Kartlis Deda, or Mother of Georgia, overlooks Tbilisi from Sololaki Hill. The sculptor Elguja Amashukeli designed this figure of a woman in Georgian national dress. It was erected in 1958, when Tbilisi marked its 1,500th anniversary, and he won the Shota Rustaveli State Prize for it in 1966.
The statue is 66 feet (20 meters) tall. The first version was wooden and meant to be temporary. It was covered in aluminum in 1963 to limit weather damage, and a new statue replaced it in 1997.
In her left hand she holds a cup of wine to greet friendly guests. In her right she holds a sword for enemies. These reflect the city's history of battles and welcoming guests. Amashukeli called it Capital, but it became known as Mother of Kartvel.
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