The wall painting of the Chapel-martyrium Motsameta in the rock–cut monastery complex of Udabno David–Gareji.

Abstract

Among the numerous churches of the monasteries of Gareji, there is situated at the top of a mountain in west of the mine complex, the little church of the Forty Martyrs, or Motsameta. The paintings of this chapel-martyrium, Motsameta, have special significance in the study of the Garejian painting school. In the Gareji desert there were other martyriums, in Sabereebi, Bertubani and Tsamebuli for example, but paintings are rarely found in these edifices. Martyriums were painted more commonly in Byzantium than in Georgia. Thus the church of Motsameta is a rare example of a Georgian painted martyrium. Its further study, particularly with the aim of establishing parallels with similar medieval European monuments, is very important.