Queen Katramide's Tomb :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Queen Katramide's Tomb 11 c․

Turkey / Kars / Bash-Shoragyal / Ani

Location

The burial vault which is conventionally attributed to Queen Katramide and the adjoining two funerary structures stand within 3 to 4 metres of the Cathedral, in the east of it.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 194.

Historical Introduction

“Queen Katramide’s” sepulchre dates from the 11th century and represents a plain building resembling a square in plan. It is strengthened with pilasters in its corners. The excavations conducted in 2004 unclosed the pedestal fragment of a tombstone inside the building.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 194.

Most probably, both the chapel adjoining the sepulchre in the north and the rectangular hall abutting on the chapel in the same direction served as mortuary vaults. During the aforementioned excavations, the grave-stones of Priests Abraham and Ruben, with their epitaphs undated, were unearthed in the hall. As of 2006, these tombstones were broken to pieces.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 194.

Architectural Description

Exterior dimensions of the sepulchre: 19.3 x 7 metres.

Karapetian, Samvel. Ani 1050, Yerevan, 2011, p. 194.

Research Materials

During the excavations of 2004, a number of adjacent mortuary chapels (their direction is north-southward) were unearthed very close to the eastern wall of the Cathedral. One of them had inscribed tombstones belonging to clergymen.

Hakobian Ashot, Archaeological Excavations and Restoration of Monuments in Western Armenia, in: "Vardzk", 2011, N 4, p. 14.

2007 y․

In 2007 we found these gravestones turned upside down, with the remains of the deceased thrown out and scattered here and there. Evidently, the acts of vandalism perpetrated by those searching for treasure beneath them are the result of the connivance of the security guards of the city site-museum, who are appointed by the authorities of the country; moreover, they may be directly involved in these barbarities.

The city site has the status of a museum where admission is acquired with tickets until 6 p.m.; therefore, we may state that the act of destruction was committed inside a museum and remained unpunished. We are convinced that there would have been no such injustice if the damage had been caused to the minaret of the only Islamic monument of Ani—the mosque of Manuche... Hakobian Ashot, Archaeological Excavations and Restoration of Monuments in Western Armenia, in: "Vardzk", 2011, N 4, p. 14.

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

A sepulchre attributed to Queen Katramide and some adjoining funerary structures during the excavations

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Jean-Michel Thierry
Source Colour Negative
Date 1970 y․

The sepulchre attributed to Queen Katramide and the adjoining funerary structures in the 1970s

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Jean-Michel Thierry
Source Colour Negative
Date 1970 y․

The sepulchre attributed to Queen Katramide and the adjoining funerary structures in the 1970s

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the south
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

Type Photo
View Exterior
Direction From the east
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative
Date 2004 y․

Type Measurement
View Exterior
Author Toros Toramanian, Ashot Hakobian
Source Sketch
Date 2011 y․

The plan of the sepulchre attributed to Queen Katramide and the adjoining funerary structures. Church measurement by Toros Toramanian; the measurement of annexes by Ashot Hakobian

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

The funerary chapel unclosed in the east of the Cathedral during the excavations (2004)

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

After its destruction by gold diggers (2007)