Theoretical reconstruction of the 5th century composition of the temple of Tekor

Abstract

This study was carried out at the Department of Architecture of the Institute of Arts of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia as an annual thematic work. The theoretical reconstruction was carried out based on archival materials provided by the Research on Armenian Architecture Foundation. The subject of the study is the Tekor temple (it is also often found in literature under the name of the Holy Trinity). It was built in 478-490. The temple is located 20 kilometers southwest of Ani, near Mount Arjarich. The Tekor temple is of exceptional importance for the development of Armenian early medieval architecture. Built in the 5th century, it remained standing for 15 centuries, during which it underwent some reconstructions. The dome of the temple was one of the first domes built by Armenian architecture, which collapsed in 1912. We have made an attempt to reconstruct the original appearance of the Tekor Temple based on archival materials using three-dimensional computer programs.