Ani

Also known as Abnicum

Ani (; ; ) is a ruined medieval Armenian city now situated in Turkey's province of Kars, next to the closed border with Armenia.

AI overview

Ani is a ruined medieval Armenian city located in the Turkish province of Kars, near the closed border with Armenia. It matters as a significant historical site representing Armenian medieval civilization and remains a subject of cultural and historical importance to Armenian heritage.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Ancient site.name: Ani
Ancient site.native_name: Անի
Ancient site.image: Ani Harabeleri 2.jpg
Ancient site.image_size: 300
Ancient site.caption: Church of the Holy Apostles and Church of Saint Gregory of Abughamrentz, Ani
Ancient site.map_type: West Asia
Ancient site.map_caption: Location of Ani
Ancient site.map_size: 300
Ancient site.location: Ocaklı (nearest settlement), Kars Province, Turkey
Ancient site.region: Armenian highlands
Ancient site.type: Settlement
Ancient site.built: 5th century (first mentioned)

~34 min read

Article

31 sections

Contents

Toponym
Location
History
Early history
Bagratuni capital
Seljuks and Shaddadids
Revival under the Zakarians
Mongol capture and decline
Modern times
Since 1991
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Monuments
The Cathedral
The church of St Gregory of Tigran Honents
The church of the Holy Redeemer
The church of St Gregory of the Abughamrents
King Gagik's church of St Gregory
The Church of the Holy Apostles
Surp Stephanos Church
The mosque of Manuchihr
The citadel
The city walls
Other monuments
Cave Village
Panorama
In culture
See also
References
Bibliography
Further reading
External links

Ani (; ; ) is a ruined medieval Armenian city now situated in Turkey's province of Kars, next to the closed border with Armenia.

Between 961 and 1045, it was the capital of the Bagratuni Armenian kingdom that covered much of present-day Armenia and eastern Turkey. The iconic city was often referred to as the "City of 1,001 Churches," though the number was significantly less. To date, 50 churches, 33 cave chapels and 20 chapels have been excavated by archaeologists and historians. Ani stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and sophisticated fortifications distinguished it from other contemporary urban centers in the Armenian kingdom. Among its most notable buildings was the Cathedral of Ani, which is associated with early examples of Gothic architecture and that scholars argue influenced the great cathedrals of Europe in the early gothic and Romanesque styles; its ribbed vaulting would not be seen in European cathedrals for at least another two centuries. At its height, Ani was one of the world's largest cities, with a population of perhaps 100,000, though given its limited area historians have cast doubt at this estimate.