Berdavan Fortress, also known as Ghalinjakar Fortress, stands as a significant historical monument in Armenia. Located on a hilltop near the village of Berdavan in the Tavush Province, close to the border with Azerbaijan, the fortress is situated 664 meters above sea level. This strategic position highlights its historical importance in the region’s defense and control.
Historical Places
Bethsaida
Bethsaida, a name that resonates with historical and biblical significance, has been a subject of scholarly interest and debate for centuries. Known in various sources as Bethsaida, Julias, or Julia, this ancient site holds a pivotal place in the narratives of the New Testament, where it is mentioned as the hometown of apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip. The etymology of Bethsaida, deriving from Aramaic and Hebrew meaning ‘House of the Fisherman’ or ‘House of the Hunter’, underscores its presumed economic activities and geographical setting near the Sea of Galilee.
Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park
Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park, located 13 kilometers from Kiryat Gat in central Israel, is a site of significant historical and archaeological importance. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the park encompasses a vast network of caves, alongside the remnants of the ancient towns of Maresha and Bayt Jibrin. It is important to note that while the park includes these historical towns, the UNESCO designation specifically pertains to the cave network.
Najm al-Din Kubra Mausoleum
The Legacy of Najm ad-Din Kubra and His MausoleumNajm ad-Din Kubra, a prominent 13th-century Khwarezmian Sufi, played a pivotal role in the development of Sufi metaphysics during his lifetime. Born in 1145 AD in Konye-Urgench, Kubra’s journey into Sufism began after his initial scholarly pursuits in hadith and kalam. His transformative Sufi journey commenced in…
The Govan Stones
The Govan Stones, housed within Govan Old Parish Church in Glasgow, Scotland, represent a significant collection of early-medieval carved stones of international importance. This collection, originating from the churchyard of the same site, encompasses a variety of monumental sculptures including the unique Govan Sarcophagus, four standing crosses, five Anglo-Scandinavian hogbacks, and numerous recumbent burial monuments. These artifacts, predominantly dating from the 9th to the 11th centuries AD, offer profound insights into the religious, cultural, and political life of the period.
Qal’at Bani Hammad
Qal’at Bani Hammad, also known as the Qal’a of Beni Hammad, is a notable archaeological site located in Algeria. This fortified palatine city, now in ruins, was established in the 11th century AD and served as the inaugural capital of the Hammadid dynasty. Positioned in the Hodna Mountains northeast of M’Sila, at an elevation of 1,418 meters, the site benefits from the abundant water supply from the surrounding mountains. It is situated near the town of Maadid, approximately 225 kilometers southeast of Algiers, in the Maghreb region.