7 Items
Garni
The Roman era temple at Garni, Kotayk Province, is believed to date from the first century CE and is the most notable Classical monument in the countries of the former Soviet Union. However, the temple today is the result of a reconstruction that took place in 1969-1975 as the original structure was destroyed in an earthquake in 1679. The site is included here not only because its significance for Classical architecture in the Caucasus in general, but also because the remains of a seventh-century centrally-planned church abut the temple on its western side. There is also a Roman-era bath house complex north west of both the church and the temple. It seems Garni remained significant throughout its history as there is ninth and tenth century Arabic graffiti still visible on the monument and a number of European travellers recorded their impressions of Garni even after its destruction. Today the temple is one of the chief tourist attractions in Armenia as well as being the main cult centre for Armenian Neopaganism also called Hetanism. On the day of the site visit a ritual was being enacted in the cella of the temple and some images of this event are included in this entry.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Armenia, Bath, C10th, C1st, C7th, C9th, Centrally-Planned, Church, Classical, Garni, Hetanism, Neopaganism, Roman, Temple
Hammam Abu Rabah
Hammam Abu Rabah gets its name because sulphurous steam rises from underground at the site and rooms have been built to harness this steam for use as a sauna. To the west of the "baths" is a substantial medieval ruin, possibly of a Khan/Caravanserai.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Bath, Caravanserai, Desert, Khan, Medieval, Syria
Bosra Bath complex
A bath complex in the vicinity of the theatre of Bosra.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Basalt, Bath, Bosra, Syria
The Church of the Nutrition, Nazareth
A short distance from the church of the Annunciation in Nazareth is the church of the Nutrition. It was given this name as its original Late Antique church was constructed over the home and workshop of Joseph and was the place where Christ spent much of his childhood. This church incorporated grottos, cisterns and a ritual bath or baptismal font. It was used in the Crusader period, prior to its destruction by fire in the thirteenth century. The Franciscans rebuilt the current church in the twentieth century.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Bath, C20th, Caves, Christ, Christian, Church, Cistern, Crusades, Holy Site, Israel, Late Antique, Nazareth, Pilgrimage, St. Joseph
Kursi Church, Galilee
The monastic complex of Kursi is located to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and is identified as Gergessa or the Land of the Gadarenes of the New Testament where the Miracle of the Swine took place. The complex was built between the end of the 5th to the mid 6th Century and was fortified by a surrounding wall. It features a church with a large apse at the end of the nave, two side aisles and the later additions of a baptistery and crypt. The floors were paved with mosaics of geometric designs, floral motifs, fruits and birds. The large cistern, bath complex and oil press for the production of holy oil suggests that Kursi was once a popular Late Antique pilgrimage destination. It suffered much damage during the Persian invasion of the 7th Century.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Baptismal Font, Baptistery, Basalt, Bath, Bird, Bread Basket, C5th-C6th, Christ, Christian, Church, Cistern, Column, Cross, Foliage, Fruit, Galilee, Geometric Motif, Greek Inscription, Holy Site, Israel, Kursi, Monastery, Mosaic, Oil Press, Pilgrimage, Wall
Sergilla
The town of Sergilla on Jebel Zawiyeh is one of the most famous settlements on the Limestone Massif due to the exceptional state of preservation of the buildings (in many cases only the roofs are missing) and because of the number of civic buildings, such as the bath house and andron, still extant.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Andron, Architecture, Bath, Jebel Zawiyeh, Limestone Massif, Sergilla, Syria
Bodbe
Bodbe is associated with the grave of St. Nino, the evangeliser of Georgia. Although evidence suggests that the complex (that includes a convent and a sacred spring in the valley beneath it) goes back many centuries, the current site has been extensively renovated by the current religious community meaning that it is difficult to evaluate the age of the extant architecture. The monastic church undoubtably goes back at least until the Middle Ages, but the chapel and bathing pool located by the sacred spring is modern.
Type: Architecture
Tags: Architecture, Bath, Bodbe, Church, Georgia, Grave, Kakheti, Middle Ages, Shrine, Spring, St. Nino