SYMBOLISM OF NUMBERS AND COLORS IN HITTITE AND ANCIENT GEORGIAN WORLD
SYMBOLISM OF NUMBERS AND COLORS IN HITTITE AND ANCIENT GEORGIAN WORLD

Summary/Abstract: In the ancient East very often we find the symbolism of numbers and colors, naturally neither Hittite nor ancient Georgian world is an exception, where especially, in rituals and prayers numbers and colors are often featured. It is interesting in Georgian prayers, for example, the distribution of numbers a kind of regularity: In prayers for human health the sacral number three predominates, in agricultural prayers – nine, while in the prayers of the infectious diseases - seven. Three and four were considered as important numbers. Three is a symbol of fullness and perfection. Related to three: the universe distribution into three dimensions (The sky, the intermediate and the underworld); Also, birth-life-death; Person (Body-soul-heart); Three dimensions of the time (Past-present-future); Three dimensions of the space (length- width-height); Three dimensions of substance (Solid-liquid-gaseous) and etc. Four is a symbol of integrity, stability, immobility, the cross. Related to four: four elements of the universe, four sides of the universe, four disaster, four seasons of the year, four types of directional wind, etc. The sum of Three and four creates new sacral value seven. It is called a magic number. It expresses the idea of the unity of world. Nine and twelve had an important load. As in Hittite as Georgian mythology we see for example: nine skies, nine mountains, nine seas. Twelve reflects the cosmic order. At the time of sacrifice the Hittites were paying a lot of attention to cattle or small cattle (bulls, sheep, etc.), as well as the number of specially baked breads. There was also ancient Georgian tradition, there should have been a certain number of victims. In the ancient East, including the Hittites and the ancient Georgian faith, the symbolism of colors also had the greatest load in the performances, where dominant were basically three colors: white, red and black. The color white was a symbol of sky, of light, goodness, life, happiness, freedom, of heaven. Black on the contrary - night, darkness, death, hell, respectively expressed betrayal, grief, mourning, misfortune, evil, in every way bad. Red color - the earthly world; On the one hand, life and revival and on the other hand, the color of illness. These colors took very important place in prayers and in magical acts as in Hittite as well in Georgian rituals and magical acts. In addition to these colors over time the other colors also took on a religious, healing, magical character.

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