THE DESCRIPTION OF BIBLICAL CHARACTERS IN THE POEM –“THE TORTURE OF QUEEN KETEVAN” BY TEIMURAZ I

Abstract

The article deals with one of the most important issues, such as the description of Biblical characters done by the author and Saint Queen Ketevan in the poem - "The Torture of Queen Ketevan" by King-poet of the Renaissance epoch –Teimuraz I and it is natural as "The torture" follows after the specifics of hagiography. Besides, the author is pious and he all his life consciously or unconsciously does not make even a step without Christian consciousness. The God, Jesus Christ, the Virgin, angels, saints are always in the consciousness of the author that give him strength. As for St. Ketevan, she always carries the Gospel with her be in her Motherland or in the territory of the enemy.. In "Ketevaniani" the author mentions the following Biblical characters and saints like: the God Creator in most lines, Jesus Christ (lines 5,1-2; 52,2), Virgin Mary (lines 5,1...), Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Elia (lines .5,1-2), angels, Gabriel Archangel (lines ,38,4; 83,3), John the Baptist (lines 41,3), Peter (lines. 45,3), Adam (line 63,2, a robber (line. 67,3), Irine and Marine (line. 71,4), Moses (line .560,4) etc.

In the introduction of the poem –"Ketevaniani", Teimuraz I mentions the God as it is characteristic to the literature. He points out that before beginning to write, the author should mention the God and show his sympathy towards it as the God is a cause and beginning of everything. it is the owner of both lives. Abram is one of the most distinguished characters in the poem mentioned by the author and Ketevan; Besides, in the poem one can see the Biblical character-Jacob. Praising him, the author praises Ketevan like the Virgin being on the high step of the virtue staircase. Ketevan goes up the stairs like an angel. Mentioning Apostle Peter in Mother‘s prays is also not occasional. The author stresses strengths and steadiness Apostle Peter has showed and which is given in his name. The poem is full of supplications towards the God and the Trinity. They are Ketevan‘s hope and helpers. They pray for her soul and call Gabriel Archangel to defend and save her soul and get it to the Kingdom. It should be mentioned that the author mentions Gabriel Archangel, the saver of souls three times in his poem. Full of fear of death, the queen calls Gabriel Archangel to protect her soul in the darkness, not to get in the arms of cruel angels. So, calling Archetypal Biblical characters, Ketevan Tsamebuli‘s personality gets strong, overcomes all problems and with a strong soul , faces expected fate.