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ART HISTORY: EARLY CHRISTIAN FRESCOES AND FIGURATIVE ARTS   

Photos from L to R: #1. Mosaic with Greek inscriptions depicting Goddess Thetis at the Garni Temple.Circa 3^rd century to 4^th century B.C. Photo: Dickran Doumukjian. #2. Stone carving at The Temple of Garni.

The ancient cities of Armenia were famous for their temples, palaces and sanctuaries which were lavishly decorated  with marble and bronze statues as well as with splendid mosaics and frescoes. It is absolutely evident that Greek and Armenian artists, artisans, builders and architects collaborated jointly on many of the ancient temples and palaces in ancient Armenia. The physical  features and traits of the  head of the Armenian goddess of fertility, Anahit can be easily attributed to a Greek ethnic origin as well as to an Armenian ethnic background. The same argument applies to the architectural design and techniques of Garni temple.

The Garni temple. Photo by Robert Nikoghosian.

The frescoes-mosaic block discovered at Garni temple and extracted from the under floor of an ancient bath which probably was consecutively used  by Greeks, Armenians and Romans had a Roman style, a Greek technique with Greek inscriptions on it, and a pagan goddess Thetis which was honored  and worshiped by the Greeks and Romans as well. In addition, the mosaic block depicted mythologico-allegorical figures which had the traits and  characteristics of an Asia Minor  ethnic background. In other words, the figures and the traits were not Greek or Roman. One explanation comes to the rescue. They were of an Armenian origin, style and type, as simple as that. This is a solid evidence that, Armenian artists and artisans did collaborate and work  on Greek and Roman edifices, sanctuaries, palaces and artifacts, including murals, wall paintings and frescoes.  The stones used in the construction of the temple were gray basalt and not white marble. Traditionally, Greek temples were made out of white marble but, here at Garni, the stones were taken from a local Armenian plateau rich with gray basalt stones favorite of the Armenian sculptors, artisans and architects who knew very well how to cut the stones and use them in erecting temples and palaces.