Zinjir Kale Castle :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Zinjir Kale Castle

Iran / Western Atrpatakan / Salmast / Temer

Location

A fortress known by the name of Zinjir Kale rises at the rocky top of a mountain, on the right side of a valley, 3.2 km south of Temer.

There is another fortress of the same name near the village of Nazarabad, Salmast District.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 526.

Architectural Description

The site retains the remnants of its ramparts and structures as well as several rooms, corridors, a gate, a sepulchre and a medieval water reservoir (N 38º05°20.82°°; E 044º52°36.18°°), all of them cut in the rock.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 528.

The ramparts extend in 2 rows which have different types of masonry: the first one is laid with stones of varying dimensions, without mortar. Interestingly enough, some rocks lying on the way of the walls became part of them, having been hewn only outwardly. The second row comprises stones of almost the same dimensions which are dressed in the form of cubes. In some parts, the preserved ramparts which are outwardly smooth and vertical are 4 metres high and 2 metres wide.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 528.

Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Type Measurement
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2017 y․

General plan of the fortress

Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Author Sassun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Type Measurement
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2017 y․

General plan of the fortress water reservoir