Born in 1413, Giosafat (Josaphat) Barbaro descended from a prominent Venetian family and, following in his ancestors footsteps, he pursued a career in commerce. In 1436-1452, he frequently travelled to the Black Sea region, visiting the Genoese colony Tana on the Sea of Azov and the Crimea. In 1463, with Venice engaged in a war against the ottoman Turks, the Venetian Senate made efforts to establish an alliance with Uzun Hassan, the ruler of Persia. In 1472, Barbaro was selected as a new Venetian ambassador to Persia. On his way there, he visited Georgia and left interesting account in his memoir Viaggi fatti da Vinetia alla Tana, in Persia....
They [Georgians] go with their heads rounded and shaven, leaving only a little around, after the
manner of our abbots that have great revenues; and they let their mustache to grow
[a quarter of a yard] longer than their beards. On their heads they wear a
little cap, of divers colors, with a crest on the top. On their backs, they
wear certain long garments that are straight and open behind down to the
buttocks; for, otherwise, they could not get on horseback; wherein I do not
blame them, for I see the Frenchmen use them [similar garments] as well. On
their feet and legs they wear boots, up to their knees, made with their soles
of such a sort that when they stand, the heel and toes touch the ground but the
plant of the foot stands so high that you may easily thrust your fist
underneath without hurting of it. It follows, then, that when they go afoot,
they walk with pain. I would have impugned them for this if I had not known
that the Persians do the same.
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