Karoots Door :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Karoots Door

Turkey / Kars / Bash-Shoragyal / Ani

In 2004 two information boards were photographed near Karoots (Kars) Gate of the city site of Ani, one of them containing a Turkish text and the other an English one:
The Turkish text reads: Anı Harabeleri. Anı şehrinde ilk yerleşme M.Ö. 5000-3000 yılaıda Kalkolitik çağda başlar. M.Ö. 3000-2000 eski tunç devri yerleşmesi. M.Ö. 2000’de Demir çağinda Hurri yerleşmesi. M.Ö. 900-700 yılları arasında Urartu devleti yerleşmesi. M.Ö. 650 yıllarında Kimmeri hakimiyeti. M.Ö. 626-149 Saka Türkleri (İskit) Hakimiyeti. M.Ö. 350-300 yıllarında şehir eski Öğuz Boylarından Arsaklվların Kemer Sakanlı soyundan Karampart tarafından yeniden kurulmuştur. M.S. 430-646 yılları arasında Sasani hakimiyeti. M.S. 646 yıllda Halife Hz. Ömer devrinde Anı ve çevresi Arapların eline geçmiştir. M.S. 732 yılında Bağratlı Beyligi egmenliğine geçmiştir. M.S. 966 yıllında Bağratlı III Aşot tarafından şehir surları yaptırılarak Anı krallık merkezi olmuştur. M.S. 1045 yılında şehir Bizanslıların eline geçmiştir. M.S. 1064 yılında Selçuk Sultanı Alparslan tarafından şehir alınarak Şeddat Oğulları Beyliğine verilmiştir. M.S. 1199 yılında Ani Gürcü Atabeylerin eline geçmiştir. M.S. 1226 yılında Harzemşah devletine tabi olmuştur. M.S. 1235 yılında Moğol istilasına uğrayarak şehir tahrip edilmiş ve sonra eyalet merkezi olmuştur. M.S. 1339-1344 yılları arasında İlhanlılar egemenliğine geçmiştir. M.S. 1406-1467 yılları arasında Karakoyunlu devleti hakimiyeti altına geçmiştir. M.S. 1467-1516 Akkoyunlular devleti hakimiyeti. M.S. 1516-1534 yılları arasında Afşar Türkleri hakimiyeti. M.S. 1534 yılında Osmanlı İmparatorlugu topraklarına katılmıştır. M.S. 1878 yılında Ruslar tarafından istila ile 40 yıl anavatandan ayrı kalmıştır. M.S. 1921 yılında istiklal harbi sırasında Ruslardan geri alınmıştır. The English board says: The History of Ani The first settlment in Ani was begun in 4th millenium B.C. in Kalkolitic era. In 3000-1200 B.C. the ancient Bronz age. In the 2nd Millenium Hurris settlend down Iron age. In 900-700 B.C. the state of Urartu settlend down. In 650 B.C. sovereignty of Kimmer. In 626-149 B.C. sovereignty of Saka (Iskit) Turks. In B.C. 149 A.D. 430 soverignty Arsaks. In 430-646 A.D. the soverignty Sasani. In 646 it was taken possession of Arabs in period of Hz. Ömer the Caliph. In 732 it was obtained by Bagrats. In 966 Ramports of the city was built by Asot III. who from Bagrat then the city was used as the capital of kingdom. In 1045 it was obtained by Byzantionus. In 1064 the city was obtained by Alparslan who was the Sultan of Seljuks after words it was given to the tribe of &eddado$ullari. In 1199 it was obtaind by Georgianus Atabey. In 1226 it was obtained by the state of Harzam'ah. In 1235 it was demolished during the Mongol invasion. In 1339-1344 it was obtained by the state of Ilhanli.In 1406-1467 it was obtained by the of Karakoyunlu. In 1467-1516 the soverenigty of the state of Akkoyunlu. In 1516-1534 it was taken possess on of Afsar Turks. In 1534 it was added to the lands of Ottoman empire. In 1878 it was invaded by Russia for 40 years. In 1921 it was taken back from Russia During the war of independence. Transl. from Turkish: Ruins of Ani. Habitation in the city of Ani dates back to the Aeneolithic Age, 5000 to 3000 B.C. Between 3000 and 2000 B.C., it was an Early Bronze Age place (the English text of the board has the year 1200 instead of 2000). In the Iron Age (2000 B.C.), it was inhabited by Hurrians. From 900 until 700 B.C., it was an Urartian place. In 650 B.C. Ani was made part of the Achaemenid State. Between 626 and 149 B.C., it was under the reign of Saka (Iskit) Turks. From 350 until 300 B.C., it was rebuilt by Karampart, one of the representatives of the Kamsarakans’ family of the Arshakids, who descended from the old tribe of the Oghuz (instead of all this text, the English board only says that it was under the Arshakids’ rule between 149 B.C. and 430 A.D. (“In B.C. 149 A.D. 430 soverignty Arsaks”)). From 430 until 646, the city was under the Sassanids’ reign. Under Holy Caliph Omer, in 646, Ani and its vicinity shifted into Arab domination. In 732 the city became part of the Bagratid State. In 966 Ashot Bagratid III erected ramparts in the city which became the capital of his kingdom. In 1045 it shifted into Byzantine rule. In 1064 it was occupied by Seljuk Sultan Alp-Arslan, who put it under the sway of the Sheddatoghullus. In 1199 Ani was taken by the Georgian princes. In 1226 it was subjugated by the state of Harzemshah. During the Mongol invasions of 1235, the city was conquered and devastated. Later it became a provincial centre. From 1339 until 1344, it was subject to the Ilhanlies. Between 1406 and 1467, it was under the reign of the Kara Koyunlus, and from 1467 until 1516, the Ak Koyunlus dominated there. From 1516 until 1534, it was under the reign of Afshar Turks. In 1534 the city was incorporated into the territories of the Ottoman Empire. In 1878 it was conquered by the Russians being isolated from its motherland for 40 years. During the war for independence (1921), it was taken back from the Russians.

Kortoshian Raffi, What is Concealed in the Turkish Information Boards of Historical Monuments in Western Armenia?, in: "Vardzk", 2011, N 4, pp. 8-10.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

Inner Karoots (Kars) Gate outwardly

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

Inner Karoots (Kars) Gate outwardly

Type Photo
View Interior
Author Stephen Sim
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

Inner Karoots (Kars) Gate inwardly

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

Partial view of the interior of the towers of Karoots (Kars) Gate

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Nicholas Marr
Source Sketch

The plan of Inner Karoots (Kars) Gate

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

Partial view of the interior of the towers of Karoots (Kars) Gate