kh (khani) and
e (eni) letters
; the grapheme denoting sound
e does not have an upper short vertical line and it has a lower short horizontal
line on the left side (Tab. 4, 5).
Further, in our opinion, there is one more monogram expressing archaic Asomtavruli
ts’ili (letter
denoting sound
ts’ ) (without rounded head, simple shape; Tab. 6) and also archaic Asomtavruli
ghani (Tab. 8)
– sound
gh ; these graphemes are connected to each other with the ligature; and the horizontal line on the top
of the grapheme
ghani, supposedly, is a charagma in this case as well (Tab. 7).
Supposedly, the next character is a monogram as well, containing, graphemes denoting Georgian
letters
w (
vie ; Tab, 9) and
e (Tab. 10); and in the end, on the left edge, in our view, there is an ornament (Tab.
11).
Though, as mentioned above, the postament was deformed for many centuries, we can see the word
that is frequently used in Georgian inscriptions of early period and it is maintained on the postament
in archaic form , this is the word
“ shekhets ` ie ” (“
შეხეწიე
” /“help him /her / them”), frequently used in the Christian
religious texts.
We can offer that on the postament of Grakliani altar, there are the graphemes, phonetic matches of
which are the following Georgian letters: “
z a d n sh h kh e ts` gh w e ” and after taking into consideration the
charagmas, on the postament, we can read the words: “
