Tweet
The Early Temples and Monuments of the Alban People in Ancient Azerbaijan
Sir,
In the title of the above mentioned article posted on 22 January 2105,
the writer refers to Ancient Azerbaijan as the region north of the
Arax River and in the last paragraph he/she mentions the Christian
monuments located there, which are said to belong to the ancient Alban
people.
It is correct that the Albanian tribes lived in the area in pre
Christian times but during the the 7-9th centuries AD they converted
to Islam. The region was ruled at medieval times by various Seljuk and
Oghuz Turkic and Mongol rulers until the 17-19th centuries when Muslim
Khans ruled it under either to Ottoman or Persian rule. During this
time some of the Armenian Meliks (Landowner families) living in the
inaccessible regions of Karabagh retained their relative independence.
During this period the region was known as the Khanates of Shaki,
Gyanja, Talish, Salian, Baku etc., under the generally known name of
Shirvan. The name Azerbaijan was given to the region in 1918, under
pressure from the Ottomans and the Ultra Nationalistic Musavat party
leader A. Rasulzadeh.
Therefore I suggest you note the following and erroneous and
misleading information in your article.
1 - From ancient times until 1918, the name Azerbaijan referred to the
Persian north-western province, located south of the Arax River. In no
document or map the region north of the Arax river has ever been named
Azerbaijan. A quick look into ANY map or history book will confirm
this.
2 - In the last paragraph the writer mentions the names of the
churches of Agoglan (correct Armenian name is Tsitsernavanq), Agtala
temple (Monastery of Akhtala), Yenivang temple (Monastery of
Noravanq), Sanain temple in Western Azerbaijan (Sanahin Monsatery and
University, north Armenia), Gancesar Monastery (Gandzasar- the seat of
the Armenian Catholicos), Qoshavang temple (Goshavanq Monastery and
University, west of Lake Sevan in Armenia) and Dadavang Temple (Dadi
Vanq Monastery). These are listed as Albanian Temples and not churches
and monasteries.
Please note that all of these monuments were built during the 11th to
18th centuries, when the Albanians people had already accepted Islam.
The question arises - WHY WOULD MUSLIM ALBANS BUILD CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
AND MONASTERIES?
Would it not be proper to provide the name of the people who actually
built and maintained them and left hundreds of inscription on the
stone walls of these buildings? The Armenians?
Regards,
Rouben Galichian - Guest
London
25 JANUARY, 2015
PS - For further detailed analysis please the following books
available form Amazon etc.
Rouben Galichian - The Invention of History, London. Gomidas Inst.,
2009 and 2010
Rouben Galichian - Clash of Histories in the South Caucasus. London,
Bennett and Bloom, 2012
Rouben Galichian - Countries South of the Caucasus n Medieval Maps,
London, Gomidas Inst., 2007
http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/early-temples-and-monuments-alban-people-ancient-azerbaijan-002593
From: A. Papazian
Sir,
In the title of the above mentioned article posted on 22 January 2105,
the writer refers to Ancient Azerbaijan as the region north of the
Arax River and in the last paragraph he/she mentions the Christian
monuments located there, which are said to belong to the ancient Alban
people.
It is correct that the Albanian tribes lived in the area in pre
Christian times but during the the 7-9th centuries AD they converted
to Islam. The region was ruled at medieval times by various Seljuk and
Oghuz Turkic and Mongol rulers until the 17-19th centuries when Muslim
Khans ruled it under either to Ottoman or Persian rule. During this
time some of the Armenian Meliks (Landowner families) living in the
inaccessible regions of Karabagh retained their relative independence.
During this period the region was known as the Khanates of Shaki,
Gyanja, Talish, Salian, Baku etc., under the generally known name of
Shirvan. The name Azerbaijan was given to the region in 1918, under
pressure from the Ottomans and the Ultra Nationalistic Musavat party
leader A. Rasulzadeh.
Therefore I suggest you note the following and erroneous and
misleading information in your article.
1 - From ancient times until 1918, the name Azerbaijan referred to the
Persian north-western province, located south of the Arax River. In no
document or map the region north of the Arax river has ever been named
Azerbaijan. A quick look into ANY map or history book will confirm
this.
2 - In the last paragraph the writer mentions the names of the
churches of Agoglan (correct Armenian name is Tsitsernavanq), Agtala
temple (Monastery of Akhtala), Yenivang temple (Monastery of
Noravanq), Sanain temple in Western Azerbaijan (Sanahin Monsatery and
University, north Armenia), Gancesar Monastery (Gandzasar- the seat of
the Armenian Catholicos), Qoshavang temple (Goshavanq Monastery and
University, west of Lake Sevan in Armenia) and Dadavang Temple (Dadi
Vanq Monastery). These are listed as Albanian Temples and not churches
and monasteries.
Please note that all of these monuments were built during the 11th to
18th centuries, when the Albanians people had already accepted Islam.
The question arises - WHY WOULD MUSLIM ALBANS BUILD CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
AND MONASTERIES?
Would it not be proper to provide the name of the people who actually
built and maintained them and left hundreds of inscription on the
stone walls of these buildings? The Armenians?
Regards,
Rouben Galichian - Guest
London
25 JANUARY, 2015
PS - For further detailed analysis please the following books
available form Amazon etc.
Rouben Galichian - The Invention of History, London. Gomidas Inst.,
2009 and 2010
Rouben Galichian - Clash of Histories in the South Caucasus. London,
Bennett and Bloom, 2012
Rouben Galichian - Countries South of the Caucasus n Medieval Maps,
London, Gomidas Inst., 2007
http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-asia/early-temples-and-monuments-alban-people-ancient-azerbaijan-002593
From: A. Papazian