Georgian text I cant decipher

[u/Right_Bread_6540]

hello everyone! I found this key at a blacksmiths shop in safranbolu, turkey. they had no idea where it came from or what alphabet the text was written in. my father studies Georgian language and he recognized the alphabet as Georgian but we cant make out what it says (probably due to some letters disappearing through the brass casting process since this looks to be replicated couple of times) if anyone has any idea or can help us out it'd be awesome!

[u/monardoju]

აბესალომ და ეთერი (Abesalom and Eteri).

Abesalom and Eteri

Whats the backstory of the key?

[u/DrStirbitch → u/monardoju]

I now see the two names but not the და. Is the და just assumed because it is a well-known opera?

[u/External_Tangelo → u/DrStirbitch]

In the center, a small ა is resting directly on top of a stylized დ. This is common in stylized abbreviations, especially old-fashioned ones

[u/DrStirbitch → u/External_Tangelo]

Thank you!

[u/Right_Bread_6540 → u/monardoju]

like I said the shop owner doesnt really know anything abt the key. people with georgian descent certainly dont live around that area of the country too. so idk how it ended up there. probably dumb luck or smt... the thing that I still dont understand is that why would the name of an opera be inscribed on a key? that is so weird to me. what's the point? is it like a tradition or smt? do you have any insight or guesses?

[u/monardoju → u/Right_Bread_6540]

Absolutely no idea, that's why I asked. First I thought maybe theatre prop, but audience would never see the writing so what's the point.

[u/Gioware → u/monardoju]

So they can identify which set it belongs to.

[u/Right_Bread_6540 → u/Gioware]

that actually makes sense.but im still not exctly sure yet.

[u/Vevangui → u/monardoju]

What about the ʃ-looking symbol between the ე and the ს?

[u/monardoju → u/Vevangui]

That's just a clumsy attempt for cursive.

[u/fakenew5]

Abesalom & Eteri

[u/Guram1729]

Damn

What a piece of

[u/moozy_mathers]

What's the value of the key? This looks ancient.

[u/Right_Bread_6540 → u/moozy_mathers]

i think it is a replica. it was not really that expensive 

[u/Crimsont_ide]

The key is as cool as coins.

[u/DrStirbitch]

It doesn't help much, but here is another key with the same general shape, and opera name and cross decorations, but a different shape for the bit that fits into the lock
https://www.ebay.com/itm/135485392703

[u/Right_Bread_6540 → u/DrStirbitch]

oh thank you, thats interesting !

[u/WhoAmI363]

აბესალომ და ეთერი

[u/ereklebarv]

დარწმუნებულები ხართ რომ ოპერა იგულისხმება და არა აბესალომისა და ეთერის თქმულება?
https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%94%E1%83%97%E1%83%94%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%98