Ani Citadel, Kars Merkez, Kars, Turkey 

At the southern end of Ani the ground rises up to form a flat-topped hill. This part of Ani is known as the “Inner Fortress” (Midjnaberd in Armenian), or simply as the “citadel”. As well as having natural defences of steep cliffs on three sides, the citadel was encircled by a single line of ramparts. This wall had towers on its north facing section, and an entrance gateway at its north-western corner.

The citadel ramparts are presumed to date, in part, from the time that the Kamsarakan dynasty ruled Ani (the seventh century AD), but additional work was done on them until the thirteenth century.

The entrance to the citadel, at [a] on the plan, was constructed at the time of the Sheddadid rulers of Ani (1072-1199) according to Nikolai Marr, and was joined to older walls. This gateway has a ramp up to it, paved with large slabs of stone. Underneath the gateway, but above the original ground level, Marr discovered the clay pipes of a conduit that had delivered water into the citadel. This water had come from a spring situated nearly eleven kilometres from the city. The citadel has no natural water supply.

Epic Turkey Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound

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