Tatev Monastery
Description
According to a popular legend, after the architect completed the construction of Tatev he took two stone pebbles and prayed to God, asking Him for wings. His wish was granted and the architect flew away. The word “tatev” reflects this, since it means “giving wings” in the Armenian language.
The monastery of Tatev was built in the 9th century, on the ruins of an ancient pagan temple. Such practices were common back then; Armenia was the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion and thus fought against pagan followers.
The most famous part of Tatev is Gavazan, an 8-meter high stone pillar. This unique work of Armenian art and engineering was meant to scare off the invaders, and was always successful in that purpose. In 1931 an earthquake almost destroyed the monastery, but many of the buildings were subsequently reconstructed.
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Photos and 3D Screenshots
