A khelrtva (Georgian: ხელრთვა, pronounced [χeɫɾtʰʷa]) is a Georgian calligraphic signature, monogram or seal, originally used by the Georgian monarchs, queens consort, patriarchs, royalty and nobility,[1][2][3] universally used since the early eleventh century.[4]
The word khelrtva literally means 'to decorate, adorn or beautify with hand' in Georgian, kheli (ხელი) meaning a hand and rtva (რთვა) meaning to decorate or adorn.
Khelrtva signatures were written in one of the three Georgian scripts, mostly in Nuskhuri and Mkhedruli scripts, though the monograms especially the royal ones were written in Asomtavruli script. Every Georgian monarch had their own individual khelrtva and was known as საუფლოჲ ხელი (sauploy kheli) literally meaning 'Hand of the Lord'. The tradition of khelrtvas is still in use in Georgia.[5]
- ^ საგამომცემლო ლექსიკონი/ავტ.-შემდგ.: ვახტანგ დოხნაძე; [რედ.: მურმან სუხიშვილი; მხატვ.: ვახტანგ რურუა]. - [მე-2 შესწ. და შევს. გამოც.]. - თბ.: საგამომც. საქმის სასწ. ცენტრი, 2006. - 305გვ.; 20სმ.. - ბიბლიოგრ.: გვ. 301–304. (Publishing dictionary, edited by: Vakhtang Dokhnadze; Ed. Murman Sukhishvili; Artist: Vakhtang Rurua, Case Study Center, 2006. Bibliography: p. 301–304. - ISBN 99928-998-1-6 : [ფ.ა.]
- ^ National Parliamentary Library of Georgia: ხელრთვა
- ^ ეროვნულ არქივში XI – XVIII საუკუნეების დოკუმენტებზე არსებული ხელრთვების კატალოგი მომზადდა (A catalog of carvings on documents of the XI - XVIII centuries in the National Archives) Archived 2014-03-10 at the Wayback Machine National Archives of Georgia
- ^ Kviris Palitra (2015) ქართველ მეფეთა ხელრთვანი (Khelrtvas of the Georgian kings), [online publication date: 2017, August 19]
- ^ Sinauridze, A. Hand of the Lord Karibche, 04.02.2010