Ani Ruins - the city with a thousand churches.
The city of Ani is a world but the world is not an Ani city.
Ani is located in the Eastern Anatolia, within administrational borders of Ocaklı Village which is 42 km from Kars city center. Arpaçay River that flows on the south direction forms a natural border with Armenia. The city, that can be reached easily by road, is situated on a triangular shape area surrounded by valleys and the river on three sides except for the north. Ani is located on a volcanic rock formation consisting of basalt blocks, which are of 30 meter-thick at water level and followed by red tuff on the surface that crumbles easily.
The buildings in Ani are located on three zones as the citadel, walled city and the area outside the city walls. While the churches predominate, there are also samples of military, public and commercial buildings. This situation is very important in terms of understanding how a medieval city has been programmed.
Ani, because of its location, was a trade center from the ancient age to the medieval age. Its location in the east-west gave the chance to have important architectural projects to this city. Ani is in the area named as Şirag historically. Ceramic pieces found in İç Kale show that the first settlement in the city dates back to the Early Iron Age. Through the middle of BC 9th year, this city, which was remained in the spreading area of Urartu, was domineered by the Kimmer, Scythian, Med, Persian, Hellen, Artaksiyas, Part and Sassanian. Despite the fact that the political structure and its name in Iron Age and Urartu Period are not known in detail, residuals belonging to the fortification wall make us assume that Ani was an attraction center even in the early ages.
The area that was under the hegemony of the Persian Empire in BC 549 - 330 was transformed into a new management unit under the name Armenia by King Darius. The borders of this satrapy were connected to Aras River in the north, and the cities in the Fırat and Dicle (the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers) area were connected to Boton watercourse in the south. Herodotos mentioned Armenia region as a rich area.
In BC 331, this area entered into the hegemony of Macedonia as a result of the fact that Alexander the Great beat the Persian King III Darius. Alexander the Great sent the governor of Sardes Persian Mithrines to Armenia in BC 331 as a satrap. When Alexander the Great died, the cities were shared by the Commanders, Neoptolemos, one of these commanders, domineered in Armenia area in year 323, and it was taken under the Persian Orontes’ hegemony in BC 319. In year BC 189, the ruling of Artaksias Dynasty which had hegemony on the Armenian region continued till AD 2nd century.
The region has been the scene of battles between the Romans and the Parthians as from BC 140. The region was ruled by the foreigner governors from the 2nd Millenium BC to year 53 AD.
From that year, Arsasid/Arsaguni Dynasty ruled the area. In AC 226, part of the empire lasted, and the ruled Persia. During the Sassanian hegemony, the land of “Kars” was directed by Persians under the name of State Ararat.
In the year of 287 AD, Armenian King III Trdat accepted Christianity as the official religion in 301. The Mamigonian Family between those Armenian rulers ruled Armenia in 484 - 564 years AD, under the control of the Persians. This area was shared by the Byzantine Empire and the Sassanians in 564 - 642 years AD. During 591 - 705 AD, one part of Armenia was ruled by Byzantine Empire officials.
Arabian invasions started in year 640 to this area which was exhausted by the Byzantine-Sassanian combats. During the Emevi period, who ruled the area between 661 -750, Khazars again invaded the Kür trades who they left to Habib bin Mesleme, in order to help Byzantine. The region’s governor Grigor Mamigonian died in the combats; as a result, Emevis abandoned Mamigonians and placed Aşot from Bagrationu family as the governor (686 - 690). After Aşot was killed by the Arabians because of being a Byzantine fan, II, Justinianus organized an expedition, with imprisoning the trades on the Muslim side, made Nerseh, son of the Vahan from Kamsagaran family, governor of Armenia, and Smbat from Bagrationu family the commander. So, the balance of power between local rulers was distracted, and Bagrationu family came to the forefront.
Surroundings of Kars and Ani remained under the hegemony of the Mongols (1239 - 1256), the İlkhanids (1256 - 1336), the Jalayirids (1336 - 1380), the Karakoyunlus (1380 - 1386), and the Timurids (1386 - 1406). Timurids made the city the governorship center. The area was under the hegemony of Karakoyunlus between 1406 and 1467 once again, and the Akkoyunlus between 1467 and 1508.
This area which became a battlefield; like most of the other cities, Kars and Ani were also destroyed. In 1534, during the Irakeyn expedition of Suleyman the Magnificent, this city was annexed to the Ottoman lands. The city, which was destroyed because of an earthquake with an intensity of 8 in 1605, was abandoned, but a little bit of life continued till the ends of the 18th century.
All Historical Monuments in Ani Ruins:
The Citadel
Kamsaragans (Citadel) Palace
Midjnaberd (Grave of Prince Children) Church
Church with Six Apses (St. Eghia)
Karimadin Church
Sushan Pahlavuni Church
The Fire Temple (Ateşgede)
II. Smbat City Walls
Cathedral (s. Asdvadzadzin Church, Fethiye Mosque)
Gagik (Surp Krıkor, Gagıkashen) Church
Surp Arak’elots (Apostle) Church (Caravanserai)
Surp Amenap’rkitch (Redeemer, Halaskar, Ruined) Church
Abughamrents (St. Gregor, Polatoğlu) Church
Tigran Honents (Surp Krikor Lusavoriç, Nakışlı) Church
Virgins (Bekhents, Surp Hripsime, Kusanac) Monastery
Maiden’s Monastery (Aghjkaberd, Surp Hovhannes, Zak’arıa Church; Maiden’s Castle)
Georgian (St. Stephanos) Church
Rock Chapel
Ebu’l Manuçehr Mosque
Emir Ebu’l Muammeran Complex
The Royal Bathhouse (The Great Bath, Seljuk Bath)
Seljuk Palace (Tacirin, Pahlavuni, Baron, Ebu’l Muammeran Palace)
Bazaar
The Silk Road Bridge