Trdat the Architect

Trdat (Armenian Տրդատ ճարտարապետ, * 950, † 1020) Latinized Tiridates, was a famous Armenian architect of the 10th century, who was known for his bicultural way of working for both the architecture of the Byzantine Empire and the Armenian.

As one of the chief architects of the Bagratidendynastie Trdat of Ashot III. , Who moved the capital of his kingdom in the year 961 from Kars to Ani was commissioned to design a variety of structures. Ashot III. had built new palaces at this time in Ani and ordered the rebuilding of the walls. As the Catholicos was moved to the Arkina District, a suburb of Ani, Trdat was commissioned to build the palace of the Catholicos and the Cathedral of Ani, which he completed both.

The Cathedral of Ani in Armenia was one of the best known medieval buildings of the Caucasus and is considered a model for a jacketed cross-domed church.

Trdat was entrusted with the reconstruction of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople Opel, which he carried out from the year 989, after parts of the church were destroyed by the great earthquake in the same year. The reconstruction was completed in 994.

One writes Trdat well as the construction of the main churches of the monasteries Marmashen, Sanahin and the design or supervision of the construction of the Holy Cross Church ( Surb Nshan ), the oldest part of the monastery Haghpat (completed in 991 ) to. After completion of the Cathedral of Ani, he worked at the Palace Church of Saint Gregory of King Gagik in Ani. This 1001-1005 completed four conches system with circular dealing was a faithful replica of the cathedral of Zvartnots.