Gfoeller Renaissance Foundation
@GfoellerFndtn
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We support Armenian archeology so that the rich heritage of the country can be shared with the world. All photographs were taken by members of our team.
Joined June 2022
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Armenia can be called with equal justification the oldest country in both Europe and the Middle East. Its existence predates that of Europe. The Armenian historical chronicles begin in the 25th century BC, many centuries before "Europe" came into existence as a concept.
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Armenia is richer in early Christian monuments and churches than any other country. Armenian Christian sculpture has its roots in the pre-Christian idols known as “vishaps.” Vishaps, or “water dragon stones,” represented gods or nature spirits that were thought to bring rain
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Armenia is one of the greatest sources of human culture and civilization, in every way as significant as Egypt, Ethiopia, Greece, and Italy. It is also the world’s oldest Christian nation, having adopted Christianity in 301 AD. Armenia has made immense contributions to world
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Armenia is thus far more than a small country on the frontier between Europe and the Near East. It is one of the centers of human evolution. It is one of the richest sources of world civilization. It is the memory of our common origins.
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Armenia is not merely a small country in the Caucasus that regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is instead one of the wellsprings of world civilization, on the same level as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Italy.
#Armenia
#civilization
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Armenia is more than just the oldest Christian country. After it adopted Christianity in 301 AD, thanks to St. Gregory the Illuminator, Armenia developed one of the most sophisticated and richest cultures in all of Christendom. Armenian religious architecture, art, and
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Armenia has one of the greatest architectural traditions in the world:
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Yerevan was founded in the 8th century BC as the fortress of Erebuni. The Armenian language contains hundreds of loan words from Sumerian. The Babylonian Map of the World, dating to the 5th century BC, contains Armenia. Armenia is the only country on the map that still exists.
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This is the secret of the art of the Armenian khachkar. It is an art of mathematical abstraction whose goal is to foster contemplation and spiritual enlightenment in the onlooker. The common theme of the khachkars at Goshavank is resurrection and eternal life, as symbolized by
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A khachkar carved from a pre-Christian idol, 4th perhaps century AD. The cross is depicted as the Tree of Life.
#Armenia
#archeology
#sculpture
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Armenia is not merely a small country in the Caucasus that regained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is one of the wellsprings of world civilization, on the same level as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Italy.
#Armenia
#civilization
#heritage
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Dr. Boris Gasparyan, holding the oldest known statue, a figurine of a cave bear, dated to 120,000 years BCE. He discovered it at the Hovk-1 Neanderthal site.
#Armenia
#archeology
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Armenia is the original home of wine grapes and wine making. It has over 400 varieties of grapes that have been used for millennia to make wine. Here are a few examples.
#Armenia
#wine
#tradition
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Armenia is a symbol of the ability of human culture and dignity to survive the harshest tests of history. It is the common inheritance of humanity. Preserving this inheritance is supremely important, particularly now when Armenia is once again in great danger.
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The West has largely forgotten its own intellectual and cultural roots, but eternal Armenia remembers. To recover its own identity, the West must return to Armenia.
#Armenia
#culture
#history
#Christianity
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A monumental internal door in Saghmosavank, circa 1240 AD. Armenian architecture in this period was built to last millennia.
#Armenia
#architecture
#Christianity
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Armenia has an amazing tradition of Christian art, stretching back to the country’s conversion in 301 AD. It includes frescoes, sculptures, architecture, illuminated manuscripts, and much more.
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Mt. Ararat, where Noah’s ark landed at the end of the Great Deluge, according to the Bible.
#Armenia
#tradition
#beauty
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Many voices today are asking if Armenia should rejoin the West. This is the wrong question. The real question is this: should the West rejoin Armenia? The answer is yes, of course, because Armenia is the ultimate, oldest, most genuine source of so much of Western civilization.
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Sanahin Monastery, 930 AD. At a time when Classical learning in the West had largely collapsed, Armenia, along with Byzantium, preserved and developed it. This building was used for centuries to teach such disciplines as philosophy, theology, mathematics, astronomy, Biblical
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The oldest known wine making complex, discovered in the Areni-1 Cave. It dates to circa 4000 BC. Armenia is the original homeland of wine and viticulture.
#Armenia
#wine
#civilization
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Armenia is the first and oldest Christian country, having adopted Christianity in the year 301 AD, during the reign of King Trdat III, thanks to the missionary activity of Saint Gregory the Illuminator. Saint Gregory healed the king of a disfiguring disease, possibly leprosy.
