Georgian National Museum

Shalva Amiranashvili Georgian State Museum of Fine Arts

“European Days of Jewish Culture 2026. Love”

“Song of Songs”: The First Illustrated Anthology of Georgian Translations

16/10/2026. 16:00

The primary aim of the European Days of Jewish Culture (EDJC) festival is to highlight the diversity and richness of Judaism and its historical significance at local, regional, and national levels. This is achieved through conferences, concerts, performances, exhibitions, guided tours, and a wide range of other cultural activities taking place simultaneously across Europe.

Since 1999, the European Days of Jewish Culture festival has been dedicated each year to a central theme that serves as the inspiration for its programme of events. Festival activities take place in cities across Europe from the first Sunday in September through to the end of November. Since its establishment, the festival has been coordinated by the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ). In Georgia, the organisation’s official representative is Israeli House.

The theme of the 2026 European Days of Jewish Culture, “Love,” invites us to reflect on the significance of love in Judaism. In its many forms—romantic, familial, divine, and love for one’s homeland and fellow human beings—love represents a constant and vital force within Jewish civilisation. Throughout the centuries, despite forced migrations and persecution, it has also remained a powerful symbol of continuity and the preservation of identity.

As part of the 2026 European Days of Jewish Culture festival, we invite you to a meeting and exhibition in the conference hall of the Museum of Fine Arts, Georgian National Museum:

“Song of Songs”: The First Illustrated Anthology of Georgian Translations

“Shir Hashirim” is one of the books of the “Tanakh” (Old Testament). Concerning the genre, it belongs to the category of poetic works and is part of the third section of the Old Testament, “Ketubim”, or the “Writings”. According to tradition, the authorship of the book is attributed to the third king of Israel, Solomon. The text, consisting of 8 chapters, includes dialogues and monologues.

This book is significant not only for its history and interpretations, but also for its translations into various languages, including Georgian.

The anthology brings together twentieth-century Georgian translations of the Song of Songs by Gertsel Baazov, Natan Eliashvili, Grigol Peradze, Zurab Kiknadze, Itzhak David, Shalom David, Abraham Mamistvalov, and David Tserediani. These translations offer valuable insights into the ways in which the formal structure, literary texture, poetic language, style, and imagery of the original text have been rendered in Georgian. Each translation

is unique and significant for the history of the Bible in Georgian, as well as from scholarly and cultural perspectives.

The idea for the illustrated anthology of Georgian translations of the Song of Songs was conceived by Ekaterine Navrozashvili, who also served as its compiler and editor. The illustrations were created by the artist Giorgi (Gia) Gugushvili, and the book was designed by David Janiashvili. The volume was published by the Art Development Foundation (IMT).

The exhibition in the conference hall will feature paintings created by Gia Gugushvili as illustrations for the Song of Songs, offering a visual interpretation of this celebrated biblical text.

Speakers and Presentations

Prof. Lela Tsitsuashvili, organiser of the event, will introduce the European Days of Jewish Culture festival and deliver a presentation entitled “The Eternal Song of Love Resounding in Colour.”

Prof. Ekaterine Navrozashvili will discuss the creation and significance of the first illustrated anthology of Georgian translations of the Song of Songs.

Prof. Giorgi (Gia) Gugushvili will present his own visual interpretation of the text of the Song of Songs, exploring how its poetic and spiritual dimensions have been translated into the language of painting.

Address: 1 L. Gudiashvili Str.

Shalva Amiranashvili Georgian State Museum of Fine Arts. Conference Hall (6th floor)