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    Emil Lazarian
  • 3 years ago
    • Categories: 2022

Turkish press: Visitors of ancient city of Ani in Eastern Turkiye walk among millennia of history

Ismail Kaplan and Ahmet Gencturk   |24.01.2022


KARS, Turkiye

People visiting Ani, an archaeological site in northeastern Turkiye, are amazed by the ancient city's millennia of history.

Also known as the "world city" and "cradle of civilizations," Ani is located in present-day Kars province and was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2016.

Located near the Turkiye-Armenia border and on the historical Silk Road, Ani is one of the greatest historical and cultural gems in the country.

The ancient city was once was home to the Urartu, Scythian, Persian, Macedonian, Seleucid, Parthian, Sasanian, and Bagratide civilizations, until it was conquered by Muslim armies in the year 643.

Ani was ruled by Bagratides in 884-1045, followed by the Byzantine Empire in 1045-1064 before it was conquered by the Seljuk Turks under Sultan Alparslan on Aug. 16, 1064.

The site, standing on an area of around 100 hectares (247 acres) was home to many civilizations and languages throughout history, including Armenian, Greek, Turkish, Arabic, Georgian, and Persian from 970 to 1320.

Ani is also home to many architectural masterpeices, including the Mosque of Abul Manuchihr, the first Turkish-built mosque in Anatolia, the Church of the Abughamrents, Cathedral of Ani, Church of Saint Tigran Honent, Chapel of Shushan Pahlavuni, and the Seljuk Caravanserai.

Emil Lazarian: “I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS