Apologia Chubinashvilis

Abstract

The author associates Giorgi Chubinashvili’s (1885-1973) theory on the idiosyncrasy of Georgian architecture with survival strategies Georgian researchers were compelled to adopt under the post-1923 Soviet purges. Historical revisionism was part of the Soviet ‘nationalist’ agenda promoting the idea of Soviet peoples’ singularity, autochthony, autonomy and superiority. The author argues that some Georgian researchers’ theories on the autochthony of Georgian history and culture were attuned to the dominant Soviet agenda in an attempt to acquire immunity against the fatal dangers of totalitarianism.