A Story about a Young Man Seeking the Hand of King Tamar in Taoian Folklore

Abstract

In one of the most ancient regions of Georgia, Tao, the memory of one of the most beloved Georgian kings, King Tamar, has survived until recently. The oral tradition of the Taoel Georgians is rich with narratives about the reign of King Tamar. Among these legends is the story of the tragic death of a young man who was separated from Tamar, and it is spread in many versions across the folklore of almost all corners of Georgia.
The Taoist legend, which includes the story of the young man's tragic death separated from King Tamar, along with other narratives related to Tamar, serves as additional evidence that the folkloric creativity of the Taoist Georgians is an integral part of the unified Georgian cultural space.