The pagan temple of Garni, built in 77 under King Trdat I, was dedicated to the god of the sun and purity - Mithra and is the only monument of the Hellenistic era in Armenia. It is located 28 km from Yerevan near the village of Garni.
The Garni fortress itself began to be built in the 2nd century BC. From a strategic point of view, this was an extremely favorable location, and the fortress served as the residence of the kings and the seat of their troops. The entire palace complex consisted of several separately located buildings: a temple, front and column halls, a residential building, baths, etc. On the north side of the square there was a bath building, which included at least five rooms for various purposes: the first eastern room served as a dressing room, the second - a cold bath, the third - with warm and the fourth - with hot water.
The pagan temple was built of basalt, a wide staircase leads to the main entrance. It is a peripter, surrounded on the outside by columns.
After the proclamation of the state religion in Armenia - Christianity (301), the temple was not destroyed, unlike other pagan temples, because it was a favorite resting place for the sister of Tsar Trdat III.
In 1679, the temple collapsed after an earthquake, the ruins of the temple could be found throughout the gorge of the Azat River. But thanks to the work of experienced restorers and local residents, who for many years collected scattered pieces of the temple building along the surrounding slopes, in 1966-1976 the shrine was restored.
Now the Garni complex is the ruins of a fortress with once powerful walls, the remains of a palace complex, typical Roman baths with miraculously preserved ancient mosaics on the floor and, of course, a temple in which the sun god Mitra was worshiped.
Since Garni is located on the same road as
Geghard Monastery, it is convenient to visit these sights in one trip.
