Symbolic Treasure, Care, and Materiality in Upper Svaneti

Religious artifacts in Upper Svaneti possess agentive power, challenging the notion that such objects are passive. Svans perceive and interact with these sacred items—collectively termed 'gandzi'—as entities with intrinsic agency, extending beyond their religious significance to influence social and political dynamics. This perspective, derived from ethnographic immersion and materiality-centered theory, reveals a deeper layer of meaning in Svaneti's cultural heritage, contrasting with traditional state-centric interpretations.

Batiashvili, N., & Aleksidze, N. (2023). Symbolic Treasure, Care, and Materiality in Upper Svaneti. Medieval Svaneti: Objects, Images, and Bodies in Dialogue with Built and Natural Spaces, 208–225. https://doi.org/10.1484/m.convisup-eb.5.136738