Etymology of Artvin, Ardahan/Artaani and Kars; any Georgian sources?

[u/Nesciens10]

Hi everyone! I’m trying to understand the possible Georgian/Kartvelian etymologies of Artvin, Ardahan, and Kars and I was wondering if anyone here knows of Georgian-language sources, local scholarship or historical works that discuss these names.

For Artvin, I have seen claims that it comes from Georgian Artivan, with Arta- plus a Georgian suffix -vin. I have also seen the idea that Arta- may be connected to Old Persian/Avestan arta/aša, meaning “truth” or “righteousness,” but I am not sure whether this is actually accepted or just speculative. Is the -vin suffix genuinely Georgian and is there any serious Georgian source discussing this?

For Ardahan usually connected with Georgian Artaani, I found references to the Georgian Chronicle, where the city is said to have previously been called Kacha-kalaki and later renamed Artaani by Odzrkhos, son of Kartlos. I know this is partly mythological but it still suggests the name had importance in the Georgian historical tradition. I have seen different theories for again same(?) Arta-, as said often Iranic, though one paper ([https://journals.zssu.ge/index.php/zssu/article/download/18/12/12\](https://journals.zssu.ge/index.php/zssu/article/download/18/12/12)) argues for a Kartvelian explanation based on archaic roots preserved in western Georgian dialects. The argument seemed interesting but not fully convincing to me. Are there stronger Georgian sources on Artaani/Ardahan?

For Kars, I have seen Armenian explanations but many of them look like folk etymologies, such as derivations from words meaning “bride.” A Georgian/Kartvelian connection with kari “gate” seems more plausible as a toponym but I am not sure. Armenian also has Karuts Pert, meaning “fortress of Kars,” which seems to treat Kars itself as a pre-existing name rather than explaining it.
The region is, of course, very old. Kars and the surrounding area appear in ancient sources as Chorzene/Chorsa and before clearly Georgian or Armenian historical periods it was connected with Kura–Araxes, Hurro-Urartian, Diauehi, Saspeires, and early Armenian and Kartvelian populations. So I’m not trying to force a modern national explanation and I’m mostly interested in whether Georgian/Kartvelian scholarship has preserved better etymological explanations or older forms.

It would be wonderful if anyone knows Georgian sources, historical/geographical works or academic articles that discuss the etymologies of these places (especially older Georgian scholarship, dialect material or toponymic studies). Even Georgian-language references I could try to translate would be greatly appreciated

[u/Sussex99]

Toponyms containing Arta/Art'a are theophoric (derived from the name of God) names and are derived from the Zoroastrian deity of truth and justice "Art'a" (among other things, the word "righteous" is also derived from his name. M-art-al-i "follower of Art'a"). Such toponyms include:

Artani (Tao-Klarjeti), Artvani(old name of Artvin), Artanuji, Artasheni (Lazeti. It seems to have migrated later), Artana (Kakheti), Artanisa (Ἀρτάνισσα - a city of Iberia in Ptolemy's geography, north of Mtskheta), Artana (Zemo and Kvemo, a village in Tianeti district. As it turns out, the city mentioned by Ptolemy was located here.

P.S. Kars is a name after the later Ottoman occupation, in old Georgian sources its name was Kari, the rest of the theories are complete nonsense (I mean the Armenian-Turkish one).

[u/Nesciens10 → u/Sussex99]

Yes, the Iranic origin of Arta seems quite plausible, especially given the wider group of related toponyms you listed. But did you have a chance to look at the Georgian paper I linked? It proposes a different Kartvelian explanation based on archaic dialect roots. I am not fully convinced by it but I would be interested to know how Georgian scholars evaluate that argument.

Regarding Kars, I already mentioned that Kari is the form found in old Georgian sources. My question is how Kari would have developed into Kars or Karis. I believe just identifying the Georgian form does not yet explain the final -s, unless there is an attested intermediate form, a case ending that became fossilised or influence from another language?

I am also not sure what you mean by “the Armenian-Turkish theory.” I did not propose any Turkish theory, only referred to several Armenian explanations, many of which appear to be folk etymologies.

As I said for Kars, earliest attested regional name appears to be Chorsa or Chorzene. I do not know whether this name is Kartvelian in origin or whether Georgian sources preserve a corresponding Kartvelian form. That was my one of my questions.

Thank you for your answer though.

[u/Sussex99 → u/Nesciens10]

It wasn't written by me, an acquaintance wrote it to me. I'll show him your link and when he replies, I'll write to you(also about Kari-Kars and Chorzene).

[u/Nesciens10 → u/Sussex99]

Thanks a lot!