Dzalisi stands as one of the most significant and historically rich archaeological sites of the classical period within the ancient Kingdom of Kartli, known to the Greco-Roman world as Iberia. Despite its remarkable heritage, it remains an overlooked treasure—nestled just a short distance from Tbilisi, waiting to reveal its secrets.
Once a bustling urban center, the site is located in the picturesque Mukhrani Valley near Tbilisi. The modern-day village of Dzalisi, situated about 20 kilometers northwest of Mtskheta, is widely identified with the ancient city of Zalissa. This and other regional cities were mentioned by Claudius Ptolemy in his Geographia, a guidebook for merchants and travelers compiled in the 2nd century CE.
Archaeological excavations have confirmed that Dzalisi was a shining example of advanced urban planning and economic vitality at the dawn of a new era. The ancient city once spanned roughly 70 hectares on the right bank of the Narekvavi River. A man-made mound of 6–7 hectares in the city’s northwestern quadrant is believed to have served as the citadel or inner fortress, enclosed by a clay wall. Excavations revealed multi-layered residential zones and remnants of a monumental structure from the late classical period.
The site bears evidence of carefully arranged streets and squares paved with brick tiles—clear indicators of a deliberate urban layout. Excavations uncovered public buildings, private residences, and places of worship, all adorned with exquisite mosaics. The infrastructure included bathhouses, ceramic-piped water supply systems, a drainage system, an acropolis, military barracks, and even a cemetery.
The earliest artifacts date from the 2nd to 1st centuries BCE, while the principal structures belong to the 1st to 4th centuries CE.
Among Dzalisi’s architectural marvels, the palace complex stands out. Occupying approximately 2,500 square meters, the palace was hidden beneath 1.5 meters of soil until it was uncovered during roadwork in 1984–1985. What emerged was the largest known palatial structure of the classical period yet discovered in Georgia—an exemplary Roman-style palace complete with a central courtyard, or atrium, measuring 8.35 by 8.35 meters.
This was only the second discovery of a palace with such a feature in the region, the first—smaller in size—being excavated in 1974–1975. The Dzalisi palace consisted of nearly 30 rooms of varying sizes and functions, including bedrooms, an assembly hall, and a toilet equipped with its own plumbing and sewage system. Materials used in construction included cobblestone, tuff, sandstone, brick, and ceramic tiles.
A notable portion of the palace is remarkably well-preserved, particularly its hypocaust system—an ancient underfloor heating system—which attests to the high standard of living once enjoyed here. The square-shaped hypocaust (11.8 by 11.8 meters) covered an area of 139.2 square meters and warmed the entire structure from its central location.
The palace also boasted an 800-square-meter pool—an architectural rarity in Georgia. Its northern apse features a staircase of nine steps and corner benches carved into the pool’s perimeter for seating. Both the pool floor and outer walls were sealed with a waterproof coating. The pool and adjacent bath formed an integrated complex, connected by a twin-pipe system.
The floor mosaics uncovered at Dzalisi are nothing short of masterpieces, bearing testimony to the refined cultural and artistic sensibilities of ancient Kartli’s urban elite. Similar mosaics have been found elsewhere in Georgia, notably in the Bichvinta Basilica (Abkhazia) and the Roman baths at Shukhuti (Guria), predominantly in the western regions of the country.
The first mosaic floor at Dzalisi was unearthed during 1972 excavations. The bathhouses featured distinct sections: a frigidarium (cold room), tepidarium (warm room), and caldarium (hot room). The warm and hot baths were supported by heating columns made from round or flat bricks joined with lime mortar. On the eastern side, an underground fire channel descended to a depth of 0.75 meters and connected to a boiler room above.
One preserved mosaic floor showcases intricate geometric motifs characteristic of the classical era. The frigidarium’s floor depicts a vivid marine tableau of shells, dolphins, and fishing nets—motifs commonly seen in ancient Antioch, Cilicia, and Garni.
Dzalisi’s mosaics were crafted using twelve shades of locally sourced stones such as granite and marble. In the tepidarium, fragments of mosaics featuring peacocks and geometric patterns were discovered, with differences in execution suggesting the involvement of multiple artisans.
One mosaic, in particular, holds immense cultural and historical value: a depiction of Ariadne and Dionysus, the god of winemaking and viticulture—an homage deeply fitting for this fertile land. Tragically, the mosaic was damaged during the Middle Ages when unaware peasants buried qvevri, traditional wine-making vessels, deep into the soil, unwittingly destroying layers of ancient artistry.