Archaeopolis

Nokalakevi

ნოქალაქევი
The eastern fortifications of Nokalakevi
Shown within Georgia (country)
Alternate name	Tsikhegoji, Archaeopolis
Location	Senaki, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Georgia
Coordinates	42°21′26″N 42°11′38″E / 42.35722°N 42.19389°E / 42.35722; 42.19389Coordinates: 42°21′26″N 42°11′38″E / 42.35722°N 42.19389°E / 42.35722; 42.19389
Type	Settlement
Area	20 ha (49 acres)
History
Periods	Hellenistic to Early Byzantine

Nokalakevi (Georgian: ნოქალაქევი) also known as Archaeopolis (Ancient Greek: Αρχαιόπολις, literally meaning "ancient town") and Tsikhegoji ("Fortress of Kuji"), is a village and archaeological site in the Senaki municipality, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, Georgia.

Nestled by the picturesque river Tekhuri, on the northern edge of the Colchian plain in Samegrelo, western Georgia, lie the impressive ruins of Nokalakevi. Occupying some 20ha, the site was known to early Byzantine historians as Archaeopolis, and to the neighbouring Georgian (Kartlian) chroniclers as Tsikhegoji, or the fortress of Kuji — a Colchian ruler or eristavi. The fortress is located 15 km from the modern town of Senaki on the Martvili road, and would have commanded an important crossing point of the river Tekhuri, at the junction with a valuable strategic route that still winds through the neighbouring hills to Chkhorotsqu in central Samegrelo. Nokalakevi-Archaeopolis played a pivotal part in the major wars fought between the Byzantines and Sasanians in the South Caucasus during the sixth century AD. It was one of the key fortresses guarding Lazika (modern Mingrelia) from Sasanian, Persian and Iberian (East Georgian/Kartlian) attack. During the war of AD 540-562, the Persians' failure to take Nokalakevi-Archaeopolis from the Byzantines and the Laz eventually cost them control of Lazika.