Armenian architecture

The Architecture Arménie developed with the wire of the centuries in a singular way. Specificities appeared, like the Gavit S or the Jamatouns . We will see what it is. In addition, there exist theories according to which this Armenian architecture, whose golden age is at the medieval time, would have influenced the Romanesque architecture and Gothic in occident. The very great majority of constructions are nuns, and very rare are the forts for example. This article will try to recall the general aspects of this important subject of the Armenian Histoire.

As of the beginnings of the Armenian Diaspora, the architecture of Arménie moved by keeping same the Style, as in the Crimea or with Lvov. Paris has a Armenian cathedral.

Small summary of the history of the Armenians

Religious architecture

Evolution

See also: Amorce=Voir also this article, Armenian Art

The Arménie, first officially Christian country in the world, is in 301 or 314. Consequently, architecture will be very primarily nun. Before this time, few testimonys arrived to us, and the most beautiful pagan monument is the temple of Garni (-77), of inspiration gréco-Roman.

Beginnings: time paléo-Christian woman

As of its beginnings, the Architecture resorts to a method of construction particularly adapted to Arménie, where the seisms are current: a concrete blocking with facings of Tuff of various colors: Yellow, Rosy, Red or Gray. Alternations of colors contribute to return more chatoyants of the buildings of a rather austere external appearance.

The Armenian use as model the Basilique, i.e. a rectangular building ending in an apse. There exist basilicas with a Nef or three naves separated by two lines from pillars in T . The Abside is generally framed by two small rectangular parts and the whole is covered with a Toit with two slopes. Oldest church would be that of Aghts, dated from second half of IVe century.

Concurrently to these Basilique S appears already of small buildings in central plan with a cupola resting on a Tambour and four arms. One, three or four arms can be dug in Abside. Among the architectural forms, we can quote the words monoconque, triconque or tétraconque. there at that time exist only rare large buildings in the central plan, most known being that of the church of Tekor , which does not exist today any more. The Coupole S are very used at the churches, but their origin is not well defined. The carved decoration of these churches then sometimes called pre-Arabic remains modest and limited to certain places of the buildings: Blind arcade S of the windows, cornices, capitals, doors with lintel surmounted by an arc occupied by a Tympanum. Among the decorative topics one distinguishes from the geometrical figures (interlacings, rhombuses barred, grooves…), of the vegetable reasons (sheets of acanthus, palmettes,…) or of the Maltese cross. The figurative topics are rare: the Peacock (symbol of eternity) with a ribbon sassanide, Daniel enters the lions, or a man killing a wild boar (mausoleum of Aghts).

First architectural golden age (VIIe century)

Although VIIe century saw arrived of the Arab armies in Arménie (about the middle of the century), he is regarded by the specialists as the golden age in Armenian architecture. The Arabs are initially satisfied to require a tribute and Arménie remains largely autonomous. Many churches are financed by princely families, like Mamikonian, or by a Catholicos, in particular Nersès III the manufacturer (641 - 661).

The plan of the churches becomes more complex. The basilical plan is forsaken with the profit of churches with cupola in central, free plan or registered voter. One continues to build small churches with cupola in central plan, such as for example the monoconque church in free plan known as “ Karmravor ” with Achtarak. The large churches with cupola multiply and their plan diversifies. Several types are distinguished:

longitudinal Room in which four pillars pressed on the side walls support the cupola (Pghtini, Talin)
Église with cross registered in a rectangular room (Mren, Odzoun, Holy-Gayané with Etchmiadzine)
tétraconque Église tétraniche, with between the conches of the niches in three-quarter of circle (Avan, Holy-Hripsimé with Vagharchapat)

Zvartnots remains to some extent a notable exeption.

Transition (VIIIe - XIe centuries)

Some tendencies become apparent during this transitional period between the two golden ages. The free central plan is forsaken with the profit of the central plan with registered cross. One sees appearing an architectural form promised with a bright future: the “ gavit ” or “ jamatoun ”, a type of narthex suitable for Armenian architecture.

Second architectural golden age (XIIe - XIVe centuries) and Cilicie

This time is the second golden age of religious Armenian architecture Médiéval E. The “ gavits ” and the “ jamatouns ” take their the most succeeded forms, the architectural composition of the churches, which draws obviously its origin from the first golden age, becomes more complex. The churches are transformed then generally into Monastère S which have most of the time a principal building and one or two vaults moreover, with always a Gavit. These monasteries shelter sometimes schools of Musique, of Théologie; and even of the very famous University S, as with Tatev. More the good examples are Haghpat, Sanahin and Geghard from which the first constructions date from the transitory time (Geghard with the characteristic to take place very old underground). During this period, with the invasions, the monasteries obtain ramparts. A characteristic is found much then at the churches: bell-towers with drum, like that of Tanahat, Gandzasar or of Marmashen. On the other hand, the cupola is used.

The style of churches in central plan with registered cross is used enough. The materials which were used with construction as buildings are mainly volcanic rocks: Basalt and Tuff for example.

