- Colchis was a State during the Greco-Roman era, which was located on the eastern coast of the Black Sea in what is today western Georgia.
- In Greek Mythology, Jason and the Argonauts landed in Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece.
Caucasian Iberia
- To the east was the Kingdom of Iberia which is now eastern Georgia. Being on the Caucasus, Colchis and Iberia were buffer states between Rome and the Parthian Empire, like Armenia.
History
- During the 1st century BCE, the Kingdom of Colchis came under the control of the Kingdom of Pontus.
- In 65 BCE, during the Third Mithridatic War against Mithridates VI of Pontus, the Romans invaded Pontus led by Pompey and Lucullus, and Pontus became a Roman Province.
- At the same time, Colchis became the Roman Province of Lazica or Lazicum. Iberia, its neighbour to the east, was made into a Roman Client Kingdom.
- In 63 CE, Nero made it part of the Pontus.
- In 81 CE, Domitian made it part of Cappadocia.
- During the 3rd century CE, Colchis became independent again and was known as the Kingdom of Lazica, with its capital at Archeopolis (Nikalakevi, Georgia). It remained independent until 562 CE.
Nikalakevi (Archeopolis), Georgia