Trdat the Architect

Trdat the Architect (c. 950-1020) ( _hy. Տրդատ ճարտարապետ), known in Latin as Tiridates, was chief architect of the Bagratuni Dynasty of Armenia.

In 961, Ashot III moved his capital from Kars to the great city of Ani where he assembled new palaces and rebuilt the walls. The Catholicosate was moved to the Arkina district in the suburbs of Ani where Trdat completed the building of the Catholicosal palace and the Mother Cathedral of Ani. This cathedral offers an example of a cruciform domed church within a rectangular plan. [F. Macler, Armenia, The Kingdom of the Bagratides, The Cambridge Ancient History, vol. IV, p. 161.] [Gevork Nazaryan - The Architecture of Armenia]

After a great earthquake in 989 ruined the dome of Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine officials summoned Trdat to Byzantium to organize repairs. The restored dome was completed by 994. [Routledge, 101-124. Maranci, C. 2003. “The architect Trdat: building practices and cross-cultural exchange in Byzantium and Armenia”]

Trdat is also thought to have designed or supervised the construction of Surb Nshan (completed 991), the oldest structure at Haghpat Monastery. [Hovhanesian, K. The Architect Trdat, Erevan, 1951, pp. 59-83.]

References

Bibliography

*"The Architect Trdat: Building Practices and Cross-Cultural Exchange in Byzantium and Armenia,"
*"Armenian Art and Architecture: Religion and Society"
*"Architecture and the Church in Armenia," Student Center, University of Texas at Austin, November 15, 2003.
*"An Armenian Architect in Byzantium's Court: The Career and Building Practices of Trdat," The Oriental Institute, The University of Chicago, May 14, 2003.
* "Armenian Architecture as Aryan Architecture: The Role of Indo-European Scholarship in the Theories of Josef Strzygowski"

External links

* [http://www.virtualani.org/cathedral/index.htm The Ani cathedral]
* [http://www.armeniad.com/Excerpts.aspx The Armeniad]
* [http://www.cac-biodiversity.org/arm/arm_cities.htm Cities and sites in Armenia]
* [http://armenianstudies.csufresno.edu/iaa_architecture/gagikashen.htm The Tetraconch Church]
* [http://armlet1600.sci.am/armenianart2.php?langid=3 Armenian Architecture]
* [http://www.visitarmenia.org/html/resources.html Visit Armenia Website]
* [http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/06/waa/ht06waa.htm Anatolia and Caucasia]
* [http://www.armeniafest.com/history/armenian_culture_architecture.html Christianity and Armenian Culture]
* [http://www.sah.org/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=180 Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians]
* [http://www.magicaljourneys.com/Turkey/turkey-interest-istanbul-hagiasophia.html Hagia Sophia (Church of Holy Wisdom)]
* [https://www.crystalfigurines.net/index.php?act=viewDoc&docId=175 St. Sophia Church]