Kasagh Basilica, Armenia

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This is one of the oldest pre-Christian structures in Armenia, built not later than the beginning of the 4th century. In this church, a triple-naved basilican type, three pairs of pillars divide the hall into a nave and two aisles. Each of the three parts thus created was cradle vaulted, and the whole was covered with a two-sided roof; the roofing no longer exists. The central apse, externally polygonal and internally horseshoe shaped, is situated on the east side. A sacristy has been added to the north side. The rather sober architecture of the exterior possesses some remarkable details, particularly the bas-reliefs of the tympana of the west and south entrances, which are very interesting exemplars of pre-Christian art in Armenia. (Monuments of Armenia)

Back on the main road, you soon reach the former region capital of Aparan (4913 v). till 1935 Bash Aparan, site of an important battle against the Turkish army in 1918. Just N of town, on a hill left of the road, is an impressive monument to the battle. Behind the monument toward the Kasagh gorge is a large Bronze Age settlement site, with tomb fields and caves. Aparan's population, mixed Armenians and Kurds, is the butt of various jokes. As Kasagh, Aparan was listed by the geographer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. About 100 m E of the highway toward the N end of town is the impressive and architecturally important 5th c. Kasagh Basilica*, restored and operating as a church.

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