King Gagik I Statue :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

King Gagik I Statue

Turkey / Kars / Bash-Shoragyal / Ani

Historical Introduction

The excavations conducted between 1905 and 1906 unearthed the statue of King Gagik holding the model of the church (it was destroyed by the Turkish invaders of Ani in 1920) in both his hands. At present only a fragment of the statue is kept in the museum of Erzrum without any explanatory note, its employees ignorantly telling visitors that it is the broken part of a fish or lion sculpture.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 123.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Aram Vruyr
Source Black-and-white negative
Date 1915 y․

The statue of King Gagik I unclosed during the excavations of Gagkashen St. Grigor Church

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2008 y․

A fragment of the statue of King Gagik I in Erzrum Museum