Sanahin Bridge

Sanahin Bridge (Armenian: Սանահինի կամուրջ; Sanahini kamurj) a historical and cultural monument in the city of Alaverdi, Lori Province, Armenia. It is one of the famous engineering structures of medieval Armenia. It connects both banks of Debed River.

Sanahin Bridge
Coordinates	41°05′56″N 44°39′27″E
Crosses	Debed River
Locale	Alaverdi, Armenia
Characteristics
Material	Basalt
Total length	18,6 m
Height	3,3 m
History
Constructed by	Queen of Vaneni
Construction end	12th century
Location

Sanahin Bridge
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv
Designated	1996 (20th session)
Reference no.	777-003
Region	Western Asia

History

The bridge was built in the late 12th century by Ivane Zakarian and sister of Zakare Zakaryans, Queen of Vaneni, in memory of her husband Abbas Kyurikyan.

In 1795, the thugs of Agha Mahmed Khan destroyed the part of the khachkar stone of the bridge, on which the date of construction was written.^[1]

It has been repaired several times. In 1888, The broken foundations of Norashen Church of Tbilisi the left side walls of the bridge were strengthened with the funds of the priest Yervandents Tadevos from Sanahin.^[2] In 1928–1929, under the leadership of Alexander Tamanyan, the foundations of the left-bank khel were partially strengthened. In 1939–1940, 1976–1977, the facades were repainted.^[3]

Architecture

The 18.6m single-span, arched bridge's right-hand abutment is on a high cliff and the left-hand abutment is on a low riverbank, resulting in this half of the bridge having a significant rise towards the center while the other half is flat. There are lion sculptures on the stone barrier of the bridge.

Gallery

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References

1. Հայրենիքի ձայն, 1965, թիվ 1
2. Վ.Հարությունյան, Միջնադարյան Հայաստանի քարավանատներն ու կամուրջները, Երևան 1960.
3. Գ.Շախկյան, Լոռի. պատմության քարակերտ էջերը, Երևան 1986.