A Descendant of Medea at the End of Long Island
Every time I meet someone new in the United States, I introduce myself by saying, “Hi, I’m Sissy, from Georgia.”
Usually, they look surprised and say, “Oh, really? You don’t have a Southern accent!”
Then I smile and reply, “No, no—not the state of Georgia, the country of Georgia.” 🇬🇪
At that point, they often say, “Ah, Russia?”
And I laugh gently and say, “No, not Russia—Georgia is near Russia.”
Then I start describing my country geographically:
Georgia is a small but strategically important country located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, in the South Caucasus region. Its unique location has made it a historical bridge between civilizations—and often a battleground for empires.
To the north, Georgia borders the Russian Federation, along the towering Greater Caucasus Mountains, which form a natural boundary. To the south, it borders Turkey and Armenia, two countries with deep cultural and historical ties to Georgia. To the southeast, it borders Azerbaijan, sharing both trade routes and cultural exchanges. To the west, Georgia opens to the Black Sea, giving it access to Europe, maritime trade, and a vital geopolitical position.
After the geography lesson, I like to move to history—especially ancient history. That’s when I mention Medea.
“Have you ever read the ancient Greek writer Euripides’ play Medea?” I ask.
If they haven’t, I continue: “What about the opera Medea? Have you ever seen Maria Callas perform? She played Medea.”
The territory of modern Georgia has been continuously inhabited since the Early Stone Age. In classical antiquity, the early Georgian kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia flourished, forming the roots of Georgian culture and statehood.
Medea was a princess of Colchis, the ancient kingdom in western Georgia. Surely you’ve heard the myth of Jason and the Argonauts—how Jason and Medea fell in love, stole the Golden Fleece from King Aeëtes, and fled to Greece.
Medea, I like to say, was the very first immigrant woman from the country of Georgia. 🇬🇪
And that’s when people become truly fascinated by my story.
Here I am a descendant of Medea at the end of Long Island.
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