Page:A History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 2.djvu/479

Rh Bs. IX Ch. V. AHMENIA. 463 CHAPTER V. ARMENIA. CONTENTS. Churches at Dighoiir, Usimlar, Pitzoimda, Bedochwinta, Mokwi, Etchmiasdin, and Kouthais — Churches at Ani and Samthawis — Details. CHRONOLOGY. DATES. Tiridates converted to Christianity by Gregory II a.d. 276 St. Gregory eonftrmed as Pontitt by Pope Sylvester 319 Christianity proscribed and perse- cuted by the Persians 428-6.31.' Fall of Sassanide dynasty .... 632 DATES. Establisliment of Bagratide dynasty under Aslidod 8.59 Greatest prosperity under Apas. . 928 Aslidod III. . .■ 951 Senipad II 977-989 Alp Arsbui takes Ani 1064 (iajih, last of the dynasty, slain . . 1079 Gengis Khan . . ' 1222 rpHE architectural province of Armenia forms an almost exact pendant -L to that of Greece in the history of Byzantine architecture. Both were early converted to Christianity, and Greece remained Christian without any interruption from that time to this. Yet all her earlier churches have perished, we hardly know why, and left us nothing but an essentially Medieval style. Nearly the same thing happened in Armenia, but there the loss is only too easily accounted for. The Persian persecution in the 5th and 6th centuries must have been severe and lasting, and the great bouleversement of the Mahomedan irruption in the 7th century would easily account for the disappear- ance of all the earlier monuments. When, in more tranquil times — in the 8th and 9th centuries — the Christians were permitted to rebuild their churches, we find them all of the same small type as those of Greece, with tall domes, painted with frescoes internally, and depend- ing for external effect far more on minute elaboration of details than on any gi-andeur of design or proportion. Although the troubles and persecutions from the 5th to the 8th century may have caused the destruction of the greater part of the monuments, it by no means follows that all have perished. On the contrary, we know of the church above alluded to (p. 428) as still existing at Nisibin and belonging to the 4th century,^ and there can ' Drawings of tliis cliiircli were made by Mr. Boutcher when travelling for the Assyrian Exploration Fund; bun he has hitherto declined to allow their pub- lication.