We visited a monastery in the small mountain town of Tatev, the end of the cable car ride. The monastery was built in the year 906. I don't know what this hole was used for, but you can see how high we are on the edge of a cliff. You could hear and see the mountain waterfall from here.
The church inside of the monastery. It was surrounded by high walls. In the 14th century, the monastery was used for artists, philosophers, musicians, calligraphers, as a center for culture and learning. It was a "university" as such. Most of the monasteries were built up high, surrounded by high defense walls, had several buildings for chapels, workrooms, offices. There were many uprisings at this place, destroying and rebuilding thru the centuries. How on earth they built this on such a high cliff is beyond me.
This is an oil press at the monastery. it has "future" thinking.
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My favorite "artistic shot" which I sketched. (sketched a few places on the trip)
Beautiful wild flowers
Tatev monastery actually had a sophisticated alarm system in the tower of the fountain which is about 12 ft. high.. There was an oblong stone on the top of the tower, and if an earthquake was beginning, or armies were coming, the stone would swing out from the vibration on the ground.. So they were smart back then, eh?
