Amberd Fortress

The Amberd fortress is an impregnable fortress built on the southern slope of Mount Aragats at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level. The road leading to this fortress passes through wasteland and then winds through hilly terrain. One may see a magnificent panorama from the height at which the Amberd fortress is located.

The Amberd fortress serves as proof that Armenian architects skillfully used the features of the natural landscape during the construction of defensive structures. Amberd was built on a ledge surrounded by deep gorges, which provided the fortress with natural protection.

Amberd Fortress

History

The fortified city of Amberd is located in the historical province of Aragatsotn, approximately 7 kilometers northwest of the village of Byurakan, where the Arkashen and Amberd rivers meet. The era in which the fortress was founded is still unknown. Some researchers talk about the “cyclopean” character of the stone masonry, typical for the buildings of Antiquity, others attribute the fortified city of Amberd to the Urartu period or to the period of the Early Middle Ages. However, most scientists agree that the fortress was built in the 10th-13th centuries AD.

According to historical sources, the construction of Amberd began in the 7th century by order of the princes of Kamsarakan. Amberd belonged to the princes of Pahlavuni in the 10th century and had a reputation of an impregnable fortress due to its advantageous location. Amberd was also an important link in the defense ring of Ani, the capital of the Bagratid kingdom.

Armenian-Georgian troops under the command of Zakare Zakarian liberated the Amberd fortress from Turkish invaders in 1196. Subsequently, the fortress was transferred to the ownership of Zakare Zakarian, “amirspasalar” (supreme commander-in-chief). The fortified city of Amberd became the administrative center of the Vachutyan kingdom in 1215. However, the fortress was captured and completely destroyed by the Mongols in 1236. Amberd was rebuilt again at the end of the 13th century.

The fortified city of Amberd lost its importance at the end of the 14th century during the reign of Tamerlane.

Architecture

The architectural layout of the fortress is simple and practical. The main goal is to provide reliable protection from external attacks, for which large stone blocks were used, capable of withstanding the blows of projectiles and battering guns.

When erecting walls, the features of the terrain were taken into account. Since the Amberd River gorge was considered impregnable in itself, the fortress wall there was built only on the lowest section. And vice versa, a powerful wall was erected on the other side of the gorge near the Arkashen River, since there was a threat that the enemy would attack from this unprotected side. All the walls of the fortress were built from huge basalt blocks.

As we know from history, most often the defenders of the fortress surrendered when their supplies of drinking water ran out. To avoid it, the fortified city of Amberd was equipped with a developed water supply system. Water entered the fortress through special clay pipes. In addition, reservoirs were organized where water supplies from mountain springs and melted snow were stored. During sieges, the defenders of the fortress used a secret passage that led to the Arkashen River.

Historical and architectural monuments

Город-крепость Амберд включает в себя комплекс объектов исторического значения: крепостные стены, ворота Аркашен и Амбердадзор, собственно крепость с её тайными ходами, церковь и часовню, несколько жилых домов, а также водоемы и баню. До наших дней сохранились лишь руины крепости (X-XIII вв.), крепостные стены, церковь Ваграмашен (1026 г.), баня (X-XI вв.) и некоторые другие постройки.

Город-крепость Амберд включал в себя ряд историко-архитектурных памятников: крепостные стены, ворота Аркашен и Амбердадзора, замок, водоемы, баню, тайные ходы, часовню, жилые дома и церковь. В настоящее время от города-крепости сохранились руины замка (X-XIII вв.), стены, баня (X-XI вв.), другие постройки и церковь Ваграмашен (1026 г.).

Bath

The ruins of a bath built in the 10th-11th centuries were preserved. Clay pipes were used to provide water supply, while hot water was supplied to the bathing halls through metal pipes. This bathhouse used the “hypocaust” technology, invented in Ancient Rome. The “hypocaust” principle was based on the fact that the smoke from the stove passed under the floor of the bathhouse and exited through chimneys in the walls, which made it possible to effectively maintain heat and heat the floor and walls.

Chapel

There is a chapel at a distance of 9 meters from the bath building. It is believed that this chapel was built no earlier than in the 10th century.

Vagramashen

Vagramashen Church (also Surb Astvatsatsin or Amberd Church) was built in 1026. Prince Vahram Pahlavuni was proclaimed her patron. The church consists of a prayer hall with an eastern altar apse and four corner sacristies. The twelve-sided drum, round on the inside, is decorated with paired pilasters on the outside and covered with an umbrella-shaped dome, which is called a “vegar”. This dome is one of a kind and has special historical value. Clay jugs were inserted into it in order to lighten the load on the dome. It also gave a special acoustic effect during church services. There is a sundial in the church yard. A number of measures were taken to restore the building of the Vagramashen Church in 1970-1975.

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