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AŁUDI
/ VIth-Vllth centuries
Ałudi
is a village in the district of Sisian which formerly possessed a famous
monastery with a basilical church now destroyed.
The surviving monument is the tomb of two illustrious personages whose
identity remains unknown. (The Arabic and Armenian inscriptions of the
IXth to Xlllth centuries on the tomb are posterior to it).
The monument is composed of a cubic chamber above which stands a
triumphal arch composed of two pillars framing a column which supports
two small arches. The ensemble was probably completed by three stone
crosses. The capital and base of the column are especially archaic in
style. (The capitai is closer to Aegean than lonic examples). The
presence of very steep stairs leading to the platform above the tombs
suggests that this upper zone was used for liturgical purposes. The
monument is reminiscent of the one in Odzun. In the surrounding cemetery
are found numerous tombs with crude but characteristic sculptures.
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