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CULTURE, ARCHITECTURE AND CIVILIZATIONS

 

ART OF A VANISHED MAJESTIC KINGDOM: CILICIA

The gigantic palaces and  castles of  enormous proportions of Ararat were the source of inspiration, data, collection of know-how and information for the forthcoming castles and buildings of Bagratouni (Bagratid), Arshakouni (Arsacid)  Yervandouni, Artashesian (Artaxiad) and the  Roubinian, Hetoumian and Lusignan periods. The Cilician architects and master-builders taught  architects, fortresses  and castles builders of ancient and medieval countries, the art, the science and the strategic lay-out, design and sites  selection of castles , towers and fortresses. Many of the remaining ramparts, walls, towers, arcades and ruins of the Crusade castles in Syria, Palestine and Lebanon are living examples and witnesses  of the Armenian ancient and medieval architectural genius and original creativity that shaped and influenced the  architecture of the Crusaders, ancient and medieval Europe and the Middle East, including the Ottoman (Turkish) Sarails (Sarayat) , castles, sultanic palaces and cities fortresses.

Photo: Drawing/illustration of an early Armenian church with its noticeable altar dome. Armenian altars and domes style later were frequently copied, used and shaped after in European architecture for and in churches, cathedrals, royal palaces, universities, immense libraries and governmental edifices.

 Photo, below: Cilician minted coins

Long before its established boundaries and kingdom perimeter as the Greater Armenia, Cicilian terrain in the region of Lake Van and Mount Ararat was the center of culture, art, science for the ancient Near East, Middle East, Indo-European countries, Anatolia, Syria, Palestine, Iraq and other   regions, countries and inhabitants of Asia who   interacted with the people of the  kingdom of Urartu (Ararat or Armenia today) and the kingdom of Cecilica. The Cilicians were very hospitable, peace loving, and extremely friendly with their neighbors and the tribes that lived in their surrounding regions. Around the end of the 7^th century B.C., the kingdom of Urartu (Ararat) went into a deep sleep giving birth to a  new  nation called Armenia. It would take this new country several centuries before it would claim its independence from the Hellenics. Armenia became a free country, free from the Greek Seleucids and the influence of other foreign powers and cultures in the 2^nd century B.C. At that time, Armenia became very influential and its trade and commerce rapidly flourished thanks to its northern trade passage to Asia Minor, the Near and the Middle Eastern countries. Unfortunately, Armenian  could not protect their territories and preserve their independence. In the 11th century, the  Turkish Seljuk dominated Asia Minor including all the surrounding countries and neighboring nations. This lead to the absorbance of Urartu and the Armenian population into the mighty Ottoman empire. The Byzantines relocated the Armenians in Cilicia.  Thus, the Armenians began to regroup and re-form a new national identity.