Abstract

Nowadays, the role of symbols has been imperative for scholars to shape national identity both for nationalism and memory studies. The article focuses on the formation of the historical consciousness of the Russian imperial court and Eastern Georgian state by creating a shared past, addressing the Byzantine imperial symbols. The appropriation of the Byzantine symbol of power, the eagle (single-headed/doubleheaded) by both states, directly emphasized their political views, ambition, and nexus with the Byzantine Empire and expressed an awareness of their unity with the Christian Empire. The appropriation of the legacies of the Byzantine Empire between two historical actors, claiming an inheritance visibly demonstrates how and why they praised, esteemed, and evaluated the medieval Byzantine Empire as the Model state and how they were able to claim the inheritance to which they were entitled.

Keywords:Eagle; Imperial symbols; Memory; National identity; Symbols of power