Written by Gevork Nazaryan
ni, the splendid city of Bagratuni Armenia at its peek of prosperity
had a population of more than 100,000 people, which for those early
medieval times was quiet a large number. Ani was a castle and an outpost
from the V th to IX th centuries. Capital of Bagratuni Armenia from the
X th to XI th century and a city of great trade, commerce and culture,
where caravans from distant and far away lands of China and India
crossed on their way to trade cities of Byzantium, Europe and Near East.
Ani was called "The City of 1001 Churches by its contemporary
chroniclers and people alike, for it contained numerous churches and
buildings of great splendor and magnificence. Now the city is a ghost
town, as the Turks who occupy Ani and all of Western Armenia like to
call. The once crowded streets and marketplaces of the Great City of
Ani, which was once one of the biggest cities of its time are empty.
Only the magnificent ruins of beautiful churches and city walls which
remind us of the time long ago passed, when Ani was called the Mother of
all Cities of Armenia. Now days Armenians from the other side of river
Arax, which is now "state boundary" between Republic of Armenia and
Turkey, from the city of Gyumri which is only 7km away from the great
city, watch and hope that someday they can once again rebuild and
repopulate their beloved city of Ani, the capital of the Bagratuni Kings
of Armenia.
Ani: City of 1001 Churches |
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_____________________________________________________ Web Page/Graphics by Sarvue Illustrations www.oocities.org (mirror site of Armenia Ani) |