Kartlos
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kartlos (Georgian: ქართლოს) was the legendary establisher and eponymous father of Georgia, namely its nucleus Kartli (cf. Caucasian Iberia). His story is narrated in the compilation of the medieval Georgian chronicles, Kartlis Cxovreba, taken down from oral tradition by Leonti Mroveli in the 11th century.
The legend has it that he was a son of Targamos and, thus, brother of Haos, Movakos, Lekos, Heros, Kavkasos, and Egros from whom other Caucasian peoples took their origin. Kartlos united his people to become their chieftain and founded the city of Kartli. He had several sons – Mcxetos, Gardabos, Kakhos, Kukhos, Gachios, Uphlos, Odzrkhos, Javakhos – who became eponymous founders and the first rulers of Mtskheta, Gardabani, Kakheti, Kukheti, Gachiani, Uplistsikhe, Odzrkhe, and Javakheti, respectively.
The 3rd-century BC Iberian king Pharnavaz claimed his descend from Kartlos, being called Kartlosiani (Kartlosid) after him.
