The Garni Temple was built in the first century AD, during the reign of King Tiridates I of Armenia. It is believed to have been dedicated to the pagan god Mihr (Mithra), who is associated with fire . Other scholars suggest that Garni was built as a tomb or mausoleum. One of the theories advanced by some scholars is that a pagan temple could not have survived after Armenia became a Christian state in the fourth century AD. The elegance of Garni Temple comes from the fusion of architectural styles and building materials of these three cultures, Hellenistic, Roman and Armenian. Twenty-four Ionic columns are inspired by classical Greek architecture. The structure incorporates arches and vaults which are of Roman origin. The temple is built with local basalt stone which was carved and fitted together without using mortar. The second important element of this Temple is its location. It sits on a promontory above Garni Gorge with views of surrounding mountains. A symbiosis ...
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