IF KILIKIA IS IN YOUR HEART . . . THEN SAIL ON!
Sender: Jack Manuelian
PanARMENIAN.Net
Published: 13.05.2007
Thousands of years ago Noah landed his ship on Mt. Ararat, today his
original descendants were able to ‘land’ another ship near the slopes
of Mt. Ararat, the ship’s name is Kilikia, an exclusive Armenian
ship that was built by AYAS, the only specialists in navigation on
middle-age ships in the world.
The Armenia kingdom of Kilikia evokes a special resonance from
the heart of the Armenians, at gatherings they often still
sing nostalgically their well-beloved song "how I wish to see my
Kilikia." Hopefully visitors of lake Sevan in Armenia this summer would
be able to enjoy a tiny taste and a small glimpse of medieval Kilikia
when they sail on board the replica of the medieval ship Kilikia; yes,
that same historical Armenian ship that Armenians have rebuilt and
navigated the seven seas during 2004, 2005, and 2006, then brought
it back on September 2006 to Yerevan, Armenia, close to Mt. Ararat;
there were twelve ancient Armenian historical banners flying on the
ship in addition of the present tricolor flag.
Presently the ship should be undergoing a renovation and complete
maintenance job, and it is expected that this summer it will be
moved to a special pier on lake Sevan, near the Sevanavank peninsula,
a popular recreation destination with modernA hotels and campsites
along the comfortable beaches where Armenians and tourists go every
summer for fun, for swimming, and for vacation.
According to the captain of Kilikia, Karen Balayan, the ship will be
a working museum on Lake Sevan. The visitors will correspond with the
history of Armenia and that of the ship. Sailing trips on abroad the
ship for one, two, and three hours will be organized. Maintaining and
running this floating museum entails a lot of expenses and is beyond
the financial reaches of "Ayas" the Nautical Research Club which owns
the ship and has only few members. The captain hopes that individual
sponsors and the AR government will pick up the expenses.
If you have ever dreamed sailing on Kilikia then this summer could be
your chance on Lake Sevan, some 2000 meters high above sea level. Be
sure to contact first "Ayas" for certainty, as plans in Armenia can
be changed from one day to the other.
, [email protected]. Phones: +37410 578510 (ph/fax),
+37491 430382.
Literature printed by Ayas states that "AYAS Nautical Research Club
(the only specialists in navigation on middle-age ships in the world)
had built a replica of XIII century merchant sailing-ship of the
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, and had sailed by medieval trade sea
routes around Europe, via the Black, the Mediterranean, the North, the
Baltic Seas and the Atlantic Ocean. The ship had been reconstructed
in strict accordance with the information found in the medieval
manuscripts and miniatures have used the techniques and technologies
available in XIII century. The travels have equipped ‘Cilicia’ with
all accessories traditional to the XIII century (navigation tools,
merchandise goods, meals, clothes, etc.) replicating the methods of
navigation and the lifestyle of medieval sailors. The main goal of
the experiment is to feel and to check how our ancestors had sailed
and operated with this kind of vessels. As a result of experiment
we could note as technical details of sailing and operating of the
vessel, as psychological aspects of living aboard of the ship during
long term sailing."
Ayas is the port city of ancient Kilikia where the original ship was
built by Armenians in XIII century. Today Ayas still exists but the
Turks call it Yumurtalik. As to the 100% Armenian Ayas Club, the
literature the captain gave me (with permission to quote) states:
"Ayas Nautical Research Club was founded in 1985. The range of its
activities is quite wide including historical aspects of World and
Armenian navigation and shipbuildings, reconstruction of ancient
Armenian vessels, study of sea routes, old maps, navigation devices,
banners, collecting data on Armenian navigators, making underwater
archaeological surveys and research. Since 1985 the Club has
organized 15 exhibitions and has carried out several surveys on
Armenian navigation. There are more than five thousand books in the
Club library. Twenty-six different types of vessels (rafts, leather
boats, log-boats, boats and ships) used in historical Armenia,
were restored and reconstructed. Members of the Club permanently
participate in international conferences on underwater archaeology
and nautical history and have published a number of articles. The
Club has established connections with similar organizations worldwide
and is the member of International Commission of Maritime History,
International Foundation of Disabled Sailing, the Armenian Geographic
Society, and the Armenian Sailing Federation."
When visiting Armenia this summer, make sure to spend a whole day at
least at Lake Sevan. Enjoy the magnificent scenery, the clean cool
air. Visit Sevanavank, the two ninth-century churches on the hill of
the Sevan Peninsula.
There are many beaches located near the Peninsula for free
swimming. There are some very good restaurants to eat. They have
modern clean restrooms. There are a souvenir shop and Armenian artists
selling their paintings on the stairs leading to the Sevanavank. Buy
some paintings, take off the wooden frames, roll the canvases,
put them in your baggage and bring them home to USA. No problem and
no questions are asked in the airport. And while you are at Sevan,
don’t forget to take the sail of your lifetime on the ancient ship
of Kilikia–if all goes well according to the plan and Kilikia has
its lasting home at Lake Sevan, starting this summer.
Today, Armenians would be able to see and enjoy a very tiny part of
that Medieval Armenian Kingdom while they sail on Kilikia over lake
Sevan, one of the largest freshwater alpine lakes in the world.
In medieval times, "while the inhabitants of the Greater Armenia
eye-witnessed the loss of their national statehood and numerous
foreign invasions, the Cilician Armenians lived in wealth and
prosperity. Good geographic location involved the country into an
intensive international trade. Science and culture flourished. This
period of Armenian history is regarded as the brilliant Age of
Ecclesiastical manuscript painting. The school of genius Thoros
Roslin was especially famous. Theology, philosophy, rhetoric,
medicine and mathematics were taught in a large number of new
schools and monasteries. New significant names appeared in the
Armenian literature. It was a period of Armenian Renaissance"
n.htm
The ship parameters
"Cilicia is 20 meters long (20x5x5) with a 14 meter (2 m. under
the deck) mast. The main sail is 100 m?. The ship is made from two
types of wood: marine oak (skeleton) and pine (planking).’Cilicia’
needs 14 crew members. Up to 50 people can be aboard as visitors at
one time. The ship can carry more then 20 tons of cargo.
"5 tons of copper nails were used to build the ship. She was tested on
the lake Sevan in Armenia before going to the open sea. She shows good
results as a navigation device. She has good speed (6 knots) and the
ability to sail under the wind. She is equipped with 6 spare sails."
Bon voyage!
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