Monument in Batumi, Georgia, to the Kolkhetian Princess Medea holding the Golden Fleece of Greek Mythology
The Kolkhetian people flourished and developed an expertise in the smelting and casting of metals long before this skill was mastered in Europe. The Kolkhi people had developed a unique way to prospect for gold.
A sheep’s fleece was attached to a wooden support and left in a fast flowing mountain stream causing particles of gold to collect in the wool. The fleece would then be hung in a tree to dry before the gold was shaken or combed out. This technique for collecting gold may have given rise to the legend of Jason and his quest for the Golden Fleece. The Greek historian Strabo (44 B.C.-23 A.D.) mentioned the kingdom of Kolkheti in his Book IX of Geography: “In the mountain rivers of this country there is a lot of gold mined by these barbarians using perforated vessels and sheepskin”.
The Georgian National Museum
(Archaelogy)
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