The medieval earthquakes of the Armenian Plateau and the historic towns of Ayrarat and Shirak (Dvin, Ani, Erevan)

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.