100-150m towards north from monastery Horeka there is one of the well-preserved monuments of Artsakh’s (Nagorno Kharabakh) palace-architecture. The palace was built by Melik- Beglaryans of Gyulistan. According to one of the inscriptions the building of the palace was realized in XVIIIc. The palace- castle is a complex with towers and surrounded with a wall constructions. tHe rectangular in scheme castle is 42m long and 36,5m wide. All the constructions placed in its territory stretch in two rows by east-west axis. In the southern row there are 8 halls, 4 of which have one common gallery. Two middle halls with long colonnade-galleries with eight-hedral arcade, by their volume-space solution (sizes 7x7) resemble the vestibules of monastery Horeka. These interesting national dwellings with cone-shaped roofing (glkhatun) also don’t have neither pillars nor pilasters. Their stony domes are results of bold and unique idea. Unlike the analogous palaces, which have eight-hedral domes with passages, the roofings of the mentioned dwellings are half-spherical. Placing two one-type glkhatuns side by side, alongside with simply functional, acquires in the system of palace-fort organizing and outlining significance. The rooms placed by left and right sides of the glkhatuns have fire-places and windows. The gallery at first had a cylindrical vault, leaning on seven square in cut pylons. The rooms of the northern wing communicate with the gallery’s colonnade through the hall with vaulted cover. Placed in western part galleries have secret entries, fire-places and communicate with glkhatuns. The inside yard of the castle serves as a connecting point for southern and northern halls. Through the yard was also realized the connection with outside life. The main entry of the castle is from western side of the yard. The rooms of the southern wing are destroyed, part of the roof and corner-stones is collapsed. Here are placed 3 rooms, the side ones have almost equal sizes. All the windows open to the yard. The palace-castle has at the same time served also a defense construction. Castle’s garrison was in a small fort towards north from it on ravine’s left wing. This fort is known in literature as Karaburg (four-towers). In the forest now too are noticeable the ground parts of these towers and connecting them serf-walls. The main fort of Gyulistan’s principality is by a village of the same name. In conclusion, we should mention that Melik-Beglaryan’s palace-castle is an interesting and unique construction of Armenian national architecture. The hill, situated towards west from the palace Malik Beglaryan, in Gyulistan is called Rusi Urd (Russian pass). On its top was fastened the camping tent of Russian army’s general Ritishev. Gyulistan became the witness of a most important historical event. In this very place since October 2 to 12 of 1813 were carried on negotiations and was signed an agreement, according to which considerable part of Eastern Armenia, including also Gharabagh’s five princedoms, joint Russia. In settlements of pre-mountain zone of Martakert region: Seysulan, Maralyan Sarov, Levonarkh, Margushevan, Leninavan, Karmiravan, Jraberd, Verin and Nerkin Chaylu are often found pitchers, sepulchres, bronze arms, khachkars, Armenian memorial gravestones of ancient and new time. A rather noteworthy godsend- grape seeds and hardened remainders of wine in pitchers. In ornaments of medieval period monumental stones a required detail is grape-vine’s picture. Such plentifulness and variety of material culture’s monuments, connected with viticulture, certainly evidences about that since ancient times one of the main economical works of Artsakh- Gharabagh’s inhabitants was viticulture. From these early sources is noteworthy the fourth point of “Constitutional canons”, accepted by Vachagan Pious. Here is told concrete information about commodity circulation of vine in Artsakh. About planting new vine-gardens (in inscriptions for meaning this words is used word mataghis- young garden), about presenting them as gifts to sprititual centers evidence number of inscriptions of monasteries Dadi, Khuta, Karmir and Charektar. In sources of proceeding period about viticulture and gardening, which had great significance in economical and domestic life, is spoken about as of one of the main works of inhabitants.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 04:48:55 +0000