Georgian Germanists
Discover the prominent Georgian Germanists, translators, and researchers who built a rich tradition of studying German culture and literature in Georgia.
Werner Keller
1930 – 2018
German Germanist, literary critic and president of the Weimar International Goethe Society (1991–1999). Honorary citizen of Kutaisi. He made a great contribution to strengthening Georgian-German scientific and cultural ties and supporting Georgian researchers.
Erekle Tatishvili
1884 – 1946
Famous Georgian literary scholar, translator and philologist. In 1904-1913 he was educated at the leading universities of St. Petersburg, Germany and England. Later, he headed the Department of Foreign Languages of Tbilisi State University, where he made a significant contribution to the formation of German philology and educational programs.
Kita Chkhenkeli
1895 – 1963
Prominent Georgian linguist, lexicographer and Germanist. He made a great contribution to the promotion of the Georgian language and culture in the German-speaking world. He worked at Hamburg and Zurich universities, where he taught Georgian language and laid the foundation for academic Georgian studies in Europe.
Davit Lashkaradze
1917 – 2001
Prominent Georgian Germanist, philologist and teacher. From 1975 to 2001, he headed the Goethe Society of Georgia. His studies were mainly devoted to Georgian-German literary relations, study and popularization of German classical literature.
Nellie Amashukeli
1921 – 2007
Prominent Georgian philologist, Germanist and translator, president of the Georgian-German society. He made a great contribution to the translation of German literature into Georgian and was awarded the First Class Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Otar Jinoria
1914 – 1975
Famous Georgian literary scholar, philologist and Germanist. He was one of the founders of the Goethe Society of Georgia and its first president (since 1970). He made a great contribution to the study of Goethe's work and popularization of German classical literature in Georgia.
Nodar Kakabadze
1923 – 2007
Prominent Georgian literary scholar, Germanist and professor. For many years he was the dean of the Faculty of Western European Languages and Literature of TSU and the president of the Goethe Society of Georgia. He researched German-language writers of the 20th century and was awarded the Order of Merit.
Givi Margvelashvili
1927 – 2020
Famous German-speaking Georgian writer, philosopher and Germanist. Laureate of the Goethe Medal and honorary doctorate of TSU. His philosophical prose and works on existentialism are recognized both in Georgia and Germany.
Davit Tseredian
1937 – 2019
Legendary Georgian poet, translator and philologist who worked at Shota Rustaveli Institute of Literature. The author of the unparalleled Georgian translation of Goethe's "Faust", for which he received the "Saba" prize, the Rustaveli prize and the Givi Margvelashvili prize several times.
Rezo Karalashvili
1940 – 1989
Prominent Georgian Germanist, literary critic, professor and head of the Department of German Philology at TSU. He was an internationally recognized researcher of the works of Hermann Hesse and Goethe and the founder of "Goethe Cabinet" in Georgia.
Lali Ketsba-Khundadze
1944 – 2026
Prominent Georgian Germanist, doctor of philological sciences and head of the department of German philology at Tbilisi State University. He educated generations of Germanists and created fundamental university textbooks.
Naira Gelashvili
დ. 1947
Famous Georgian writer, Germanist, translator and public figure. Founder and head of the cultural-educational and peace organization "Caucasian House". He translated the most important examples of German poetry and prose.
Levan Bregadze
დ. 1947
Famous Georgian literary scholar, critic, essayist and translator. He deeply explores Georgian-German literary relations and translation theory. His monographic work on Tbilisi's German-language newspaper "Kaukazishe Post" is especially noteworthy.
Alexander Kartosia
დ. 1959
Famous Georgian Germanist, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor, former Minister of Education and Ambassador of Georgia to Germany. Awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Manana Paichadze
დ. 1959
Georgian Germanist, professor and translator. The president of the Tbilisi branch of the International Goethe Society and the head of the literary translation and literary relations center of the House of Writers.
Marina Bokuchava
თანამედროვე
Germanist and professor engaged in fruitful scientific and cultural activities in Georgia and Germany. Actively cooperates with the Goethe Society and spreads Georgian culture in the German-speaking world.
Irakli Shurulaya
თანამედროვე
Germanist and Vocational Education Expert (GIZ). He made a great contribution to German-Georgian academic cooperation and bibliographic studies of Georgian translations of German-language literature.
Nino Bakanidze
დ. 1960
Georgian Germanist, doctor of philology and writer. Vice-President of the Goethe Society of Georgia. He actively researches German literature and Goethe's work, and also promotes translation processes.
Maya Badridze
თანამედროვე
Prominent Georgian translator and Germanist. He introduced Georgian readers to the most important works of German-language literature and philosophy. The fundamental works of Robert Musil, Sigmund Freud, Carl Gustav Jung and Hermann Broch translated by him are especially noteworthy. For her special contribution to Austrian culture and literature, Maya Badridze has received the Austrian State Prize for Literary Translation.
Giorgi Bregadze
თანამედროვე
Georgian translator, who is actively working in the field of translation and popularization of Georgian classical literature into German. He participated in the preparation of German language editions of the works of Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli and Egnate Ninoshvili.
Rusudan Bregadze
თანამედროვე
Georgian translator and teacher. He actively translates outstanding examples of German-language literature into Georgian, and also works on translation projects of Georgian works into German with the support of the House of Writers.
Nino Kharatishvili
დ. 1983
Contemporary Georgian German-speaking writer, playwright and director who lives and works in Hamburg. His novels deserve great success and critical acclaim in the German-speaking world. Awarded Schiller Memorial Prize, Anna Zegers Prize and many other prestigious awards.