Iranian Glass Perfume Vessel From The Pichvnari Greek Cemetery Of The Fifth Century BC

Chapter Summary

Polychrome glass perfume vessels occupy a significant place among the grave goods discovered at the 5th century BC Greek cemetery at Pichvnari. Of the polychrome glass perfume vessels special attention is attached to the so-called Kohl-tubes. The Kohl-tube is alien to the Greek world, which is evident from the limits in their area of distribution. The northwestern Iran is supposed to be the centre of their manufacture. The Kohl-tubes were imported into Colchis by land through eastern Georgia. In the classical as well as Hellenistic periods close direct trade, economic and cultural contacts existed between the regions of eastern Georgia and the Iranian world. This is obvious not only according to glassware, but from other data of material culture as well, especially, specimens of glyptics and architecture.

Keywords: Colchis; Eastern Georgia; Greek cemetery; Hellenistic period; Iranian Kohl-tubes; Pichvnari; polychrome glass perfume vessels