New Part of the Ecosystem: Hecate’s Garden - Reviving 33 Centuries of Colchian Culture

"He gave her [Hecate] splendid gifts
to have a share of the earth and the unfruitful sea,
She received honour also in starry heaven,
and is honoured exceedingly by the deathless gods.” Theogony, Hesiod, 8th - 7th century BCE.

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Most of us have heard the myth of the Argonauts. The story of Greek heroes who, led by Jason, endured great trials and journeyed to the Kingdom of Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece. In the end, their mission succeeded, but the story cannot truly be told without Medea. The gifted sorceress known as Medea of Colchis, daughter of King Aeëtes - is a figure whose complexity has fascinated humanity across centuries and cultures. Considering that the mythical Kingdom of Colchis covered parts of what is now western Georgia, Medea becomes especially significant for us as Georgians.

It is this importance that inspired Hecate’s Garden, a new space within the Starring Georgia ecosystem, created in the landscape of modern-day Colchis. The garden tells the story of Medea - priestess of Hecate’s temple, a mythical figure associated with ancient folk medicine and healing traditions.

“This concept reflects our aspiration to introduce more people to Colchian wisdom, our healing traditions, Georgian medicinal plants, and located at Ares’s Grove - Hecate’s Garden, considered one of the earliest botanical gardens on Earth.“ - Bringing a story that began in ancient times to life within Musicians’ Park in Shekvetili carries more than symbolic meaning. For the creators of the idea, the space also serves an important practical purpose: “The space is formed around a pescatarian kitchen, a holistic bar, and a curated conceptual store experience. Beyond the physical environment, Hecate’s Garden will seasonally host educational programs and offer workshops for those interested in exploring these subjects more deeply.”

It is no secret that the initiatives developed around Musicians’ Park have always shared one central goal - strengthening and highlighting the connection between people and nature. Whether through music events or educational workshops, every idea created in this space ultimately returns to this simple yet powerful philosophy.

Hecate’s Garden was created with a dual purpose - on one hand, to provide people with deeper knowledge of Colchian wisdom, Medea, and herbalism (phytology) and on the other, to inspire visitors to rediscover ancient knowledge and rebuild their relationship with nature.

This idea is built around several key directions:

Demonstration garden of medicinal herbs
Kitchen focused exclusively on healthy cuisine
Mixology space and tea bar
Curated retail space
Greenhouse

Hecate's Garden

At first glance, Hecate’s Garden may seem like the ideal destination for those who seek to uncover nature’s mystical secrets and incorporate them into everyday life. Yet it is important to remember that these secrets have often been preserved by people themselves. For this reason, the space is also intended to become a home for individuals interested in organic farming and phytological education communities, which the team of Starring Georgia actively supports:

“We aim to strongly support innovative startups developing biologically clean products that can benefit people at every stage of life. We believe that by promoting Georgian medicinal plants, supporting traditional entrepreneurship and empowering local communities, we can present our country, the experience of visiting the historical lands of Colchis, in a truly distinctive way, while helping people who want to make a positive contribution to the world.”

The idea that people living on Georgian lands have long sought harmony with nature can already be found in ancient texts such as Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes. We do not want the modern trace of this heritage to disappear and one of the ways we aim to preserve it is through Hecate’s Garden’s curated retail space. Many people in the Guria region continue to create natural products based on knowledge passed down through generations. Our space will become a platform for these creators, helping their contributions grow and introducing their products to a wider audience.

Hecate’s Garden will welcome its first visitors in July, offering them the opportunity to connect more deeply with the space, contribute to its growth and evolution and most importantly - become part of the great legend that has nourished our culture from ancient times to the present day.