Garni Temple

Garni Temple is a Hellenistic sanctuary perched on the edge of a cliff above the Azat River in the Armenian village of Garni. The structure, built from basalt stone, features 24 columns in the Ionic order that encircle a rectangular inner chamber and offer open views over the gorge.

King Tiridates I commissioned the sanctuary around 77 CE, and it survived Armenia's adoption of Christianity in the fourth century. An earthquake in 1679 toppled the columns and walls, which were rebuilt between 1969 and 1975 using the anastylosis method.

The building combines Greek architectural forms with Armenian motifs such as pomegranates, grapes, hazelnut leaves and flowers carved into the stonework. This fusion shows how local craftsmen adopted foreign traditions and enriched them with symbols from their own landscape.

The site sits around 28 kilometers east of Yerevan, and regular buses and shared taxis connect the capital to the village. Sturdy footwear is recommended because of the uneven stone surfaces around the columns, and on sunny days the grounds offer little shade.

During the post-earthquake restoration, workers marked every new piece of basalt to distinguish it from the original rubble. This method allows visitors today to identify which parts of the construction are ancient and which are modern as they walk around.