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Our hotel. Erebuni is the original name
of Yerevan. |
We were centrally located downtown in Republic Square. Here follows the matched buildings around the plaza. Some are commercial, as banks, while others are governmental. | This is now the Marriott. | This section houses a bank, our hotel, and a Hyatt Place hotel. | A government building. | Directly across is the museum, or rather museums, one for history and the other wing for art. |
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Helpful signposts are found downtown. |
Benches as this are found in parks. Note the web address on the bench; the Armenia text is Yerevan. Also, nice hanging plants about the park. |
A sidewalk clock, reminding me of the one on San Francisco's Market Street.. |
Walking nearby, I encounter this sign advertising some theatre production |
Then I saw this sign, in art deco style. |
his is the Hakob Paronyan State Musical Comedy Theatre, founded 1941, not a fun year. |
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| Artistic tree adorns entrance to bank. | National government building, containing Ministries of Foreign Affairs; Justice; Education & Science; Culture; and Ministry of Diaspora (and that last one surely is unique, as Armenians are as widespread as Jews and Roma). | Contrast: old and new. | Cathedral. | The leading alcoholic beverage firm; noted particularly for its brandy. | And its competitor across the street. |
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| Symbolic decorations. | Middle section with more symbols. | Competing the form. |
Aram Manukian, first prime minister of the 1918 Republic. |
St. Gregory of Narek. Wherever you go in Yerevan, you will find statues. |
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New seminary. |
Replica of cross-stone. | Old cross-stones. | Another replica. |
The different hued stone structure, as seen in Republic Square in Yerevan, are taken from nearby mountains and is characteristic of Armenia. |
One of the bell towers of the cathedral, under repair and restoration. |
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| Ornate side door. | Cathedral tower. | Bell assembly. | Top of the entrance gate. | While Buddhist temples have gate guards as the dieties of the four directions (one plays a biwa/pipa lute), on the left is St. Peter, and..... | ..on the right is St. Gregory the Illuminator. |
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| Interior ceiling. | Persian-influenced decorations. | On the side, a niche. |
Returning back through the spectacular entrance to the complex. The right structure is based on Islamic muqarmas. |
Adding the dedication. | Next. we travel to Zvartsnot Cathedral, built 641 BCE; in 930 BCE an earthquake destroyed it. |
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| This is another large complex. | A surviving arched entrance. |
The church was circular, a unique architectural design arising in Rome. |
Altar. | Another view. | Detail of column. The one on the left was restored |
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| Roman bath. | Carved eagle, retored. | Rooms for the clergy. | Throne Room. | An eagle column | Round walls of a grotto. |
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| Hamming it up at the bottom. | Architectural drawing of assumed church appearance. | Returning, we pass the Yerevan Hrazdan stadium, in repair. | In a quaint restaurant for lunch. | Eclectic LP albums on the wine shelf, including German jazz and Stevie Wonder. | Another view. |
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| For dinner, we went to restaurant with dancers and musicians; [Video is part of the DVD collection.] | The band. [Video is part of the DVD collection.] |
