THE EARLY MEDIEVAL MONUMENT OF GARNAHOVIT. NEW DATA AND COMMENTARIES

Abstract

The unique early medieval monument of Garnahovit has been studied by a number of
scholars, who expressed various viewpoints on the sculptural images depicted on all four sides
of the memorial. Toros Toramanyan ascribed it to the pagan period, without regard to the
image on the front side, on which, according to Garegin Hovsepyan, an Old Testament scene of
Abraham’s sacrifice is represented (Genesis 22. 1-13). Incomplete image on the forth side was
correctly interpreted by Babken Arakelyan, who mentioned that here the lower long wing of a
cross is carved. The main riddle are the images on the second and third sides, where the king
Tiridates III, Holy Mother (B. Arakelyan), pagan goddess Anahit (Sirarpi Ter-Nersesyan and
others) or Abraham's wife, Sarah (Zaruhi Hakobyan) are supposedly depicted. As a result of our research it was revealed that on the second and third sides the prince Spandarat
Kamsarakan and his wife Arshanush Arshakuni are depicted. Thus, Garnahovit stela is ascribed
to the period of their activities, i.e. to the middle of IV century.