Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank
Medieval (Main 1215 CE; gavit 1225; rock-cut 1263 Proshian tomb)·Armenian medieval Proshian princes (Zakarian dynasty)·🇦🇲 Kotayk Province, Azat River gorge, Geghard valley, Goght village spur, Armenia
About
About Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank
Geghard UNESCO 2000, Proshian cave church 1283 with stalactite. Recorded context — Period: Medieval (Main 1215 CE; gavit 1225; rock-cut 1263 Proshian tomb); Culture: Armenian medieval Proshian princes (Zakarian dynasty); Field status: partially excavated; Materials: basalt rock-cut, tuff built, khachkar; Condition: preserved — UNESCO 2000.
Why it mattersKey Armenian medieval Proshian princes (Zakarian dynasty) temple-complex with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 1215 Kathoghike main; 1283 rock-cut Proshian tomb
- Period
- Medieval (Main 1215 CE; gavit 1225; rock-cut 1263 Proshian tomb)
- Culture
- Armenian medieval Proshian princes (Zakarian dynasty)
- Purpose
- Monastery in gorge, partly cave-cut (Avazan rock temple with 12 m muqarnas) — 800 khachkars and spear of Longinus relic cave
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1931
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1500 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank
1950 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank
1215 Kathoghike main; 1283 rock-cut Proshian tomb
Initial construction / first occupation at Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank
On the ground
Structures & features
40.1400° N · 44.8180° E · 1740 m · 3 mapped features
- Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank — Principal Templetempletemple at Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank — outlier feature40.1415° N · 44.8175° E
- Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank — Altar Annex 2altaraltar at Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank — hydraulic feature40.1408° N · 44.8199° E
- Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank — Southern Shrineshrineshrine at Geghard Monastery — Rock-Cut Chapel Geghardavank — outlier feature40.1399° N · 44.8180° E
Gallery