Stone Chests Revealed in the Arsacid Dynasty Mausoleum
Hakob Simonyan, Director of the Scientific and Research Institute of Historical and Cultural Heritage, archeologist, at today’s press conference introduced the results of excavations in Karmur Blur (Teishebaini necropolis), as well as touched upon the stone chests of kings in the mausoleum of the Arsacid Dynasty, located in Aghdzk.
Aghdzk is one of the most important Armenian sanctuaries, as part of the tombs of the kings, which have been saved and returned from the invasion organized by King Shapur II, are located there. Hakob Simonyan told about this adding that a mausoleum is being built in Aghdzavank, in which saved bones of Armenian kings are kept.
The speaker states with pain, that yet even in the 19th century there were no more bones left, and it seemed that we have lost ambers of Armenian kings in this turmoil.
“Under the patronage of former PM Hovik Abrahamyan digging of Aghdzk has been launched since 2015, as a result of which we succeeded to uncover findings of prominent importance. It turned out that they were sealed stone chests, two of which we opened. It turned out that there were remains of human body in them,” he told.
These chests, which according to the speaker have been covered with wonderful and symmetric ornaments, should have been meant for high-ranking officials, which were inside the church, “It’s very probable to think that they were remnants of some of Armenian kings, which were put into the chests and sealed with a paving.”
Speaker Hakob Simonyan highlighted another important circumstance,
“Until now it’s been accepted among academic circles that firstly mausoleums were built, then the church. Here the situation has been completely changed, if there are remnants of royal bodies under the church, then, it’s clear that firstly the church should have existed, and then the mausoleum could have been built. This is rather logical, particularly, in the case, when, under powerful royal conditions, they wouldn’t ever bring them to an accidental place and bury them. Thus, it’s rather possible, that human remnants found there may belong to ancient kings.”
By Nvard Manvelyan
