Garni Temple: Armenia's Pagan Sanctuary

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the fascinating story of the Garni Temple, the only surviving Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia. Perched on a cliff edge, this temple was built by King Tiridates I in the 1st century CE, shortly after his journey to Rome for coronation by Emperor Nero. Lucas explains how the temple's construction combined Roman architectural techniques with local Armenian traditions, and how it survived the Christianization of Armenia in the 4th century when most pagan structures were destroyed. They also discuss the temple's near-destruction in the 1679 earthquake and its reconstruction in the Soviet era. Along the way, they touch on the nearby Roman-style bathhouse with its mosaic floor, the medieval Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi's accounts, and the 20th-century restoration debates. A glimpse into Armenia's pre-Christian heritage and its complex path to preserving its past. #GarniTemple #TiridatesI #Nero #GrecoRoman #ArmenianHistory #Paganism #MovsesKhorenatsi #Architecture #Restoration #1679Earthquake #GarniGorge #RomanBathhouse #SovietEra #Caucasus #FexingoHistory #AncientHistory #History #Armenia #MountArarat #Urartu Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo