Museum «Saradarapat»

A unique complex not only for Armenia, but also, perhaps, for the entire world – is Saradarat designed to celebrate a wonderful victory won here by the entire Armenian people over the forces of the Ottoman Empire. It necessarily included in the program of the tour in Armenia. This open-air museum was opened fifty years after the famous battle that changed the course of Armenian history. If the combined forces of the future state would be unable to fold back the enemy troops, then, according to many historians, Armenia now existed only in books but books. Battles took place in 1918, when the genocide events (most of which occurred in the period from 1915 to 1917), the Ottoman authorities decided to seize the territory of the Ararat Valley and Yerevan, and finally to exterminate Armenians idle. In the battle against the invaders got the whole country, including women, children and feeble old men. Even Catholicos of the Armenian Church, refused to leave his residence and take out the shrine from the Echmiadzin monastery, saying that it is better to perish under the swords of enemies, rather than running and will have no country and people. According to the dictates of ministers across the country rang the bell around the clock, collecting the population in the militia. Armenia rallied and drove the enemy hordes, won a landslide victory in the Battle of Sardarapat. This 1918 was an important milestone in the history of the Armenian people, the new, the young state was founded.

 

And in the early sixties of the XX century it was decided to perpetuate this event and honor the memory of those who fell in this battle. And in 1968, in honor of the fiftieth anniversary with the glorious victory, it was discovered an amazing open-air museum Saradarapat. Over its construction worked most eminent architects and sculptors of the time Armenia. However, the main generator of ideas was a master Israelian. The unique appearance of the entire complex and has given a commitment to the traditions of Armenian art. In the old sculptors believed that all three-dimensional – it is patrimony of God, man is stuck only create flat images. Hence the famous harchkary, obelisks and other examples of medieval art surround. Therefore, in spite of all the monumental compositions, they look surprisingly flat – which creates an amazing visual effect. To see all this, you just book a tour to the hotel in Armenia where you left off.

 

The complex starts from the mall, which is a colorful ribbon leads to the entrance, which is decorated with statues of winged bulls powerful guarding the road to the tall spire steeple. It is here that the remains of the heroes of the battle. For the construction of all the facilities here used tuff rich red color.

 

Fire-breathing winged bulls depict loyalty and reliability, as well as the amazing power of the spirit of the Armenian people. This image has come from the depths of centuries. Bulls securely guarded dead calm, allowing no harm to the sacred land where heroes are tired sleep. Instead, the bell tower of the authors had originally planned to build an obelisk in the form of a two-edged sword, but then gave preference to the first character, since it is similar structures were anciently made to erect on the site of burial. The bell tower is designed to resemble and ringing, which sailed over the country, gathering people in a decisive battle.

 

To the left of the main square is a spacious avenue, which is guarded by the mighty eagles figures rising by as much as six meters. The proud bird, do not close the eyes and look around the horizon, always stand guard Armenia ready to expand its wings and boldly rush forward, if they feel threatened. By the way, originally eagles gaze burning through Turkish land border with Armenia, but the Turkish authorities have expressed an official protest, and the Soviet government asked menacing eagles expand in another direction. The power of art in action.

 

Walk takes visitors to another important monument – Wall Victory. Powerful construction, billowing up to 7 meters, and on the edges of this protective strengthening even higher, as long curving smooth arc building reaches 55 meters. The surface of the monument, both internal and external, is covered with bas-reliefs. Moreover, if the outer wall, as if facing the unfriendly world, tells the story of the courage of the Armenian people and draws scenes of war and battles, the interior tells all the history of the nation and its growth. Here and images of gods, and a proud symbol of Armenia, clawed eagle, and the image of the mighty Mount Ararat, which is after the Flood became the new home for mankind. There is a place and a demonstration of good and evil struggle, when the winged and fire-breathing horses, light war, their hooves snake-like dragon. There are many other allegorical images – but the strongest impression leaves a pristine section of the wall, which clearly states that the Armenian history is not over yet. Such beauty you are unlikely to see anywhere else.

 

Another place that is worth a visit here is the museum, which is built in the shape of a medieval fortress, the massive walls which are carved out of raw red tuff. The building looks impregnable, as the perimeter integrity violated only two narrow loopholes, one of which looks at Ararat, and another on the Aragats. At the same time all the lights enters the rooms, thanks to the wide lower dome located on the ceiling, curved in the shape of the tent, as well as through the windows overlooking the inner green courtyard. All interior space is very impressive, as it were, if you were in some kind of sacred place.

 

Within the walls is a rich collection consisting of a variety of exhibits on the war with the Ottoman Empire in general and the Sardarapat battle in particular. This picture, written recollections of people who took part in the battles, all kinds of documents, as well as various items that were used in peaceful life in those days, and on the battlefield. But this museum is dedicated not only to the war of liberation, but also the history of the Armenian people as a whole, offering a rich ethnographic collection, a story about culture, life, traditions and beliefs of the Armenians, which they carried through the centuries. You can look at the exceptional richness of its collection in a variety of carpets, costumes, jewelry, household items and other things.

 

The whole area on which the museum complex is located, is covered by dense vegetation. There is also a lush flower beds, generously studded with succulent buds of roses and shady avenues, close to even a picturesque pond. In addition to the museum building is built the refectory, in accordance with the classical traditions of Armenian architecture. Finely drawn lines, beautiful mosaic, which generously encrusted exterior walls, and the structure itself was created in the medieval style inn, which were scattered in large numbers along the main paths.

 

To get into the complex, it is necessary to book a tour or at the tour operator in Armenia, or accessible by car or taxi to the city of Armavir, where it is easy to find your way to Sardarapat.