{"id":19544,"date":"2017-03-26T08:42:31","date_gmt":"2017-03-26T08:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/?p=19544"},"modified":"2017-03-26T08:42:31","modified_gmt":"2017-03-26T08:42:31","slug":"once-a-magnificent-medieval-city-and-home-to-200000-people-the-ghost-city-of-ani-is-now-completely-abandoned-and-has-stood-empty-for-centuries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/?p=19544","title":{"rendered":"Once a magnificent medieval city and home to 200,000 people, the ghost city of Ani is now completely abandoned and has stood empty for centuries"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Some call it the \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u056a\u0093<em>City of 1001 Churches<\/em>\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u009d and some know it as the \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u056a\u0093<em>City of 40 Gates<\/em>:\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u009d the now-abandoned medieval city stands on a lonely plateau in Armenia, 45km away from Kars, Turkey.<\/p>\n<div id=\"thevi-18089024\" data-id=\"17216\"><\/div>\n<p>Founded more than 1,600 years ago, Ani stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world. The blame for its ruin lies in the hands of many: vandals, looters, Turks, Mother Nature herself, poor restorations and inept archaeologists.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144738\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144738\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-walls-of-Ani-showing-a-defensive-tower.-Source-640x430.jpg\" alt=\"The walls of Ani showing a defensive tower. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>The walls of Ani showing a defensive tower. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Ani_townwall.jpg\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144708\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144708\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Ruins-of-the-Mausoleum-of-the-Child-Princes-in-citadel.-Source-640x426.jpg\" alt=\"Ruins of the Mausoleum of the Child Princes in citadel. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Ruins of the Mausoleum of the Child Princes<\/em><em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:20110419_Ruins_in_Citadel_Ani_Turkey_1.jpg\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">\n<div id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/6766078\/PB_TVN_300x250M_0__container__\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"google_ads_iframe_\/6766078\/PB_TVN_300x250M_0\" title=\"3rd party ad content\" src=\"http:\/\/tpc.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-6\/html\/container.html\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-is-safeframe=\"true\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144714\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144714\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Saint-Gregory-of-Tigran-Honents-western-side.-Source-640x480.jpg\" alt=\"Saint Gregory of Tigran Honents, western side. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Saint Gregory of Tigran Honents, western side. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Tigran_Ani.JPG\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144687\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144687\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Damaged-frescoes-of-the-church-of-St-Gregory-of-Tigran-Honents.-Source-640x480.jpg\" alt=\"Damaged frescoes of the church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Damaged frescoes of the church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Ani_-_Tigran_Honents_frescoes.jpg\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Long ago renowned for its splendor and magnificence, Ani was sacked by the Mongols in 1236 and devastated in a 1319 earthquake, after which it was reduced to a village and gradually abandoned and largely forgotten by the seventeenth century.<\/p>\n<p>Rediscovered and romanticized in the 19th century, the city had a brief moment of fame, only to be closed off by World War I and the later events of the Armenian Genocide that left the region an empty, militarized no man\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s land.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144693\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144693\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Once-lodged-as-many-as-200000-people.-Source-640x427.jpg\" alt=\"Once lodged as many as 200,000 people. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Once lodged as many as 200,000 people. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Ani_seen_from_Armenia.jpg\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ani is a widely recognized cultural, religious, and national heritage symbol for Armenians. According to Razmik Panossian, Ani is one of the most visible and \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u056d\u009ctangible\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7 symbols of past Armenian greatness and hence a source of pride. All the structures at Ani are constructed using the local volcanic basalt, a sort of tufa stone. It is easily carved and comes in a variety of vibrant colors, from creamy yellow\u0569\u0082\u0539\u00a0to rose-red, to jet black.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144702\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144702\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Ruins-of-the-Cathedral-of-Ani-and-the-church-of-Redeemer.-Source-640x480.jpg\" alt=\"Ruins of the Cathedral of Ani and the church of Redeemer. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Ruins of the Cathedral of Ani and the church of Redeemer. <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:The_Cathedral_of_Ani.jpg\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144690\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144690\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Inside-the-Cathedral-of-Ani.-Construction-of-the-structure-began-in-989-completed-in-either-1001-or-1010.-Source-640x425.jpg\" alt=\"Inside the Cathedral of Ani. Construction of the structure began in 989, completed in either 1001 or 1010. