tbilisi) there was officially registered the Gymnastic Society which, in 1907, was permitted to take name Sokol (Сокол). In 1882, in Moscow, there was developed the charter of the gymnastics society and further, in 1883, it was adopted. In 1907 this society was also permitted to take name Sokol. At National Archives of Georgia, there is preserved the document – charter of the gymnastics society in Russian language, approved by the head of Caucasian central administration, General-Lieutenant Staroselski on 18 March 1881. As Shevardeni was established on the basis of its preceding organizations, all above provides grounds to offer the question, whether it should be regarded that the history of Shevardeni and generally, Sokol movement in Tsarist Russia commenced in 1881 and this occurred in Tbilisi. Charter adopted in the mentioned year in Georgia, possibly does not evidence the fact that the gymnastics society has commenced extensive activities in 1881, but the fact of existence of the charter indicates that this society since that time already existed officially, it was engaged in exercising and in 1900 it commenced extensive practical activities..

Our work expresses the opinion that, in general, in Tsarist Russia the history of the creation at the high governmental level of the Gymnastics Society also began in Tbilisi in 1881.

The article contains illustrations with the postcards created for Prague festivals; here are also the pictures by Georgian painter, Valerian Sidamon-Eristavi, depicting Georgian sports garments specially designed for Shevardeni.

Keywords: Shevardeni Movement; Sokol Society; Gymnastics Societies in Tsarist Russia.