History of the Alphabet Tower: How Georgian Became Batumi’s Main Symbol

In Batumi, an introduction to the Georgian language can begin not with a phrasebook, but with a walk along the embankment. It is right here that the huge 130-meter Alphabet Tower stands, on which all 33 letters of the Georgian alphabet are placed. Its openwork structure resembles the structure of DNA, and this is not accidental: that is how the architects showed that language is the genetic code of the nation.

And this “code” is truly unique. The Georgian alphabet does not resemble others because it was invented from scratch. The language has three whole writing systems that are still used today and are recognized as UNESCO heritage. Moreover, there are no capital letters in it, and a single word can mean an entire sentence. Let us look into how the history of this remarkable language was embodied in the futuristic Alphabet Tower and what you need to know to visit it.

Contents

• History of the Georgian language
• Uniqueness and structure of the Georgian language
• Useful Georgian phrases for travelers
• The Alphabet Tower in Batumi

History of the Georgian language

The Georgian language is one of the oldest languages on the planet that is still alive today. Its main feature is that it completely differs from the languages of neighboring countries. Imagine a large family of languages, where Russian is related to English, and Turkish to Azerbaijani. Well, Georgian is not part of these “families”. It has its own, very ancient and small Caucasian language group. For millennia it developed in isolation in the mountains, which is why it preserved very unusual sounds and ancient grammatical rules that long ago disappeared in other languages.

Origin of Georgian writing: the origin of Georgian writing is shrouded in mystery. According to a beautiful national legend, the creator of the first alphabet was King Parnavaz I. He was a powerful ruler who in the 3rd century BC united Georgian lands into a single Kingdom of Kartli (Iberia) and, as is believed, introduced writing for it.

However, the oldest inscriptions that scientists have managed to find appeared much later. These are the famous Bir el Qutt mosaics discovered in an ancient Georgian monastery not far from Jerusalem. The mosaics were executed in Asomtavruli, the oldest form of Georgian script. They were created around 430 AD. They mention Georgian princes, their ancestors, and prayers for mercy. Today these valuable artifacts are kept in a museum in Jerusalem.

Palestinian inscription in Asomtavruli at Bir el Qutt / Photo: Ori / Wikipedia

Three types of script: Asomtavruli was the first Georgian alphabet. It appeared in the 5th century and was used for inscriptions on temple walls and in stone chronicles. All letters of this ancient script were of the same size, with rounded, flowing forms. Each letter was drawn slowly and solemnly, which was ideal for monumental inscriptions designed to last for centuries.

From the 9th century, with the growing need for copying church books, a new type of script developed – Nuskhuri. This script was created to speed up the work of monk-scribes. Its letters became more compact, acquiring a slant and angular features. Such a form made it possible to write faster, lifting the quill from the parchment less often. Nuskhuri became the main alphabet for religious texts.

Gospel text in Nuskhuri / Georgian National Centre of Manuscripts / Public Domain / Wikimedia

By the 11th century, with the development of secular life, trade, and state administration, a need arose for an even faster and more convenient script for decrees, letters, and business documents. In response to this, modern secular script – Mkhedruli – gradually evolved from church Nuskhuri.

A distinctive feature of Mkhedruli was that its letters acquired varying sizes and heights, as well as elegant curves. This made writing considerably faster and more convenient for daily use. Thanks to its practicality and beauty, Mkhedruli quickly became the primary alphabet and over time turned into the Georgian script that is used today.

Modern Georgian alphabet / grebeshkovmaxim / Freepik

Unique coexistence: the most remarkable thing about Georgian writing is that the older alphabets – Asomtavruli and Nuskhuri – have not disappeared and are not kept solely in museums. They can still be seen in living practice today. The Georgian Orthodox Church continues to use them for painting icons and in liturgical books. At the same time, in ordinary life everyone uses the modern Mkhedruli alphabet. It is this peaceful coexistence and simultaneous use of three alphabets that constitutes the “living culture” recognized by UNESCO in 2016 as world heritage.

Reforms and interesting facts:

• Simplification of the alphabet: by the end of the 19th century, written Georgian ceased to correspond fully to spoken speech. The alphabet still counted 38 letters, but five of them designated sounds that people had long ceased to pronounce in daily life. These letters only complicated spelling. Then the prominent Georgian public figure Ilia Chavchavadze proposed reforming the alphabet to make writing simpler and more logical. As a result of this reform, 5 “excess” letters were removed, and the modern Georgian alphabet acquired its current form of 33 letters.

