Autumn Years Summer 2024

Geghard, which translates into “spear” because this religious treasure was kept on the altar for hundreds of years, mak ing Geghard an important pilgrimage site in olden times. Legends abound at Geghard. There is one fascinating tradition that some tour ists try to accomplish. They must throw a pebble into a carved depression in the mountainside in order for a wish to be granted. Obviously, a difficult task that few accomplish. Once we left this monastery, we drove on to one of the most famous landmarks in all of Armenia—the last remaining pagan temple of Garni. Built in the first century A.D., this structure is made of tof stone. Armenia being a mountainous country, all structures are made of this stone. As the stone is quarried in various colors, buildings appear different, but it is the same strong stone. Everything from garages, to houses, to offices, to large gov ernment buildings are made of this stone, yet the colors are very different—pink, reddish brown, black and shades of gray.

Garni Temple, Armenia.

The temple of Garni was built in the first century A.D. by an Armenian king to honor the pagan sun god Mihr. Built in the Greco-Roman style, it survived the destruction of all pagan temples when Armenia became a Christian land and was converted to a royal summer house within the overall fortress of Garni. At that time Armenia was a large and pow erful nation and traded and sometimes warred with the Roman Empire. It is said Nero was Emperor of Rome at the time the temple was built. Colonnaded on all four sides with Doric style col umns, the temple sits on the edge of a cliff. To further simulate

Bob and Angela at Garni Temple.

adorn the ravine walls. The stones here are an unusual formation as they resem ble organ pipes installed on the moun tainside. Both at Garni and Geghard, we noted many examples of cross stones or khach kar. Standing anywhere from three to seven feet or more, these carved stones were used for a number of reasons—to commemorate a famous event, to mark a grave or to honor a person living or dead. Many were destroyed by the early Mos lems who would not tolerate the Chris tian symbols on the stones. On our way back to the capital city of Yerevan, our guide described many of the legends of Armenia. One was how the princess of pomegranates won her crown and why all pomegranate fruit has a little crown on top. He explained the importance of grapes as religious symbols and why many art pieces from

Roman tastes, a large bathhouse in the Ro man style was built near by. A huge earthquake damaged the temple, destroyed a nearby church and ruined the bathhouse in 1679. Some of the Ro man style mosaics are still visible in the excavated bathhouse ruins. Far below is the river Azat and cliffs where large columns of basalt

Khachkar stones used to commemorate famous events, mark graves or honor a great deed are found throughout Armenia.

52 AUTUMN YEARS I SUMMER 2024