As
a result of the progressive policy he pursued as well as a favourable
international situation, Georgia became a powerful feudal monarchal state which
subordinated neighbouring countries to its influence and sought to play a
leading role among all those of the Near East.
The Gelati Monastery was founded
by King David IV in 1106. One of the most important constructions which King David IV built during his lifetime,
the Gelati Monastery reflects the more typical features of the time as regards
the arrangement and style of its structures and murals.
Wishing
to establish in his homeland a centre of enlightenment which would be in no way
inferior to any of the renowned hearts of culture in Byzantium or in countries
of the Near East, King David IV founded an Academy at the Gelati Monastery and
invited to teach there the most outstanding Georgian theologians, philosophers
and doctors of law, many of whom had previously been active at various
monasteries abroad or at the Mangan Academy in Constantinople. Among the
scientists invited were such celebrated sholards as Ioann Petricci and Arsen
Ikaltoeli. Due to the extensive enlightening work carried out by the Gelati
Academy people of the time called it �a second Athens�, �a new Hellas�.