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An Urartian irrigation canal, circa 700 BC, still in use in the village of Ashtarak near Yerevan. It was lightly repaired in Soviet times. Armenia is covered with ancient aqueducts and reservoirs, which predate similar constructions by the Romans by many centuries. Ancient
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Armenia was undoubtedly the original home of Dionysus. It has over 400 varieties of wine grapes, most of which are unknown outside the country. They represent a genetic treasure trove, with the potential to expand dramatically the range of wines available to humanity. We have
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A khachkar from Tsakhatskar monastery in Vayots Dzor, depicting the cross as a grape vine full of fruit, 1100 to 1300 AD.
#Armenia
#sculpture
#Christianity
#wine
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Armenia seems to be the origin point for wine grapes, much as Peru is the origin point for potatoes. The country has over 400 varieties of wine grapes, which differ greatly in color, size, shape, and taste.
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Surp Astvatsatsin church in Bjni, circa 1031 AD. It was built under the Pahlavuni dynasty, who ruled the district of Bjni in the 11th century.
#Armenia
#architecture
#history
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The facade of the bell tower at Sanahin monastery, circa 1215 AD. The cross is made of red granite. Like many other Armenian crosses, it represents the Tree of Life.
#Armenia
#sculpture
#architecture
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A close-up image of the Zakharidi khachkar, 1196 AD. The cross is represented as the eternal Tree of Life, resting on the circle of eternity.
#Armenia
#art
#Christianity
#mysticism
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Another view of the Urartian canal in Ashtarak. It was been in continuous use for approximately 2700 years, with only occasional repairs. The water flows at a steady rate without pumps, due to gravity, thanks to the slight gradient of the canal. The water comes from local
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Armenia is home to some of the very oldest Christian churches in the world. One of them is the Basilica of Yereruyk, built in the fourth century AD, not too long after Armenia’s conversion to Christianity in 301 AD.
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A khachkar from Hovhanavank, 12th or 13th century AD. The cross is the Tree of Life. In this rendering, it is given a human face, representing sentience and consciousness.
#Armenia
#sculpture
#mysticism
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Sanahin Monastery, 10th century AD. It was a major center of secular and religious learning for centuries.
#Armenia
#architecture
#culture
#sculpture
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The Aseghnagorts khachkar at Goshavank monastery, carved by the noted sculptor Pavgos in 1291 AD. It is a meditation in stone on nature, time, resurrection, and eternity. The cross is represented as the Tree of Life.
#Armenia
#sculpture
#culture
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The interior of the cathedral is covered with Byzantine frescoes dating from the early 13th century. Their presence testifies to the fact that the cathedral was at various times used for worship by both the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Orthodox Church. They were painted
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Saghmosavank and Hovhanavank are two remarkable Medieval monasteries located in small villages in Aragatsotn Province, a short drive from Yerevan. Both complexes have dramatic locations at the edge of the Kasakh River gorge, Armenia’s equivalent of the Grand Canyon. They are
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The Urartian Empire was the first major wine exporter of the ancient world. The Urartians built a vast network of irrigation canals, artificial lakes, and aqueducts in Armenia, largely to support the enormous vineyards. Armenian wine was exported to Iran, Greece, the Near East,
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A portion of the ancient city of Agarak, seen from the air. Agarak was founded in the Bronze Age.
#Armenia
#archeology
#heritage
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Another superb khachkar from Noravank, probably by the great sculptor Momik. It is a symbolic abstract text that can be translated as: “The Cross is the eternal Tree of Life.” The elaborate geometric pattern surrounding the Cross and the symbol of eternity represents the Divine
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A vishap or water spirit idol from the Gnishik gorge that was converted into a khachkar during the Middle Ages.
#Armenia
#sculpture
#Christianity
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To give an idea of its scale, here is an Armenian archeologist standing next to the giant karas.
#Armenia
#archeology
#wine
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Mt. Ararat has been considered sacred for millennia. In pre-Christian times it was considered sacred to the sun god Ara. Mt. Ararat is where the Ark of Noah came to rest in Genesis. Monasteries were built on its slopes in the Middle Ages.
#Armenia
#archeology
#adventure
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The temple of Garni, built in 77 AD by King Tiridates I and dedicated to the sun god Mihr.
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Armenia is the mother country of wine, much as Mexico is the source country of corn and Peru of the potato. While a handful of well known grape varieties dominate the world wine market, Armenia is home to over four hundred such varietals. Armenia was also the first country in
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Surp Astvatsatsin at Noravank Monastery, 1339 AD. It is the work of the brilliant architect, sculptor, and painter Momik.
