The medieval earthquakes of the Armenian Plateau and the historic towns of Ayrarat and Shirak (Dvin, Ani, Erevan)
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Abstract
The ancient Armenian capitals have been struck by particularly violent earthquakes throughout the ages. Their
prestigious and original monuments have been destroyed and reconstructed many times. The author examines
in particular the situation of the monumental complex of Dvin, which has been subjected to a thorough and extensive
campaign of archaeological excavations over the last twenty years or so, and that of Garni. struck by a
violent earthquake in the 17th century. It was during this quake that the ancient temple of Garni was ruined; it
was completely reconstructed in the present century. The author notes that some architectural techniques
adopted in Armenian churches may be interpreted as antiseismic measures. They were developed in an environment
in which the frequent experience of seismic damage could have offered numerous empirical observations
on which they could be based.
prestigious and original monuments have been destroyed and reconstructed many times. The author examines
in particular the situation of the monumental complex of Dvin, which has been subjected to a thorough and extensive
campaign of archaeological excavations over the last twenty years or so, and that of Garni. struck by a
violent earthquake in the 17th century. It was during this quake that the ancient temple of Garni was ruined; it
was completely reconstructed in the present century. The author notes that some architectural techniques
adopted in Armenian churches may be interpreted as antiseismic measures. They were developed in an environment
in which the frequent experience of seismic damage could have offered numerous empirical observations
on which they could be based.
Article Details
How to Cite
Hasrat’yan, M. (1995) “The medieval earthquakes of the Armenian Plateau and the historic towns of Ayrarat and Shirak (Dvin, Ani, Erevan)”, Annals of Geophysics, 38(5-6). doi: 10.4401/ag-4083.
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