Ani, a once-thriving medieval city located in the present-day province of Kars in Turkey, near the closed border with Armenia, serves as a significant cultural and historical site. The city’s rich history, architectural innovations, and its role as a cultural and economic hub during the medieval period make it a subject of considerable interest among historians and archaeologists.
Historical Places
Zvartnots Cathedral ruins
Zvartnots Cathedral, a significant relic of medieval Armenian architecture, is located near Vagharshapat, Armenia. Constructed in the 7th century AD, this cathedral is renowned for its distinctive circular design and complex structural features, which include interior piers supporting a multi-tiered arrangement topped by a dome. Despite its current state of ruin, Zvartnots remains a pivotal study subject in the evolution of Armenian ecclesiastical architecture.
Basilica of Yereruyk
The Basilica of Yereruyk is a significant archaeological and architectural site located near the village of Anipemza in the Shirak Province of Armenia. Positioned on a plateau near the Akhurian River, which marks the border with Turkey, the basilica is approximately 5 km southeast of the ancient city of Ani. This site is a paramount example of early Christian architecture in Armenia, reflecting the historical and cultural developments of the region during the early medieval period.
Mumbai’s tower of silence
The Tower of Silence, or dakhma, is a significant cultural and religious edifice located in Mumbai, specifically on the affluent Malabar Hill. This site is dedicated to the Zoroastrian practice of dokhmenashini, a funerary tradition that involves the exposure of deceased bodies to scavenger birds, primarily vultures. This practice, deeply rooted in the Zoroastrian belief system, aims to avoid contaminating the sacred elements of earth, fire, and water with decaying matter.
Binbirkilise
Binbirkilise, translating to “Thousand and One Churches,” is a notable district in the Karaman Province of Turkey, situated within the medieval region of Lycaonia. This area is distinguished by its approximately fifty ruins of Byzantine churches, offering a unique window into the architectural and cultural milieu of the era between the 3rd and 8th centuries AD.
Vardanzi
Vardanzi, also known as Vardanze, represents a significant chapter in the ancient and medieval history of Central Asia. Located 40 kilometers northeast of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, this site has captivated historians and archaeologists with its rich past and the mysteries it holds. The area, now a reserve in the Shafirkan Bukhara region, was once a bustling town that played a crucial role in the region’s socio-political and economic landscape.