Gharniyarukh Castle :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Gharniyarukh Castle

Iran / Western Atrpatakan / Salmast / Ajvaj

Description

The remnants of a fortress (Upper Fortress) are preserved at the top (N 38º05°53.77°°; E 044º42°21.72°°) of the rocky mountain of Gharniyarukh (extending from the west to the north-east), 2.5 km north-east of Ajvaj, at an altitude of 1,910 metres. The surviving parts of another fortress (Lower Fortress) can be seen to the north, on some rocks extending down the mountain slopes like branches. The Upper Fortress, which dates from the times of Van Kingdom (9th to 6th centuries B.C.), served its purpose for at least several millennia: “That gigantic mountain which stands isolated looks quite interesting: it is composed of the same fragile, sand-like stone that is also found in other mountains, but its summit, about 5 sazhens [a unit of measurement] high, is formed of solid white stone. From that white crown of stone, four horseshoe-shaped branches [of rocks] stretch downward, to the north. Each of them likewise about 5 sazhens high, they gradually become lower on their way to the foot [of the mountain], forming three narrow valleys extending from the top to the bottom.”

Աթայեան Ա., Սալմաստ [A. Atayan, Salmast] (New Jugha, 1906), p. 9. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, pp. 95-98.

The fortress is more accessible from the north; from the south and partly from the east, it is enclosed within rocks which are almost perpendicular, their height reaching 60 metres. In approximately the middle part of these rocks, three cut-in-rock sepulchres can be seen. The western one (no. 3), which has a rectangular entrance, used to be rather difficult of access, being reached through a narrow passage of rocks extending along the very edge of the gorge. In the course of time, the corrosion of some rocks led to the collapse of some parts of the passage, rendering the sepulchre absolutely inaccessible. Due to its impregnable location, it has never been studied. The other two sepulchres (already presented to the scientific community), no. 4 (N 38º05°54.24°°; E 044º42°22.68°°) and no. 5 (N 38º05°54.18°°; E 044º42°24.00°°), which adjoin each other, are located about 130 metres east of sepulchre no. 3. Outwardly, they look almost similar, each of them with a rectangular entrance. Another sepulchre (no. 6) is located opposite the remnants of the Lower Fortress, towards the bottom of another rock branch. It represents a simple rectangular room of a low, even ceiling, with a small, rectangular hollow in the south-west. Two grooves, stretching along the walls, come to join this hollow from two sides.

Judging from a record of the early 20th century, none of the sepulchres was easy of access: “Some small chambers are dug (probably, through infernal suffering) in almost impregnable places, inside the solid white rock. It is rather difficult to enter these rooms” (Աթայեան Ա., Սալմաստ [A. Atayan, Salmast] (New Jugha, 1906), pp. 10-11). Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 98.

The remnants of some ramparts laid with undressed stone and low-quality mortar—a type of masonry typical of the late Middle Ages—are still preserved within the fortress site: “At the top of that mountain, the evident vestiges of a destroyed fortress and some houses can be seen: they do not seem to be very old.”

Աթայեան Ա., Սալմաստ [A. Atayan, Salmast] (New Jugha, 1906), p. 10. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 98.

The following extract regarding the Turko-Persian wars of the 16th to 17th centuries confirms that the fortress of Gharniyarukh was still of great strategic significance during this period: “Reaching Salmast, Ali Pasha and the Ottoman troops saw that Ghazi Khan had gone to Urmi. However, before going there, they first of all decided to take Salmast and its strong fortress called Gharniyarukh. Throughout three months, the Ottoman troops kept fighting for the fortress, but they proved unable to conquer it.”

Առաքել Դաւրիժեցի, Գիրք պատմութեանց [Arakel Davrizhetsy, A Book of Histories] (Yerevan, 1990), p. 65. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 98.

In 1976 the fortress and sepulchres were studied by the Italian expedition led by architect A. Alpago-Novello.

Ricerca sull’ architettura Armena. Iran, vol. II, 18, rapporto della missione 1976 [Research on Armenian Architecture: Iran, vol. 2, 18, Mission Report 1976] (Milan, 1978), pp. 166-168. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 98.

Countless pottery fragments, covering a broad time-span, are scattered all over the site of the fortress.

For a more detailed description of the fortress and the preserved structures, see Ahrenjani, pp. 106-115. Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 98.

Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetian
Date 2011 y․

Direction From the south
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Date 2011 y․

Direction From the north-east
Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Type Measurement
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2017 y․

Author Samvel Karapetyan
Date 2011 y․

View `
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Date 2011 y․