The Ancient Ghost City of Ani

The Atlantic ^ | January 24, 2014 | Alan Taylor

[C19fan]

Situated on the eastern border of Turkey, across the Akhurian River from Armenia, lies the empty, crumbling site of the once-great metropolis of Ani, known as "the city of a thousand and one churches." Founded more than 1,600 years ago, Ani was situated on several trade routes, and grew to become a walled city of more than 100,000 residents by the 11th century.

[Dudoight]

Fascinating....thank you.

[Tugo]

Interesting pictures. Tough region, politically and geologically.

[Red_Devil 232]

Great pictures at the linked site. Thanks for the post.

[Red_Devil 232]

Ping to Sunkenciv.

[Vendome]

Awesome.

Stupendous

Amazing and Beautiful.

I could easily live in a few of those places.

Added to my list of destinations to visit.

[ThomasMore]

Wow...talk about a terrain bare of trees.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

WOW!
Thanks for posting!
Bogie

[Red_Devil 232]

[JoeFromSidney]

Interesting. When I was a visiting professor in Turkey, I took a guided tour of the country during a school holiday. I'm now disappointed that the tour agency never included this site on the tour.

[Oatka]

” `My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

[C19fan]

Until recently that area was a no go zone especially during the Cold War as it site right on the border with Armenia which was part of the former Soviet Union.

[The Truth Will Make You Free]

Besides this, Turkey has wonderful New Testament Biblical ruins: Ephesus, The 7 cities of Revelation 2-3, Galatia, Colossae (unexcavated), Antioch, Miletus (Acts 17), Derbe, Lystra, and more.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Red_Devil 232. I think there was a topic about this a few months ago, but pinging this one just in case. :')

[ZULU]

More evidence of Islamic vandalism.

[LostInBayport]

Thanks for pinging...what a visual tour!

[colorado tanker]

Outstanding defensive location for a city. Unfortunately, Ani was in a very rough neighborhood visited by Byzantines, Turks, Mongols and Persians.