Kingdom of Kolchis, ca. 600 BC.
Kolchis was an ancient country of the eastern shore of the Black Sea. Centered about the fertile valley of the Phasis River (the modern Rion), Kolchis corresponds to the present-day region of Mingrelia in Georgia. In Greek legend it was the home of Aeëtes and Medea, the land where the Golden Fleece was sought by Jason and the Argonauts. Greek trading posts were established in Kolchis, but the land remained independent until conquered (around 100 BC) and held briefly by Mithradates VI of Pontus. After the time of Trajan to the end of the Roman Empire, Rome exerted considerable influence on the region.
The area was home to a bronze age culture known as the Kolchian culture. In some parts of Kolchis urban areas were well advanced long before Greek settlement. The Kolchians had an expertise in the smelting and casting of metal that was much more advanced than Europe at that time. The Kolchians were sophisticated farmers and their well watered lowlands provided fertile farmlands, and fostered progressive agricultural techniques.
Many theories abound as to whom the Ancient Kolcheans were descended from. The most prominent is they were a remnant of an Egyptian army. Herodotus, who states that they, with the Egyptians and the Ethiopians, were the first to practice circumcision, believed them to have sprung from the relics of the army of Pharaoh Sesostris III (1878-1841 BC), and thus regarded them as Egyptians. Apollonius Rhodius states that the Egyptians of Kolchis preserved as heirlooms a number of wooden tablets showing seas and highways with considerable accuracy.
The advanced economy and favorable geographic and natural conditions of the area attracted the Milesian Greeks who colonized the Colchian coast establishing here their trading posts at Phasis, Gyenos, and Dioscurias in the 6th-5th centuries BC. It was considered “the farthest voyage” according to an ancient Greek proverbial expression, the easternmost location in that society’s known world, where the sun rose. It was situated just outside the lands conquered by Alexander the Great. Kolchis proved unable to resist Persian might and became a vassal state in the sixth century BC.
In 65 BC Pompey conquered Kolchis initiating a long, troubled period of Roman rule. This set the stage for cyclic revolutions, all decisively crushed by Rome.
Aeetes
It is difficult to separate myth from history in discussing the royalty of Kolchis. King Aeetes, was said to be the son of Helios, the sun god, and claimed Hephaestus as his friend. Hephaestus made him many things to provide protection for his Kingdom. The powerful sorceress Circe was his sister.
According to legend, Kolchis was the land where Phrixus had fled with his sister on a golden ram. On arriving in Kolchis, Aeetes gave asylum to Phrixus, who then sacrificed the ram in Aeetes honor. The golden fleece of the ram was then placed in the sacred grove of Ares. Aeetes one night had a dream in which strangers came to his land and stole the fleece, and an oracle told him that whenever the Fleece was stolen his kingdom would be taken from him.
Aeetes began to be the scourge of the Caucuses, Fear of his brutality became known throughout the Black sea region. He cruelly put to death anyone who dared trespass in Kolchis. He enlisted his daughter Medea, a powerful sorceress to weave spells preventing strangers from entering his lands.
Then came Jason and his band of Argonauts, on the ship Argo up the river Phasis. Jason stole not only the fleece, but the King Aeetes daughter Medea as well. Aeetes was then deposed by his brother who claimed he could no longer rule because the fleece had been stolen. Medea returned after being abandoned by Jason, She slaughtered Aeetes’ brother and returned the Kingship to Aeetes.
