In Memory of a Friend: Tamaz Gogoladze – a Scholar and a Person

Abstract

This article is a personal and scholarly tribute to late Tamaz (Tazo) Gogoladze (1986–2025), a distinguished Georgian historian specializing in epigraphy and diplomatics. Gogoladze, who passed away prematurely at the age of 39, earned his doctorate and worked at the Korneli Kekelidze National Centre of Manuscripts and at Caucasus University, where he taught several courses. Remarkable for his productivity, he authored or co-authored nearly sixty works between 2009 and mid-2025, including major corpora of lapidary inscriptions from Trialeti and Kvemo Kartli, which have become indispensable reference volumes in the field. Many of his studies introduced new and previously unpublished primary sources into scholarly circulation. His dedication and perseverance were especially notable given his health challenges, and his commitment extended beyond the archives to demanding fieldwork, where he made significant discoveries. Apart for his scholarly achievements, Gogoladze is remembered for his collegiality, generosity, and friendship. The author highlights personal memories that illustrate Gogoladze’s character—his diligence, modesty, intellectual independence, and devotion to both his family and his friends. Tamaz Gogoladze’s untimely death is a profound loss to Georgian scholarship, particularly in the study of epigraphy and historical sources, and to those who were fortunate to know him personally.