Transforming Religious and Monarchial Power

A significant discovery sheds light on the symbolic transformation of power through the relocation of the Iron Gates of Ganja from an Islamic emirate to Gelati Monastery, a key architectural and political symbol of medieval Georgia. The study reveals that these gates, inscribed with Arabic script detailing their original purpose under the Islamic ruler of Ganja, underwent a profound shift in meaning when King Demet’re I of Georgia incorporated them into his father’s tomb at Gelati. This relocation not only reinforced the monastery’s role as a center of political and religious authority but also demonstrated Georgia’s strategic use of spoils of war to assert dominance over neighboring Islamic territories. The research employs a comparative analysis of the gates' original context in Ganja and their new significance within the Gelati complex, providing insights into the intersection of power, culture, and diplomacy during this pivotal period.

Hubbert, J. (2023). Transforming Religious and Monarchial Power. Journal of Islamic Archaeology, 10(1), 83–100. https://doi.org/10.1558/jia.20436