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Sanahin Bridge

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Sanahin Bridge
Coordinates41°05′56″N 44°39′27″E / 41.098984°N 44.657586°E / 41.098984; 44.657586
CrossesDebed River
LocaleAlaverdi, Armenia
Characteristics
MaterialBasalt
Total length18,6 m
Height3,3 m
History
Constructed byQueen of Vaneni
Construction end12th century
Location
Map
Sanahin Bridge
Official name: Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iv
Designated1996 (20th session)
Reference no.777-003
RegionWestern Asia

Sanahin Bridge (Armenian: Սանահինի կամուրջ; Sanahini kamurj) a historical and cultural monument in the city of Alaverdi, Lori Province, Armenia. It is one of the famous engineering structures of medieval Armenia. It connects both banks of Debed River.

History

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The bridge was built in the late 12th century by Ivane Zakarian and sister of Zakare Zakaryans, Queen of Vaneni, in memory of her husband Abbas Kyurikyan.

In 1795, the thugs of Agha Mahmed Khan destroyed the part of the khachkar stone of the bridge, on which the date of construction was written.[1]

It has been repaired several times. In 1888, The broken foundations of Norashen Church of Tbilisi the left side walls of the bridge were strengthened with the funds of the priest Yervandents Tadevos from Sanahin.[2] In 1928–1929, under the leadership of Alexander Tamanyan, the foundations of the left-bank khel were partially strengthened. In 1939–1940, 1976–1977, the facades were repainted.[3]

Architecture

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The 18.6m single-span, arched bridge's right-hand abutment is on a high cliff and the left-hand abutment is on a low riverbank, resulting in this half of the bridge having a significant rise towards the center while the other half is flat. There are lion sculptures on the stone barrier of the bridge.

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References

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  1. ^ Հայրենիքի ձայն, 1965, թիվ 1
  2. ^ Վ.Հարությունյան, Միջնադարյան Հայաստանի քարավանատներն ու կամուրջները, Երևան 1960.
  3. ^ Գ.Շախկյան, Լոռի. պատմության քարակերտ էջերը, Երևան 1986.