Ruins of the Armenian Empire

Ani, once capital of greater Armenia, jewel of the silk road, sat on a rock outcropping, surrounded by river gorges and cliff cities on three sides, and a wall on the fourth. Fought over by Seljuks, Mongols, and Persians alike, it had a hundred thousand people at its height. It is now a pile of rocks, and we stride alone on a cold November morning through the remains...



The great gatehouse, high on the Kars plateau of far eastern Turkey.

A gigantic olive press.

The ruined dome of an Armenian Orthodox church.

A small part of the city. No one but us this morning...Us and the ghosts...

Asa the archaeologist...

Cows. Not surprising.

Hi!
The walls have holes. Lots of holes.

A Seljuk Turk fort overlooking some of the cliff dwellings:

Eli goes home...