 |
|
Armenia |
The Temple of Garni is
a Ionic temple in Garni. It is the best-known structure and
symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. It is the only standing
Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia and the former Soviet
Union. The structure was probably built by king Tiridates I in
the first century AD as a temple to the sun god Mihr. After
Armenia's conversion to Christianity in the early fourth century,
it was converted into a royal summer house of Khosrovidukht, the
sister of Tiridates III. According to some scholars it was not a
temple but a tomb and thus survived the universal destruction of
pagan structures. It collapsed in a 1679 earthquake. Renewed
interest in the 19th century led to excavations at the site in
early and mid-20th century and its eventual reconstruction
between 1969 and 1975. It is one of the main tourist attractions
in Armenia and the central shrine of Armenian neopaganism.
Click on the picture to have a larger
version. Panoramic pix's are available
| The
visit to this very old temple is well worth the time
spent there |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
< Back to the index
