YEREVAN.- Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan visited excavation site of Artashat, one the ancient Armenian capitals and the territory of early Bronze Age settlement in Shengavit (PHOTO).

Representative of Archeology and Ethnography Institute Zhores Khachatryan told reporters the excavation works located about 15 kilometers far from modern Artashat resumed in 2003. The capital was located on Arks River bank, present day zone bordering with Turkey.

“The Temple of Apollo built by Artashes in 2nd century BC is of great interest. Temple is one of the capital buildings constructed under the rule of Artashes when Armenia got independence and turned into a powerful kingdom,” Khachatryan told reporters on Wednesday. He informed of baths and 10 rooms discovered during excavatons.

“In the 1st century AD the church was rebuilt again after Artashat was burnt by Roman general Corbulo. King Tiridates I restored the temple using 4.5-ton blocks of black marble. The facade of the house was 22 meters high and 31 meters long,” archeologist said.

In Shengavit, President inspected the excavations carried out here since 2000. A group of archaeologists has already found a building for religious services.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am