ARMENIA: Armenian archeologists unearthed a temple of ancient Aryans / Silk Road Destinations

During the excavation works on the eighth tumulus in the outskirts of Yerevan Armenian archeologists found a temple of ancient Aryans.

The foundation of the temple dates back to the 7th century BCE. Before Christianity, various rites were performed on the territory of the temple: here the local people worshipped the fire, practiced animal sacrifices to the gods, buried and cremated the dead.

In large pits there were found pots with bones of the deceased. Zoroastrians believed that dead flesh desecrated the Holy Fire and therefore they did not cremate the deceased but carried the corpse to a desolate place leaving it bare for vultures to feed on. The Zoroastrian doctrine demanded the dead flesh not to come in contact with the holy earth.

In close vicinity the archeologists found the burials of later period, namely the period of Van’s kingdom. Men’s bodies were positioned on their right side whereas women’s bodies on their left side, but always in the posture of newborn. There were also found in the burials amulets made of red stone, presumably cornelian, a big bead, fragments of glass and an antique vase.

Armenian historian, Movses Horenatsi, in his manuscript on the life of ancient Armenia, mentioned that in Armavir urban settlement there were three temples: Temple of Moon, Temple of Sun, and Temple of Ancestors’ Remembrance. Today
archeologists tend to think that “Nervin naver” site (“Low burials” in translation from Armenian) is that very Temple of Ancestors’ Remembrance.


Home Prospects Statements Terms Design Regional Tourism Great Silk Road GSR map News Newsletter Useful links Contacts		ARMENIA: Armenian archeologists unearthed a temple of ancient Aryans During the excavation works on the eighth tumulus in the outskirts of Yerevan Armenian archeologists found a temple of ancient Aryans. The foundation of the temple dates back to the 7th century BCE. Before Christianity, various rites were performed on the territory of the temple: here the local people worshipped the fire, practiced animal sacrifices to the gods, buried and cremated the dead. In large pits there were found pots with bones of the deceased. Zoroastrians believed that dead flesh desecrated the Holy Fire and therefore they did not cremate the deceased but carried the corpse to a desolate place leaving it bare for vultures to feed on. The Zoroastrian doctrine demanded the dead flesh not to come in contact with the holy earth. In close vicinity the archeologists found the burials of later period, namely the period of Van’s kingdom. Men’s bodies were positioned on their right side whereas women’s bodies on their left side, but always in the posture of newborn. There were also found in the burials amulets made of red stone, presumably cornelian, a big bead, fragments of glass and an antique vase. Armenian historian, Movses Horenatsi, in his manuscript on the life of ancient Armenia, mentioned that in Armavir urban settlement there were three temples: Temple of Moon, Temple of Sun, and Temple of Ancestors’ Remembrance. Today archeologists tend to think that “Nervin naver” site (“Low burials” in translation from Armenian) is that very Temple of Ancestors’ Remembrance.