იაზონის მღვიმე

Iazoni Cave - Tskaltsitela Cave

Useful Information

Location:	Mepe Solomon Meore Street, Tskaltubo Municipality. (42.2673658, 42.7299406)
Open:	no restrictions. [2025]
Fee:	free. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave Lower Cretaceous
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=40 m, A=135 m asl.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Sh. Barjadze, T. Arabuli, L. Mumladze, E. Maghradze, Z. Asanidze, T. Kutalia, (2019) Tskaltsitela Cave Cave Biodiversity of Georgia, Open Access Database. 2019. Institute of Zoology at Ilia State University
Address:	Imereti Caves Protected Areas Administration, Tel: +995-577-10-18-06. E-mail: E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2007	Iazoni Cave Natural Monument established.

Description

იაზონის მღვიმე (Iazoni Cave) is located in იაზონის მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი (Iazoni Cave Natural Monument). On the eastern side of Kutaisi city it is easily reached on the highway 108 towards Tiblisi. At the bridge across Tskaltsitela river turn left on single lane gravel road along the river. After about 150 m there is a swimming spot on the right and the cave on the left. The cave is small, horizontal and easy to visit. It is a short elliptical passage without decorations. It starts rather spacious, about 4 m wide and 5 m high, but at the end of the passage it is only 2.5 m wide and 50 cm high. The end of the cave is blocked by cave clay and debris.p

The small cave provided shelter to various animals and to prehistoric man, excavations revealed animal bones and flint tools of Paleolithic Age. According to local lore it is connected to the tale of the Golden Fleece. The dragon who guarded the golden fleece is said to have lived in the cave, which thus became known as Iazoni mghvime (Jason’s Cave).

Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, came to Colchis to steal the magical fleece from Aeëtes, the king of Colchis. Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite helped Jason by persuading Eros to shoot his love arrow at Medea. Medea, the princess of Colchis, fell deeply in love with Jason and helped him, thus betraying her family. She gave him “Prometheus’ medicine”, made from plants that had sprouted from Prometheus’ blood. Then she sang a song to put the dragon to sleep. Jason took the golden fleece and then fled with Medea to Iolcus.

Due to the location at Tskaltsitela river it is also known as Tskaltsitela Cave. Despite its small size the cave is quite famous for its endemic cave life. There are various publications about the findings, and we ask you to be careful when visiting the cave. Do not leave anything inside the cave which could influence the natural living conditions.