Vorotnavank

A monastic complex set on the slopes of the valley of the river Vorotan, in the northern region of Syounik. The establishment of the monastery also served as a pretext for the defence of the territory: in addition to the fortified wall of the monastery, further down the valley there is also a real castle, now in ruins. Vorotnavank was an important cultural centre, as it had a university, later transferred to Tatev. Of the two churches, the older dates from the 10th century and is a single barrel-vaulted hall with transverse reinforcing arches. The second, of the domed-hall type (11th century), has now largely collapsed. It must have been completely plastered and perhaps also frescoed, a rather unusual feature in Armenian architecture. Notable is the system for lightening the dome with the typical Byzantine (or even Roman) method of amphorae inserted into the poured concrete. Parts of the portico and of the library, with horseshoe arches, still survive from the complex. The characteristic dentil work of the cornices repeats more archaic forms, already in use in the 7th century.