Abanotubani Explained

Abanotubani
Native Name:აბანოთუბანი
Native Name Lang:ka
Settlement Type:District
Pushpin Map:Georgia Tbilisi
Coordinates:41.6878°N 44.8111°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Georgia
Subdivision Type1:City
Subdivision Name1:Tbilisi
Subdivision Type2:Raioni
Subdivision Name2:Old Tbilisi
Timezone:Georgian Time
Utc Offset:+4

Abanotubani (Georgian: აბანოთუბანი, literally "bath district") is the ancient district of Tbilisi, Georgia, known for its sulphuric baths.

Located at the eastern bank of the Mtkvari River at the foot of Narikala fort across Metekhisubani, Abanotubani is an important historic part of the city: it is where according to a legend the King of Iberia, Vakhtang Gorgasali’s falcon fell, leading to a discovery of the hot springs and, subsequently, to founding of a new capital.

By the end of the 13th century, 65 baths were recorded in Tbilisi. During this time, the baths were free to Muslim residents.

Sources

Kvantidze . Guliko . 2012 . აბანოები გვიანშუასაუკუნეების აღმოსავლეთ საქართველოში . Baths in Eastern Georgia of the Late Middle Ages . Kadmos . 4 . 118, 120.