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Inside the Cathedral of Ani. Construction of the structure began in 989, completed in either 1001 or 1010. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/teosaurio\/8948676741\/\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144720\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144720\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-Church-of-the-Redeemer-Surb-Prkich.-Source-640x484.jpg\" alt=\"The Church of the Redeemer (Surb Prkich). Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>The Church of the Redeemer (<\/em>Surb Prkich<em>). <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:20110419_Church_of_Redeemer_Collage_Ani_Turkey.jpg\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144741\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144741\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Zoroastrian-fire-temple-in-Ani.-Source-640x480.jpg\" alt=\"Zoroastrian fire temple in Ani. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Zoroastrian fire temple in Ani. <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Zoroastrian_fire_temple,_Ani.jpg\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144732\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144732\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-medieval-walls-of-Ani.-Source-640x480.jpg\" alt=\"The medieval walls of Ani. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>The medieval walls of Ani. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/manastasov\/2851564166\/\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The minaret Men\u0569\u0083\u0539\u0536\u0569\u0083\u0539\u00abehr Mosque, newer than many of the churches but still nearly a thousand years old, still stands as a testament to the city\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s long history and diverse cultural influences. The city\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s many enduring churches are particularly beautiful, even in their ruined states.<\/p>\n<p>They stand as a testament to the city\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s diverse cultural and long historical influences. Despite Ani\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s past as a field of warfare, the ruins of the city also symbolize many eras through history where the city saw an extraordinary exchange of religions, cultures, and artistic themes.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144735\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144735\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-ruins-of-Manucehr-Mosque-an-11th-century-mosque-built-among-the-ruins-of-Ani.-Source-640x489.jpg\" alt=\"The ruins of Manucehr Mosque, an 11th century mosque built among the ruins of Ani. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>The ruins of Manucehr Mosque, an <\/em>11th-century<em> mosque built among the ruins of Ani. <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Ebul_Manucehr_3.jpg\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144726\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144726\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-meager-remains-of-King-Gagiks-church-of-St-Gregory-a-structure-built-between-1001-and-1005.-Source-640x360.jpg\" alt=\"The meager remains of King Gagik's church of St Gregory, a structure built between 1001 and 1005. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>The meager remains of King Gagik\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0549\u0084\u00a7s church of St Gregory, a structure built between 1001 and 1005. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ampersandyslexia\/10520222023\/\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144678\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144678\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-gorge-below-Ani-showing-numerous-caves-dug-into-cliffs-as-well-as-fortifications.-Source-640x427.jpg\" alt=\"A gorge below Ani, showing numerous caves dug into cliffs, as well as fortifications. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>A gorge below Ani, showing numerous caves dug into cliffs, as well as fortifications. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/adam_jones\/5812397736\/\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_144699\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-144699\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevintagenews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Remains-of-an-ancient-bridge-over-Akhurian-River-below-Ani.-Source-640x426.jpg\" alt=\"Remains of an ancient bridge over Akhurian River, below Ani. Source\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Remains of an ancient bridge over Akhurian River, below Ani. <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:20110419_bridge_Akhurian_River_Ani_Turkey.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Source<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The World Monuments Fund (WMF) placed Ani on its 1996, 1998, and 2000 Watch Lists of 100 Most Endangered Sites. In May 2011, WMF announced it was beginning conservation work on the cathedral and Church of the Holy Redeemer in partnership with the Turkish Ministry of Culture.<\/p>\n<p>thevintagenews.com<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Some call it the \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u056a\u0093City of 1001 Churches\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u009d and some know it as the \u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u056a\u0093City of 40 Gates:\u0569\u00a7\u0549\u0082-\u0539\u009d the now-abandoned medieval city stands on a lonely plateau in Armenia, 45km away from Kars, Turkey. Founded <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/?p=19544\" title=\"Once a magnificent medieval city and home to 200,000 people, the ghost city of Ani is now completely abandoned and has stood empty for centuries\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19545,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19544"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19544"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19544\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19545"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aaeurop.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}