O. Kh. Khalpakhchian – Architectural ensembles of Armenia
Photos: A. Alexandrov, A. and V. Kochar, from stocks of the History Museum of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR
Tatev monastery is situated near the village of the same name in the high-altitude Gorissky District which is part of Zangezur - ancient Syunik. The monastery was founded in the ninth century in place of a tabernacle well-known in the ancient times. The strategically advantageous location on a cape formed by a deep river gorge with precipitous rocky slopes favoured the construction of a mighty defence complex there.
Tatev monuments stand out for high quality of building work. At one time Tatev was the political centre of Syunik principality. In the ioth century it had a population of about 1,000 and controlled numerous villages. In the 13th century it owned 680 villages. The earthquake of 1931 caused considerable' destruction, but the parts that survived enable us to judge about the artistic merits of the complex.
Photos: A. Alexandrov, A. and V. Kochar, from stocks of the History Museum of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR
Tatev monastery is situated near the village of the same name in the high-altitude Gorissky District which is part of Zangezur - ancient Syunik. The monastery was founded in the ninth century in place of a tabernacle well-known in the ancient times. The strategically advantageous location on a cape formed by a deep river gorge with precipitous rocky slopes favoured the construction of a mighty defence complex there.
Tatev monuments stand out for high quality of building work. At one time Tatev was the political centre of Syunik principality. In the ioth century it had a population of about 1,000 and controlled numerous villages. In the 13th century it owned 680 villages. The earthquake of 1931 caused considerable' destruction, but the parts that survived enable us to judge about the artistic merits of the complex.