#Armenia
#architecture
#design
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A vishap or water spirit idol converted into a khachkar sometime in the Middle Ages. This khachkar is direct evidence of the transition from pre-Christian belief systems to Christianity in Armenia.
#Armenia
#sculpture
#Christianity
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An Urartian canal in the village of Ashtarak. Master engineers, the Urartians built it circa 600 BC to irrigate their vineyards and orchards. It still functions. The canal was lightly repaired in Soviet times.
#Armenia
#engineering
#irrigation
#archeology
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The brilliant Grigor Pahlavuni illustrates well the importance of the academy of the Monastery of Sanahin. Born a prince, he was a distinguished linguist, translator, scholar, and public servant. He served as Byzantine governor of the province of Edessa in the 11th century.
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The Sevan Monastery actually predates Princess Mariam by nearly 600 years. St. Grigor the Illuminator, who converted Armenia to Christianity in 301 AD, is reported to have built the first church at the site of the monastery in 305. He built it on the foundations of a pagan
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Haghpat Monastery, circa 991 AD. Armenia boasts amazing monastic complexes that functioned as religious centers, universities, and hospitals in Medieval times.
#Armenia
#architecture
#history
#tradition
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Armenia has an amazing tradition of architecture and sculpture, thousands of years old. Its Christian churches, monasteries, and cathedrals are the equal of the finest Gothic and Romanesque cathedrals. I recently published a book on Armenian architecture:
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Vorotnavank Monastery, 1000 to 1007 AD. It was built by Queen Shahanduknt, ruler of Syunik.
#Armenia
#architecture
#design
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The rectory of Haghartsin monastery, built in 1248 by the noted architect Minas.
#Armenia
#architecture
#history
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Inside the narthex of Hovhanavank. Armenian architects made masterful use of domes, vaults, and arches, creating spaces of great mystery and beauty.
#Armenia
#architecture
#beauty
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We have published two books on the architecture, art, and ancient history of Armenia:
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Armenia has a very rich sculptural tradition dating back millennia. Some of the best Medieval examples can be found at the monastery of Noravank.
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The Church of St. Nshan is one of Armenian Classical Architecture’s greatest achievements. It was built in the late 10th century by King Smbat II Bagratuni, who ruled Ani.
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This karas — Armenian for amphora — contains the recreated wine of the Chalcolithic period, 6100 years ago.
#Armenia
#wine
#archeology
#heritage
#legacywines
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Armenia is a country of many volcanoes, and traditional Armenian architecture made ample use of the abundant supply of such volcanic stones as tuff and basalt. In Armenia tuff comes in many colors, a fact that local architects exploited to produce colorful buildings. The
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A 4th century AD burial from the ancient city of Agarak in Armenia. The position of the deceased person’s skeleton indicates that he was in all likelihood a Christian. In pagan burials at Agarak, the deceased are usually buried in the foetal position, symbolizing the belief
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This is the Areni-1 cave. Inside it we discovered the remains of an ancient lost civilization even older than Uruk, one of the first Sumerian cities.
#Armenia
#archeology
#history
#culture
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A medieval tomb marker located next to the 7th century church of Dedmashen. The bas relief depicts the deceased in paradise, along with a flask of wine, a stringed musical instrument, and the spiral symbol of eternity. What a beautiful concept of the afterlife: an eternal
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This vishap, or dragon stone, was once a pre-Christian idol. It was converted into one of the first khachkars by the addition of two crosses, which represent the Tree of Life. The idol’s head is still visible at the top of the khachkar.
#Armenia
#archeology
#sculpture
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Khor Virap monastery, 7th century AD. Beyond it is Mt. Ararat, where Noah’s ark landed after the Great Flood, according to the Bible and local tradition.
#Armenia
#architecture
#nature
#beauty
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Armenia became the first country to adopt Christianity as the state religion in the year 301 AD. Following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, Armenian scholars preserved and disseminated ancient knowledge and wisdom.
#Armenia
#civilization
#memory
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A khachkar from Haghartsin monastery, probably 13th century AD. In the artistic sense it is a direct descendant of the vishaps transformed from idols into Christian monuments a thousand years earlier.
#Armenia
#archeology
#sculpture
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This is the oldest known winery, dated to 4100 BC. We discovered it in the Areni-1 cave in Vayots Dzor province.
#Armenia
#wine
#tradition
#heritage
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