Garni Gorge: An Ancient Armenian Site Featuring a Classical Temple
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Country: Armenia
Civilization: Armenian, Roman
Remains: Religious
History
Garni Gorge, located near the village of Garni in Armenia, has a long history marked by multiple civilizations. The site is best known for its classical temple, traditionally dated to around 77 AD, built by King Tiridates I of Armenia. This temple was dedicated to Mihr, the Armenian sun god, reflecting the region’s pagan beliefs before Christianity became dominant.
Before the temple’s construction, the area was occupied during the Bronze Age, as evidenced by a massive cyclopean wall. Later, the Urartian kingdom left its mark with a cuneiform inscription by King Argishti I, indicating the site’s strategic importance. In the 1st century AD, Roman influence is noted, with the fortress mentioned by the historian Tacitus under the name castellum Gorneas.
Following Armenia’s conversion to Christianity in the early 4th century, many pagan sites were destroyed. However, the Garni Temple survived, possibly due to its conversion into a royal summer residence or mausoleum. Nearby, the round church of St. Sion was built between the 7th and 10th centuries, showing continued religious use of the area.
The site experienced military conflict during the wars led by Shah Abbas in the early 17th century, which caused damage to the temple’s metal fittings. A devastating earthquake in 1679 caused the temple to collapse, scattering its stones widely. Despite this, the ruins attracted European travelers from the 17th century onward, who documented the remains.
Archaeological excavations began in the early 20th century, with significant work by Nikolai Marr between 1909 and 1911. Further studies resumed after World War II, leading to a full reconstruction of the temple from 1969 to 1975. This restoration combined original stones with new basalt, preserving the site’s historical integrity.
Remains
The Garni site features a classical Ionic temple built on a rectangular podium, constructed without mortar using large basalt blocks held together by iron and bronze clamps. The temple’s colonnade originally had 24 columns, though only about 40% of the original shafts remain today. The structure faces north, an unusual orientation for such temples, and is accessed by a wide stairway flanked by sculpted pedestals.
Inside, the temple contains a cella, or inner chamber, with a large entrance and a roof opening that provided natural light. This suggests the temple housed a cult statue, with ceremonies likely held outside. The temple’s decorative elements include plant motifs, geometric patterns, and lion head sculptures on the capitals and cornices.
The site also contains a Roman bath with a mosaic floor and Greek inscriptions, indicating the presence of Roman culture. Medieval additions include several inscriptions in Arabic Kufic and Persian Naskh scripts, possibly marking a period when the temple was converted into a mosque. An Armenian inscription from 1291 records tax exemptions granted by Princess Khoshak of Garni.
Surrounding the temple are remains from various periods, including Bronze Age fortifications and medieval khachkars, which are carved cross-stones typical of Armenian Christian art. The temple was reconstructed using anastylosis, a method that reassembles original fragments with new materials, preserving much of the original Ionic capitals and matching the basalt’s color and texture.
Today, the temple stands restored on a promontory overlooking the Azat River gorge and the Gegham mountains, within the larger Garni fortress complex that reflects its layered history from ancient to medieval times.
