For the Etymology of Tsalenjikha

Abstract

Tsalenjikha is located in the northwestern part of the Samegrelo region (western Georgia), in the gorge of the Chanistskali river. The municipal centre is located 343 kilometers from Tbilisi and is located at 222 meters above sea level. The Tsalenjikha municipality consists of twelve rural communities. The climate is subtropical humid. The Tsalenjikha municipality borders the munici - pality Gali (west), Mestia (north), Zugdidi (south) and Chkhorotsku (east). The main rivers of this microregion are Inguri and Chanistskali with their numerous tributaries. The Egrisi Ridge is located north of the municipality. The territory of the municipality has been inhabited since Palaeolithic times. Archaeological material of the ancient historical period was found here. In historical sources, Tsalenjikha is first found in the iconography of the thirteen centu - ry. Some scientists believe that the toponym Tsalenjikha belongs to the Chan tribe and means the fortress of Chan. Chans in western Georgia settled in the II-I centuries BC. “Tsalen” in Chan (Laz) language means lower, “tsalenjikha” – lower fortress (I. Kipshidze). The Lazian word “tsaleni “ means the lower part, and “jikha“ – a Mingrelian fortress. Locals also called Tsalenjikha “tsendiha”. This toponym means the “land of Chans”. We think that the toponym Tsalenjikha means the lower fortress. This name was applied to the territory of the town itself. And in the middle of the Chanistskal gorge, Tsendikha was called because the Chan tribe settled here. Thus, that the name of this tribe is associated with the name of the Chakvindzhi fortress. This fortress is located in the gorge of the Chanistskali river.