Smbatian Ramparts :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Smbatian Ramparts

Turkey / Kars / Bash-Shoragyal / Ani

Restoration

The restored parts of these walls seem to conform with the original ones, but certain bad mistakes are observed here. Thus, the emblem of Ani is placed on the rampart adjoining the Principal Gate of the city (named Avag Door in Armenian): according to the available old photographs, it represented a cross, depicted through the play of black and orange tuff stones, which protected the coat-of-arms of the city formed of a lion relief enclosed within a frame (in other words, the cross was the protector of Ani). There were 2 windows on each of the right and left sides of the emblem.

Hakobian Ashot, Archaeological Excavations and Restoration of Monuments in Western Armenia, "Vardzk", 2011, N 4, p. 16.

Prior to the renovation, only the lion relief and the lower half of the frame were preserved, whereas after the restoration, the relief was placed beneath a simple rectangular frame, and the fortified wall was laid without the cross and windows.

Hakobian Ashot, Archaeological Excavations and Restoration of Monuments in Western Armenia, in: "Vardzk", 2011, N 4, pp. 16-17.

The semi-ruined tower on the right side of the principal entrance was restored after a similar one located on its left side, namely, it was completed with outwardly finely-finished stonework, while inwardly, it was re-built with roughly-hewn stones, instead of finely-dressed ones.

Hakobian Ashot, Archaeological Excavations and Restoration of Monuments in Western Armenia, in: "Vardzk", 2011, N 4, p. 17.

Emblem, High Relief

The emblem of Ani, the capital of the Bagratid Kingdom (961 to 1045) of Armenia, was engraved on the Principal Gate (Avag Dur in Armenian) of the city opening from Smbat’s Ramparts.

It represented a panther relief within a frame, with a cross above it, the symbolic protector of the city.

During the restoration of the walls of Ani, carried out in the late 1990s, the emblem was deliberately distorted, whereas in fact, it could have been properly restored on the basis of the available archive photos. Its so-called restorers actually had the aim of obliterating its Armenian features: thus, the frame enclosing the panther relief was simplified into a rectangle, while the cross above it was not restored at all, the remnants of its pedestal, three black stones beneath the panther relief, betraying its former existence.

The Condition of Armenian monuments in Western Armenia, "Vardzk," (Duty of Soul), Yerevan, 2010, p. 61. Also see Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 239.
Karapetian, Samvel. Another Genocide after the Genocide, Yerevan, 2015, p. 19.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archived
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 y․

The emblem of Ani, the capital of the Armenian kingdom of the Bagratids (961 to 1045) carved beneath a cross on the facade of the main gate of the city opening from its Smbatian Ramparts.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2007 y․

The same emblem after its “restoration”

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Shahen Hovsepian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2005 y․

The emblem of Ani after its “restoration”

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 20 c․

The emblem of the city in the early 20th century

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2000 y․

After its “restoration”

Emblem, High Relief

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 240.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

A coat of arms on the facade of the ramparts overlooking Igadzor

Type Photo
View General
Direction From the north
Author Toros Toramanian
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

Smbat’s Ramparts adjoining Avag (Principal) Gate (photo 1900s-1910s)

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the north-west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2005 y․

General view of Smbat’s Ramparts, extending westwards from Karoots (Kars) Gate

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the west
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2008 y․

The north-western section of Smbat’s Ramparts from the west

Type Photo
View Interior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Inner view of Smbat’s Ramparts

Type Photo
View Interior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2011 y․

Inner view of Smbat’s Ramparts

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch

A diagrammatic plan of Smbat’s Ramparts

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2007 y․

The eastern ramparts of Tigran Honents Monastery

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2007 y․

The eastern ramparts of Tigran Honents Monastery

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2007 y․

The eastern ramparts of Tigran Honents Monastery

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Colour Negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

The ramparts extending east of Tigran Honents Monastery

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Archive
Source Colour Negative
Date 1900 — 1910 yy․

The ramparts extending south of Tigran Honents Monastery

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the east
Author Hrayr-Baze Khacherian
Source Colour Negative
Date 2008 y․