Kachaghakaberd
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39°58′17.0″N46°36′53.5″E/ 39.971389°N 46.614861°E | |
Location | between the villages ofKolatakandKhndzristaninKhojaly DistrictofAzerbaijan |
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Type | Fortress |
Completion date | 9th century |
Kachaghakaberd(Armenian:Կաչաղակաբերդ,Azerbaijani:Qaxaç qalası) is a mountain-top fortress located between the villages ofKolatakandKhndzristan,inKhojaly DistrictofAzerbaijan.[1]
TheJanapar Trailruns very near to the fortress. A short side trail takes to the top of the fortress.
Etymology
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Khachaghakaberd_fortress_between_Kolatag_and_Patara.jpg/220px-Khachaghakaberd_fortress_between_Kolatag_and_Patara.jpg)
Kachaghakaberdis translated from Armenian asmagpie's fortress,a combination of the wordsկաչաղաք(kachaghak,designating the birdmagpie) andբերդ(berd,meaning fortress).[2][3]
Architecture
[edit]The fortress was an important fortification of the medieval ArmenianPrincipality of Khachenthat thrived in the High Middle Ages,[4]and is located at a height of more than 1700 meters, surrounded by vertical limestone cliffs with the heights of 50–60 meters, has a hard-to-reach entrance from the southern side of the fortress. During its history no one could ever storm the fortress. Parts of the defensive walls remain standing.[5]
The territory of the fortress occupies a large area, though it seems small. Many rooms, secret passages cut into the cliffs, and specialloopholesfor throwing stones at enemies are inside its territory.[6]The water supply problem was solved by a unique method: two rock-cut reservoirs to store rain and melt-water are in the center of the fortress. Fresh water was brought from a spring at the foot of the mountain.[7]
Gallery
[edit]-
View of the tower
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View from the tower
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View ofKolatakvillage from the tower
See also
[edit]References
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- ^"Качагакаберд".
- ^Brady Kiesling (Author), Raffi Ko gian (Author, Editor). Rediscovering Armenia. Publisher: Matit; 2nd edition (June 1, 2005),ISBN9994101218;ISBN978-9994101214
- ^Shahen Mkrtchian. Historical and Architectural Monuments of Nagorno-Karabakh. pp. 10, 21, 25. Yerevan, 1989, in Russian. Original: Шаген Мкртчян. Историко-архитектурные памятники Нагорного Карабаха. стр. 10, 21, 25. Ереван, 1989
- ^Bonnie Marshall. The Flower of Paradise and Other Armenian Tales (World Folklore Series). 2007. photo section
- ^Boris Baratov. Paradise Laid Waste: A Journey to Karabakh, Lingvist Publishers, Moscow, 1998, pp. 50
- ^Shahen Mkrtchian. Historical and Architectural Monuments of Nagorno-Karabakh. pp. 10, 21, 25. Yerevan, 1989, in Russian. Original: Шаген Мкртчян. Историко-архитектурные памятники Нагорного Карабаха. стр. 10, 21, 25. Ереван, 1989
- ^Brady Kiesling (Author), Raffi Ko gian (Author, Editor). Rediscovering Armenia. Publisher: Matit; 2nd edition (June 1, 2005),ISBN9994101218;ISBN978-9994101214