• Alphabet without capital letters: one of the most unusual traits of Georgian writing is the complete absence of capital letters. Unlike Russian or English, where the beginning of a sentence and proper nouns are capitalized, in Georgian all letters are always written the same size. This creates a unique visual style: the text looks very smooth, even, and unified, reminiscent of a beautiful ornament or ligature. Thanks to this, Georgian script possesses its own distinct and easily recognizable character.

• Georgian Language Day: celebrated on April 14, this is not merely a formal holiday, but a day of national pride and remembrance. In 1978, during Soviet times, authorities decided to amend the constitution of the Georgian SSR and deprive the Georgian language of its state status. In response, on April 14 thousands of people, mostly students and intellectuals, took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration in Tbilisi. The protest was so massive that authorities were forced to make concessions and retain the official status of the Georgian language. This day became a symbol of victory and unity of the nation in the struggle for its culture and language.

Uniqueness and structure of the Georgian language

The main reason why the Georgian language is so special is its isolation. For thousands of years it developed in the Caucasus Mountains, having virtually no contact with other major languages. That is why it does not resemble Russian, Turkish, or any other neighboring language. It developed its own unique grammatical rules and a completely distinct sound. At first glance this seems very complicated, but in reality this system has its own simple and understandable logic.

Absence of masculine and feminine gender: in the Georgian language, there are no familiar concepts of “he” or “she”. To denote the third person, whether a man, a woman, or even an animal, the very same pronoun is used: ის (is).

Therefore, the phrases “he is walking” and “she is walking” will sound and be written completely identically in Georgian. The listener understands who is being discussed only from the context of the conversation, not from grammar, which significantly simplifies the language.

Illustration: Bizzz Media

Building-block words (polysynthetic verbs): this feature of the Georgian language is one of the most remarkable. Verbs here resemble a LEGO construction set. Various prefix components attach to a single root representing an action, indicating who does it, to whom and how precisely. As a result, a single word can replace an entire sentence. Let us look at a simple example with the verb “to write” (root -tser-):

Illustration: Bizzz Media

And in complex cases, like in the famous word შემომეჭმევა (shemomechmeva), the meaning of an entire phrase is packed into a single construct: “it was accidentally eaten by me” (meaning, “I ate it accidentally, without intending to”).

Special logic of cases (ergativity): in Georgian, words change their case endings, but do so according to a very unusual logic that depends on the tense of the action. This system is called ergative and is one of the most difficult features to study; it is easiest to show this with an example. Let us see how the word “hunter” (მონადირე – monadire) changes:

Illustration: Bizzz Media

That is, the very same subject (“hunter”) is written differently depending on what tense the verb is in. This is the main feature and complexity of the Georgian case system.

Unusual sound: in Georgian, there are sharp, “ejective” consonant sounds that have no direct equivalents in Russian. And the main hallmark is the famous clusters of several consecutive consonants.

Illustration: Bizzz Media

Although there is a vowel “i” at the end of the word itself, it is famous for beginning with an incredible cluster of eight consecutive consonant sounds. It is important to understand that this word is a famous linguistic example that is hardly ever used in everyday life. It is cited to demonstrate the complex sound combinations that the Georgian language is capable of.

Useful Georgian phrases for travelers

To make your journey through Georgia even more heartwarming and memorable, we have prepared a short phrasebook. Georgians are very hospitable, and even a few words spoken in their native language will evoke a genuine smile and endear any interlocutor to you. For your convenience, we have divided all phrases into thematic categories so you can quickly find the right word in any situation.

The love of Georgians for their language is visible not only in literature. It manifests in the life of the city. Every year on April 14, Georgian Language Day is celebrated, with festivals and cultural events taking place across the country. In addition, in Georgia monuments are erected not only to people, but also to letters. For example, on the enormous Chronicle of Georgia monument in Tbilisi, letters are woven into historical scenes, and jewelry in the form of alphabet letters is also very popular. But the most prominent and impressive of all these symbols has become the Alphabet Tower in Batumi.

Chronicle of Georgia monument in Tbilisi / Photo: Mike Swigunski / Unsplash

The Alphabet Tower in Batumi

Architectural concept: the Alphabet Tower is one of the most futuristic and recognizable symbols of modern Batumi. This 130-meter openwork structure is a tribute of respect to the Georgian alphabet. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it completely differs from other well-known alphabets, such as Latin or Cyrillic, having been created independently from scratch. This is such a rare phenomenon that it is classified as one of only 14 unique writing systems created by humankind. The design of this unique tower was developed by Spanish architect Alberto Domingo Cabo, who also designed the new Parliament building of Georgia.