The irruption of the Turks Seldjoukides in Arménie in XIe century causes an important immigration of Armenians towards the Cilicie. They there reconstitute a Armenian company and found a Armenian Royaume, that its Mediterranean frontage makes more cosmopolitan, open towards the Occident the close and States Latin. Cilicie Armenian sees developing a brilliant civilization. In the architectural field, there remain to us practically only fortresses, the religious buildings being reduced to an adequate portion (it is in the field of the Enluminure that Cilicie will contribute a major share to the history of the Armenian Art).

Afterwards: modern times

Historically, Arménie is under the domination of the Ottoman Empire, therefore the construction of buildings is well compromised. But, with the Othoman decline, of the territories become again independent with respect to this empire. Consequently, of the medieval monasteries are renovated, to see sometimes rebuilt, but always in the continuity of the national style, like Khor-Virap or Etchmiadzin for example.

We thus include/understand well that times Paléo-Christian and Médiéval Armenian is one exeptionnelle period of technical innovations, but the times which follow do not create (whereas in Occident one copies an architecture gréco-Roman redécouverte, without to produce a new style). Currently, the built churches imitate the old ones, except for materials used, like the church Saint Georges d' Erevan.

Theories

Indeed, of the architectural elements dating from the time Armenian paléo-Christian woman and the period of the first golden age find themselves in the Western religious buildings (Gothic and Romance); not in the Armenian architectural plans, but rather in the “framework of constructions”, the interior, etc the church of Aruchavank (VIIe century) testifies bien' to it. Obviously, the influence of the architecture préromane is the independent source of the Romanesque architecture. Moreover, the Coupole in Arménie was very much used, it will be it also in Occident. Let us not forget that the beginning of the Romanesque architecture coincides with the Croisades, of which some passed by Arménie. The proof comes from a Armenian word, Barone, Բարոն , which means father , and whose origin would come from the Chevaliers French, so called Baron S . It may be whereas it had a Armenian influence there.
In addition, of the prints Armenian find themselves in churches in Europe. These cases, rather rare and mysterious, relate to for example a monument of Bagaran (Saint-Theodore) with the church of Germigny-of-Meadows the French church of the Hospital-Saint-Blaise (Saint-Blaise - Sourp Vlas - is also a Armenian saint!), or Cattolica of Stilo in Italy of the South (the Mezzogiorno). Arménie and Byzance were influenced much.
Of course, all that remains with the state of Hypothèse; but on the other hand, the bond between Arménie, Byzance and Occident are more than obvious.

Characteristics

In addition to the architectural shapes of the churches, Armenian religious constructions have quite precise characteristics.

Gavits & Jamatouns

Civil architecture & military

Soldier

Architecture Militaire is rare in Arménie, but there remains all the same of many examples (very often medieval). The country was for a long time the object of invasions, therefore of destruction, and therefore the Fort S were important, but the majority were lost. The near total of these fortresses were built in height. They do not have which can of openings; volcanic stones are used, and they often have several towers incorporated in the single enclosure which are in fact the only component buildings the monuments (but the exeptions are numerous). They do not have decorations, they are very austere and massive.

It may be that all these fortifications were influenced by monuments like the Krak of the knights. More the good examples are Amberd, Berd and Kosh. The village of Dachtadem to the Western of Arménie has a single characteristic in this mountainous country: it is surrounded by ramparts.

As we previously said, the military architecture was dominant with the Armenian kingdom of Cilicie. We have over there very good examples of Armenian fortresses, as with Sis, capital at the time of Arménie cilician.

Civil

With the risks of the History, it remains us very little of vestiges of civil architecture. The Palais accompanied sometimes the monasteries, with a technique of constructions of which we know few things. The houses, in the cities, very high but were not tightened, and were often spread out over a hill. This system will still perdura until the beginning of the XXe century.

Structure Soviet & modern

Photographs

We propose to you a summary of the evolutions of Armenian architecture.

-). Image: Aruchavank-cat-v-vgn05.jpg|Church of the first golden age, Aruchavank (VIIe century) Image: Makaravank-DCP 9416.JPG |Second golden age, monastery of Makaravank (Xe - XIIIe century) Image: Churchambertf.jpg|Church of Amberd, with bell-tower with drum. Image: Haghpat-Nshan.jpg| Haghpat, wonder of architecture. Image: Akdamar.DO.jpg| Aghtamar Image: Geghard khachkar outcrop-IMG 2595.JPG|Saint-Gregoire vault of Geghard Image: Armenie - saghmosavank.jpg| Saghmosavank Image: Kosh-castle-vgn09-l.jpg|Extremely of Kosh Image: YerevanAnniversaryChurch.jpg|Modern church of Erevan in the national style Image: Place-botero.jpg|Structure Soviet Image: Northern-yerevan005.jpg|Modern architecture

See too

Bonds

Articles on Wikipédia:

Armenian Art
Khatchkar (Tomb stones which one finds beside all the churches and monasteries of Arménie)
Liste of the Armenian monasteries
Armenian Livre

Among Internet:

: http://www.cdca.asso.fr/cdca/cdca-encyclopedie_art.htm
: http://armenianstudies.csufresno.edu/iaa_architecture/index.htm

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