Queen Tamara Tower is located in the Daryal Gorge, on the bank of the Terek River.
According to Strabo, the first fortifications were constructed here in the I century BC.
Cumania, an eastern advance post of the Georgian Kingdom is also mentioned in the writings of Pliny the Elder (I century AD).
However, these fortifications seem to have been destroyed – in the V century king Vakhtang Gorgasali (440-502) had to construct new defences to repel the Alan incursions into the region.
In the XII century, these defences were further strengthened by David IV ‘The Buider’ (1073-1125).
The name ‘Queen Tamara Tower’ appeared much later.
In 1841, the poet Mikhail Lermontov visited the Daryal Gorge and wrote the poem “Tamar”.
However, there is no evidence that proves any connection between these fortifications and the medieval Georgian monarch.
The remnants of the western wall and the masonry of other walls survive to this day.
Three watchtowers are preserved atop the surviving wall.
The foundations of some utility buildings are also extant.