Night view of the Alphabet Tower / Photo: mike laptev / Freepik

DNA symbolism: the key idea of the tower is its resemblance to the structure of DNA, symbolizing the uniqueness of the Georgian language as the genetic code of the nation. The structure is wrapped by two ribbons with 33 letters of the Georgian alphabet, each made of aluminum and reaching 4 meters in height. At night the letters are illuminated, and the tower turns into a gigantic light installation visible from afar.

Construction history: in the early 2010s, Batumi experienced a real construction boom, and one of the most ambitious projects was precisely the Alphabet Tower. It was built remarkably fast – in just 14 months. First, workers assembled the 130-meter steel framework, and then “fitted” two spirals with giant letters onto it. Construction was very expensive – about 65 million dollars from the state budget, and many at the time debated whether it was worth spending such money on a symbolic landmark.

But despite all the debates, the tower was completed, and over time it not only took root, but became a truly beloved symbol of the city. It has become an integral part of urban life: its image is printed on souvenirs and wine labels, while against its backdrop people arrange romantic dates, make proposals, and hold wedding photo shoots. For Batumi residents, this has become not just a calling card, but an object of pride and a powerful signal: “Our language and culture are at their height.” Thus the tower turned into a true beacon of the cultural code, shining over the Black Sea and pointing the way to understanding the Georgian soul.

Location and operating hours: the Alphabet Tower is located in the northern part of the Seaside Boulevard, within Miracle Park, near the seaport, next to the Ferris wheel and the “Ali and Nino” sculpture. The observation deck operating hours are usually from 10:00 to 22:00, but in the summer season it may stay open longer. The atmosphere around it is always lively; it is a true center of attraction in the new part of the boulevard.

Photo: oleg0 / Freepik

Ascending the tower and observation deck: a panoramic elevator with glass walls delivers visitors to the very top of the tower. The ride itself is already a small adventure, but be prepared for your ears to pop from the altitude difference. At the top is a circular observation deck that offers the best 360-degree view of the city, sea, and mountains.

Ascending to the observation deck costs about 20 GEL. An important point: according to tourist reviews, the tower can be closed without warning, so be prepared for a change of plans. If you cannot get inside, do not be upset – from the outside the tower is also very impressive, especially with nighttime illumination. The best time to visit is before sunset. It is often windy at the top, so bring a light jacket with you.

Restaurant “Atmosphere”: inside the sphere at the top of the tower is the panoramic restaurant “Atmosphere”. Its main feature is a rotating floor. A special platform moves slowly and almost imperceptibly in a circle, completing a full rotation in about an hour. Thanks to this, guests can view the entire panorama of Batumi without leaving their table.

Photo: Atmosphere

Menu and pricing: the menu features mainly European cuisine with an emphasis on popular international dishes. Here you can find salads, pasta, steaks, seafood dishes (for example, shrimp) and fish (trout), as well as soups such as mushroom cream soup. This place is more for a classic dinner than for getting acquainted with traditional Georgian cuisine. In addition to the indoor dining room, there is also an open terrace where you can dine directly in the fresh air with a magnificent view. Prices here are significantly higher than the city average: dinner for two can easily exceed 150–200 GEL excluding drinks.

Useful information: it is important to take into account that visiting the restaurant does not exempt you from the elevator fare; a ticket costing about 20 GEL must be purchased separately. Like the tower itself, the restaurant has a very erratic operating schedule. It is often closed without notice, and reviews of service quality vary greatly. Therefore, before dinner it is best to call and reserve a table. The main reason people come here is, of course, the unique atmosphere and striking view, especially at sunset. If you are lucky and the restaurant is open, this can become one of the most memorable impressions in Batumi.

Now that you know what immense significance Georgians attach to their language and how this love can be embodied in a 130-meter tower, your perspective on Georgia will surely become deeper. The best way to show respect for this rich culture and its people is to learn at least a few simple words in Georgian before your trip. Believe it, a simple “gamarjoba” (hello) or “madloba” (thank you) spoken with a smile will open any doors and the hearts of local residents for you. This is a small gesture that will show you see not just a beautiful country for a vacation, but also value its ancient and distinctive soul.