Colchic

Colchic is an adjective referring to Colchis, the ancient region along the western coast of the Black Sea. Colchis roughly corresponds to the coastal and near-coastal areas of present-day western Georgia, including parts of Guria, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Adjara, and Imereti. The name derives from the ancient Greek Κολχίς (Colchis).

Geography and ecology: Colchis lay along the eastern Black Sea and was defined in part by the Phasis River (modern Rioni) and the surrounding lowlands and foothills. The region is noted for its humid subtropical climate and lush forests. In contemporary terms, the Colchic Rainforests of Georgia and Turkey represent a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves remnants of the historic Colchian forest belt and its biodiversity.

History: In classical antiquity Colchis was a kingdom famed in Greek myth as the land of Medea and the quest for the Golden Fleece. It served as a commercial hub with Greek colonists along the Phasis. The region experienced influence and control shifting among Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and later Georgian polities. In the early modern period, Colchis came under Ottoman and Russian influence before being incorporated into the modern state of Georgia in the 19th century.

Etymology and usage: Colchic is used in historical, geographical, and cultural contexts to denote things related to Colchis. The term also appears in scientific names derived from Colchis, such as Colchicum, the genus that gives the plant Colchicum autumnale (autumn crocus), whose name is etymologically connected to Colchis.