I'll start from afar. From the campaign of the Argonauts to ancient Colchis (ancient Greek Κολχίς -Colchis) for the golden fleece (presumably in the 1st century BC). This state was located along the eastern coast of the Black Sea (Black Sea coast of the Caucasus), occupying the Colchis Lowland and adjacent areas. Modern localization - Abkhazia, part of Georgia and part of Turkey:
In this myth, there is a description of the passage by the Argo ship between the rocks called Symplegades:
Athena helps the Argonauts pass between the Symplegades.
From the book by G. Stoll "Myths of Classical Antiquity".
It is believed that the passage of the Argonauts through the Bosphorus is described here. This is how the Bosphorus Strait looks now:
It does not fit this description at all. Perhaps it was already before? But all the same, what is described in this myth is very similar to the description of the gateway! That is, an artificial hydraulic structure, but not natural. Only one description of such an ancient grandiose structure has survived to this day - this is the Derbent Iron Gate. Of course, where is Colchis and where is Derbent? They are separated by 500 km of high mountains. But most importantly, the Argonauts were on their way to Colchis. Or is it to Derbent? Let's check the possibility of such a trip purely theoretically.
Promotional video:
All old maps show us that Colchis was separated from the neighboring state of Iberia (and now Georgia) by a mountain range going in the meridional direction. This statement is confirmed by many old maps:
Fragment of the map cornelis de jode 1578
On this map Colchis is called Mengrelia, Georgia - Iberia. Here is what N. Witsen writes about this in his book "Northern and Eastern Tartary":
On the next map, the mountains are shown approximately as on the previous one, but the Caspian Sea is stretched vertically:
Colchis Iberia Albania Quaeq; Caucasiae Gentes Istmum qui Pontum Euxinu Caspium q; Mare Interjacet Incolunt. … … 1694
Newer map:
Fragment of the map guillaume de l'isle of Persia (Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan) 1724.
And Witsen's descriptions of these mountains confirm:
But in the current situation, we see something else:
And even more clearly:
Caucasus and South of Russia from space.
And this is how it looks on the geological map of the Caucasus:
geological map of the North Caucasus.
Here we see two deflections that are almost connected to each other. On one of them flows the Kura River, which flows into the Caspian Sea, on the other, the Rioni River, which flows into the Black Sea. This map shows very clearly:
Anciens Empires Jusqua Alexandre. Atlas Elementaire Simplifie 1838.
Only here is also shown a powerful divide between these rivers. Athenes - Athens?
Derbent is now much higher than this trough, and a mountain ridge separates it from it. But an interesting description is found in N. Witsen:
From which we can conclude that if the passage between the Black and Caspian Seas was not built, then in any case it was being built. The mentioned wall, apparently, is the Great Caucasian Wall, the remains of which have survived to our time.
Scheme of the passage of the Caucasian Wall.
Further, a quote from the book of N. Witsen:
Derbent, old city plan.
Shown here is a rounded wall jutting out into the sea, and perhaps there was this iron gate in it? But the description is not about the fortress wall, but about the wall connecting the mountains, from sea to sea. Moreover, this description is not from one source, since Witsen collected information from hundreds of sources in his book. He only systematized it, sometimes adding his comments expressing his opinion on the reliability or inaccuracy of the information he published.
Maybe this gate looked something like this?
Chirkeyskaya HPP on the Sulak River, Dagestan.
Earlier, Derbent was painted at the mouth of the river:
Fragment of the cornelis de jode 1578 map.
Fragment of the map willem janszoon blaeu 1640.
But at present there are no rivers, there is only the Samur-Derbent Canal, built in 1960. Passing through Derbent, approximately parallel to the coastline of the Caspian Sea at a distance of about 2 km from it. Of course, old maps can be wrong. But it is also quite logical to assume that one of the oldest (or the oldest?) Cities in this region was built at the mouth of some large river flowing into the sea, and not at a randomly selected place, without any waterways connecting it with other cities.
This description of Derbent from the book of N. Witsen says about the gorge, but nothing about the river:
Derbent, Naryn-Kala fortress.
"It is impossible to pass through the mountains" - sounds logical. But for some reason, the builders of the Great Wall of China did not think so, otherwise they would not have built it. Continued on the connection between these two great walls.
Continued: Part 2.
Author: i_mar_a
