DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0230
Chap, xii.]
ROYAL PALACE.
201
Saracenic might be satisfactorily traced by studying the
ornaments of the capitals, and of the numerous angles Or
recesses between the arches, in which a regular gradation
may be observed from perfect simplicity to florid ex-
uberance.
Near the west end of the walls, but within the town, we
visited the remains of an extensive building, situated on
the edge of the ravine; it had consisted of several stories, in
each of which many apartments still remained. It has evi-
dently been the palace of the Kings of Anni, at the period
of their greatest power; the masonry is excellent, the blocks
of stone fitting with the greatest precision, as is the case
with most of the buildings which are still standing, and
which had been cased with large square blocks, the edges
of which are as perfect as when first built. The gateway is
in rich Saracenic style, the window over it has a pointed
ogive arch, and the wall is adorned with rich mosaic patterns
in various coloured stones.
Many of the caverns in the ravines round the town were
sculptured on the inside, showing architectural designs, or
covered with rude, ill-carved figures. In one of those near
the palace, the sides were cut so as to represent columns,
capitals, and cornices, and the roof resembled arches and
beams thrown across from the columns on each side. Below
the principal church on the east side of the town we found
the ruins of a high narrow bridge thrown across the Arpa
Chai, leading into the province of Georgia. It is now im-
passable, the buttresses only remaining on each side; all
communication with the Russian territories is thus cut off".
The history of this ancient city is very imperfectly
known; but, situated on the frontiers of Armenia and
Georgia, it became, in the fifth or sixth century, the capital
°f the Pakradian branch of Armenian kings.* In a.d. 637
the Arabian Caliphs first invaded Armenia, and in 887
they conferred a tributary crown on the Pakradian family,
who were then highly distinguished by the Mahommedan
* St. Martin Histoire d'Armenie. Smith and Dwiglit's Researches in Armenia.
ROYAL PALACE.
201
Saracenic might be satisfactorily traced by studying the
ornaments of the capitals, and of the numerous angles Or
recesses between the arches, in which a regular gradation
may be observed from perfect simplicity to florid ex-
uberance.
Near the west end of the walls, but within the town, we
visited the remains of an extensive building, situated on
the edge of the ravine; it had consisted of several stories, in
each of which many apartments still remained. It has evi-
dently been the palace of the Kings of Anni, at the period
of their greatest power; the masonry is excellent, the blocks
of stone fitting with the greatest precision, as is the case
with most of the buildings which are still standing, and
which had been cased with large square blocks, the edges
of which are as perfect as when first built. The gateway is
in rich Saracenic style, the window over it has a pointed
ogive arch, and the wall is adorned with rich mosaic patterns
in various coloured stones.
Many of the caverns in the ravines round the town were
sculptured on the inside, showing architectural designs, or
covered with rude, ill-carved figures. In one of those near
the palace, the sides were cut so as to represent columns,
capitals, and cornices, and the roof resembled arches and
beams thrown across from the columns on each side. Below
the principal church on the east side of the town we found
the ruins of a high narrow bridge thrown across the Arpa
Chai, leading into the province of Georgia. It is now im-
passable, the buttresses only remaining on each side; all
communication with the Russian territories is thus cut off".
The history of this ancient city is very imperfectly
known; but, situated on the frontiers of Armenia and
Georgia, it became, in the fifth or sixth century, the capital
°f the Pakradian branch of Armenian kings.* In a.d. 637
the Arabian Caliphs first invaded Armenia, and in 887
they conferred a tributary crown on the Pakradian family,
who were then highly distinguished by the Mahommedan
* St. Martin Histoire d'Armenie. Smith and Dwiglit's Researches in Armenia.