Hidden heritage under threat - Ererouyk Western view (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
What is Unique about this Basilica?
It is an extraordinary basilica from the 6th century, unique in Armenia for its typology. It is partially ruined but still imposing and appreciated by international tourists and experts.
Location - Ererouyk Bird's eye view (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Where is it Located?
The basilica of Ererouyk and the archaeological site are located in the northwestern part of the Republic of Armenia at the edge of Anipemza in Shirak Region. They lay on a volcanic plateau on the eastern bank of the Akhurian river, marking the border between Armenia and Turkey.
Why is it significant? - Ererouyk Eastern view (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Why is it Significant?
Although in ruins, the basilica of Ererouyk is one of the most important monuments in early Christian Armenia. It has an elongated structure from west to east and no dome, which was predominant in early Armenian religious architecture (4th - 6th century).
Dedication - Ererouyk Southern view (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
How do We Know it is Important?
Its importance is shown by an inscription on the cathedral of Ani; Ererouyk was dedicated to both St. John the Baptist and to St. Stephen, who are among the most revered saints in Armenia.
One of the biggest basilicas of Armenia - Ererouyk Northern view (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Imagine a Breathtaking Basilica
It measures more than 40 m in length and nearly 30 m in width making it one of the biggest basilicas in Armenia. It had porticos, which are missing today, along its north, west, and south facades. These opened on the outside by an arcade on a colonnade.
Assembling a Puzzle
Sixteen fragments of the barrels of these columns lie on the site, most to the north of the basilica, together with many other beautifully carved stones.
Beautifully carved stones - Ererouyk (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Beauty in Ruins
On the rocky platform north of the basilica there are many scattered building blocks. About 200 fragments of carved stones come from the church and commemorative monuments with cross-bearing stele near by (stone slab with inscriptions).
Carved Stone - Ererouyk (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
How can We Preserve These Ruins?
All these stones have been catalogued and studied by Prof. Patrick Donabédian (La3M, Aix-Marseille University) and need to be preserved.
Sculpted decorations of roman origin - Ererouyk portals on the South facade of the basilica (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Origin of the Portals?
Some of the highlights of the basilica's sculpted decoration are the two South portals and the West portal. According to Prof. Donabédian, their form is of Roman origin and constitutes one of the main initial models of the Armenian tradition of the portal.
Half Capital on the South Portal (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Further Evidence of the Origin
On the half capitals, the stylization of the acanthus (leaf decoration), despite its deterioration and drying, clearly refers to its ancient Corinthian origin.
A very rare Greek epigraphs - Ererouyk greek inscription on the Southern facade (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Rare Inscriptions Found
The walls of the basilica carry important inscriptions, mainly in the Armenian language. On the eastern edge of the south facade there is a rare Greek epigraph that could have been engraved shortly after the construction of the basilica by Syrian craftsmen.
Studied since the beginnings of the1901 - Ererouyk basilica (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Studied Since the Beginning of 1901
From the 19th century, the archaeological site of Ererouyk and ruins have attracted travelers and armenologists. The Russian scientist Nikolai Marr, sent by the Imperial Academy of Sciences of Saint Petersburg, in 1907/1908 studied the Ererouyk basilica.
A rich archaeological area - Ererouyk the archaeological area South of the basilica (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
A Rich Archaeological Area
The area to the south and southeast of the basilica bears vestiges of sarcophagi and pedestals with a square plan that are the lower part of a type of vertical cruciferous monument that was fairly widespread in Armenia and Georgia in the early Christian centuries.
An ancient cemetery - Ererouyk (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Uncovering an Ancient Cemetery
From 2011 to 2014 a mission of the Laboratory of Medieval and Modern Archeology in the Mediterranean (LA3M, AMU, CNRS), directed by Prof. Donabédian, was able to excavate a portion of the memorial-funeral site to unveil an important part of the history of the site.
Proposed phasing of the cemetery (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
Stories of Past Deaths
The cemetery and the burials had been studied in depth by a group of experts of the LA3M of the University of Aix-Marseille to identify the dates of certain areas.
Stories of Past Deaths
The cemetery and the burials had been studied in depth by a group of experts of the LA3M of the University of Aix-Marseille to identify the dates of certain areas.
The remains of several contructions and of a dam - Ererouyk archaeological excavation of a supposed dam east of the basilica (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
What Do These Remains Tell Us?
The site of the basilica is surrounded by portions of eroded walls, of which barely one or two foundations remain. To the southeast of the basilica the remains of a large structure is speculated to have crossed the valley and functioned as a hydraulic dam.
A small building in the valley - Ererouyk the ancient mausoleum laying North to the basilica (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
What was Found 100 m Northeast of the Basilica?
A small vaulted rectangular building, partly buried at the bottom of the valley, lays less than a hundred metres northeast of the basilica. The hypothesis of a funerary function seems plausible.
Interior of the ancient mausoleum (6th century)ICOMOS - International Council on Monuments and Sites
What's Inside the Ancient Mausoleum?
The quality of this vault is high; the blocks have been cut and fitted with care to form a semi-circular cradle with perfect regularity. The vault was reinforced, in the middle transversely, by a double arch, today torn off, which rested on two consoles - one is preserved.
How is it Still Standing?
Its actual conditions are worrying, although a provisional propping has been put in place after a mission of Europa Nostra in 2016.
Gaiane Casnati - Europa Nostra, ICOMOS Canada and Carleton University
