Georgia, South of Russia… Children of Atlantis?

More than three thousand years ago, Jason and his cocky band of Argonauts left Greece to enter the Black Sea, heading East — to the land of Colchis. Today, this beautiful land is called Georgia, a place borne of myth and legend. Jason may have taken the Golden Fleece back to Greece, but Medea's dragon may yet be lurking in the hills surrounding the Kolkhida lowlands.

We have already seen several myths in this region of the world elevated to the status of events based on fact — Troy, Mycenaean Greece, Minoan Crete, Amazon warriors, and the real island of Ithaca (home of Ulysses of the Trojan War). Could Jason, the Fleece, Medea and the dragon also be found to contain elements of truth?

This modern nation borders on the Black Sea and stands at the western end of the Caucasus Mountains — the source of what it means to be Caucasian.

There are richly green valleys, quaint villages and snow-capped peaks to make anyone think they've arrived in Switzerland.

Yet the language is not German, French or Italian. According to linguists a century ago, Kartuli (the Georgian language) is similar to that of the Basques (Euskaldunak) of Northern Spain and Southern France.

It is curious that another name used in this Black Sea region is Iberia, a name also given to the peninsula where the Basques reside, one continent away, though the sources for each name are different.

The country is also rich with vineyards, giving rise to more than five hundred kinds of wine. And eat your heart out, France. Wine started here! The Georgians have been at it for about 8,000 years.

The Greater Caucasus Mountains to the North keep out the cold from Russia, while the Lesser Caucasus to the South keep out the hot, dry air from the desert South. This keeps Georgia just right between those extremes.

Tbilisi (tbee-lee-see) — Georgia's capital and most sophisticated city, old-world charm mixed with chic, modern architecture.

Bakuriani and Pasanauri ski slopes.

Batumi — a Black Sea resort, palm trees and nearby swimming.

Borjomi — a smaller, quaint city, famous for its mineral water, national park and Russian Romanov dynasty's summer palace.

Davit Gareja — cave monastery built in the sixth century containing gorgeous frescoes, with a panoramic view of the Azerbaijani desert.

Gori — Joseph Stalin's hometown.

Kakheti wineries. The Tsinandali Estate comes recommended.

Mount Kazbeg — one of Europe's tallest, and the site of Tsminda Sameba, the monastery with arguably the most breathtaking view.

Kutaisi — Georgia's second-largest city and the old capital of historic Colchis. Two UNESCO World Heritage sites reside here.

Mtskheta — former capital of historic Eastern Georgia, home to the Georgian Orthodox Church, and proud location of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Telavi — Kakheti Region's capital and surrounded by monasteries, castles, and wineries.

Uplistsikhe — a cave city built 3,600 years ago, which served the ancient Silk Road from China.

Kutaisi, Georgia's second largest city, is thought to have been the home of King Aeëtes, Princess Medea, the Golden Fleece and the dragon. This is where Jason and his Argonauts came to steal the Fleece despite the fierce dragon protecting it.

Situated roughly 80 km (~53 mi.) from the Black Sea, Kutaisi stands North and East of the Colchis plains (Kolkhida lowlands).

Was there any truth to the myth? Could the people of Colchis have been children of Atlantis?

And could the dragon have been manmade aircraft instead of blood and bone creature? Some of the ancient myths start to make more sense when viewed from this perspective—like the story of Medea flying off on a dragon after leaving Athens, the story of Cadmus fighting a dragon and the soldiers who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and the story of the Egyptian merchant prince who was nursed back to health by a dragon after the prince's shipwreck.

The Hub article, "Atlantis Quest," contains some of the evidence that may link Georgia/Colchis with the Atlantis myth. New research suggests that Atlantis and its refugees may have been matriarchal (ruled by women).

Later, some of the children of Atlantis switched to patriarchal rule, but kept the word with the role rather than the gender. Thus, when women handed over the scepter of office, men became the new mothers.

So, it should not be surprising that in Georgian, the word for "mother" is "deda," and "father" is "mama."

No matter where you go in Georgia, you will have something to write home about.