Ani Ghost town of 1001 Churches
According to historians, the ancient capital of the Armenian Kingdom was Ani. Noteworthy, in the heyday of the city its population was at least 100,000 people and the city was famous for its 1001 churches. However, the ruins of the city are now in the mud Kars in eastern Turkey, on the right bank of the river Akhuryan. The ghost town with Christian churches is the victim of a colossal and centuries old struggle for power between various factions in the region.
Meanwhile, since the 4th century AD the city saw Armenians, Kurds, Georgians, Mongols and Turks struggling for and ascend to power in the town-state. Originally Armenian, the territory on which it stands is still disputed between Turkey and Armenia. First mentioned in the annals of the Armenian Kamsarakyan dynasty in the fifth century AD, archaeologists ‘rediscovered’ it during the last century.
Several excavations took place but further damage was done after the First World War. Turkey and Armenia continued to militarily fight over territory until 1921 when Ani, much to the chagrin of the Armenians, was contained within the borders of Turkey.
The neglect this valuable archaeological site suffered at the hands of the Turkish authorities can hardly be called benign. In May 1921 the Turkish Assembly sent a message to the commander of their Eastern Front, authorizing that the “monuments of Ani be wiped off the face of the earth”.
The Global Heritage Fund, as recently as October of 2010 reported that Ani is “On the Verge” of irreparable loss and obliteration, citing inadequate management and looting as the main causes.
Partially preserved medieval city walls, the palace Seljuks, a number of Armenian Christian churches of XI-XIII centuries. October 25, 2010 Global Heritage Fund, due to mismanagement and neglect of the authorities of Turkey has included Ani in the list of “Monuments on the verge of death”. Unfortunately, the city is on the eve of the destruction. At the same time, the ruins of the ancient Armenian capital are among the three sites of historical heritage, most at risk of extinction. According to the report, many of the survived buildings of the city are now on the verge of collapse. Among the reasons of destruction, in particular, the homeless and lovers of picnics.
Ani Ghost town of 1001 Churches
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