Areni

Areni (Armenian Արենի ), formerly Arpa, a village in the südarmenischen province Wajoz Dzor has around 1800 inhabitants in 2008. Village, situated 1054 meters above sea level is primarily as a wine region in the fertile valley of the Arpa and finished for his 1321 Surb Astvatsatsin - Church known. In the nearby cave of Areni 1 of the world's oldest completely preserved leather shoe and the oldest wine production have been discovered from the Chalcolithic period.

Location

Areni is located on the M2, the only highway that connects Yerevan with the southern part of the country. After the pass, on the border between the provinces of Ararat and Wajots Dzor the M2 runs on the first mountain village Yelpin past steadily downhill to the south to the valley of the Arpa. The intensive agricultural valley forms with its kleinparzelligen Viticulture and trees contrast with the only grass -covered and partially rocky hills. The center is located one kilometer south of the M2 on a side road leading to the hamlet Amaghu and to Khachik continues at the closed border of Nakhichevan.

One kilometer east of Areni branches from the M2 from a driveway to the monastery Noravank, which was built shortly before the end of a picturesque Felstals. In the narrow gorge at the beginning of the valley karst rocks contain, in addition to the cave of Areni 1 numerous other, sometimes far branched caves. Of the approximately parallel to the ridge road after Khachik enjoy views of the Noravank Valley. The distance from the provincial capital Areni Jeghegnadsor is 17 km; be due to the distance along the Arpa also the wine-producing villages Arpi and Getap.

On a hill on the road to Amaghu remained scanty remains of the fortress Hrashkaberd that is mentioned to 1299 were obtained. Several shrines in the vicinity of the village are revered religious, inter alia, a Surb Sarkis - cave and a Surb Grigor Nahatak called shrine, which is dedicated Tukh Manuk.

History

Archaeological excavations in the years after the turn of the millennium have brought to light in the dry climate of the nearby caves discoveries of organic material, which date back to the Chalcolithic period. In September 2008, a team of Armenian, Irish and American archaeologists hid in the cave of Areni 1, also called " bird cave ," the hitherto oldest completely preserved leather shoe, dated to about 3500 BC. The cave was inhabited 5000-3000 BC. In her clay pots were also exposed, who had served as a reservoir for cereals, apricots and other foods. At about 4000 BC Archaeologists estimate the University of California in 2010 presented to the public a wine press, which was located in the same cave. The press, with the grapes today genus Vitis vinifera have been processed, and the associated pottery jars show that the production of wine must have been in a well-developed stage.

Other finds in the area ranging from the Bronze Age, the Iron Age in the 1st millennium BC to the time of ancient Greece, as the place Arpaneal said. From 114 AD, the local Greek settlers were for a short time during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan ( r. 98-117 ). Subsequent Roman emperors leaving Armenian princes of the regional administration. The exercise of power of the Arsacid finished 163 of the Roman military Statius Priscus, who invaded Armenia beginning of the year, the capital Artaxata ( Artashat ) conquered and began instead of the Armenian a Roman ruler. A 1989 published altar that belonged to a temple, according to its Greek inscription dates from the year 163 AD He provides the first evidence that there must have been an issue raised Ge meters Olybris mother goddess as the female counterpart of Zeus Olybris, comparable with Demeter and Cybele. Author of the inscription was a Roman soldier named Aemilius ovalis ( Emilius Valens ), whose legion encamped here for an unknown time. Only when the Sassanid the Roman army devastating hit in 253 at Barbalissos on the Euphrates, the Roman influence was terminated.

The region along the river Arpa belonged since the end of the 13th century to the center of the Principality of Orbelian Dynasty. Near the village ruins were found, which might have heard in the 13th century palace of the Prince Tarsayich Orbelian. He also 1265-1287 built a bridge over the Arpa. While the north of present-day Armenia suffered in the 14th century under the Mongol rule, the regions Arpa and more experienced southern Syunik with the independent princes Orbelian - cultural heyday. With their patronage numerous churches and new buildings created in existing monasteries. According to the 1321 founding inscription Mother of God Church ( Surb Astvatsatsin ) was completed. Your architect Momik at this time worked for Bishop Hovhannes Orbelian in Norovank monastery.

According to the mass deportation of the Armenian population in 1604 to Isfahan by the Persian Shah Abbas I the villages were abandoned and the wine industry in the region came to a standstill. Only a few varieties could be obtained until the 19th century, when Armenia was part of the Russian Empire and the wine was promoted again. 1840 an earthquake shook the area in which the Areni church was badly damaged.

Townscape

According to the official statistics of 2008 Areni has 1865 inhabitants. There is a large modern wine production ( Areni Winery ) on the M2 highway near the turnoff to the town center. At a length of about one kilometer small stalls selling dry table wine usually offer in two-liter plastic bottles and vegetables.

The one - or two-storey houses in the village are covered with fiber cement panels. In barns winter feed is stored for cattle grazing on the surrounding hills. A pedestrian bridge over the Arpa directly below the church is no longer accessible. The path up the hill on the south bank opposite the place begins half a kilometer south of a road bridge on the road to Khachik.