Aghtsk
Coordinates: 40°18′59″N 44°15′13″E / 40.31639°N 44.25361°E
| Aghtsk Աղձք | |
|---|---|
  Aghtsk | |
| Coordinates: 40°18′59″N 44°15′13″E / 40.31639°N 44.25361°E | |
| Country | Armenia |
| Marz (Province) | Aragatsotn |
| Elevation | 1,260 m (4,130 ft) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 1,785 |
| Time zone | (UTC+4) |
Aghtsk (Armenian: Աղձք, formerly, Akhs, Akis and Dzorap - Armenian: Ձորափ) is a village on the slopes of Mount Aragats in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia. It is home to the Arshakid Mausoleum, a large grave monument complex and basilica of the 4th to 5th centuries. King Shapur II of Persia exhumed the bones of the Armenian kings and took them to Persia symbolically taking Armenia's power. When Sparapet Vassak Mamikonian defeated the Persians and reclaimed the bones of the Arshakuni monarchs, he buried them at Aghtsk. Remains of the monuments and the basilica may still to be seen.
Aghtsk is the birthplace of Catholicos Komitas I of Armenia (6th century-628).
Gallery
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Road map of Aghtsk and region
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Arshakid Mausoleum
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Entrance
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Church ruins (7c.)
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Entrance stairs
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Right niche
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Left niche
Nearby sites
Towns
Villages
Historical sites
- Amberd fortress
References
- Aghtsk at GEOnet Names Server
- World Gazeteer: Armenia – World-Gazetteer.com
- Report of the results of the 2001 Armenian Census
- Kiesling, Rediscoving Armenia, p. 16, available online at the US embassy to Armenia's website
