CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS FROM CAFE NEAR GARNI TEMPLE DELIVERED TO BUILDING OF CULTURE MINISTRY
by Karina Manukyan
Monday, March 3, 16:44
Construction of a cafe near Garni Temple has seriously discontented
the public.
According to Pre-Parliament public interest group, several dozens of
people visited Garni, collected the debris in bags and delivered it to
Yerevan leaving the debris near the building of the Culture Ministry.
Activists threaten with more serious steps unless the construction is
stopped. Activists Yeghia Nersisyan and Gevorg Safary6an were taken
to the Police for soiling the territory of the Ministry and then set
free in 1.5 hour.
Earlier, Vladimir Poghosyan, the Head of the State Non-Commercial
Organization Historical-Cultural Musem-Reserve, said that no
construction would be launched, as the cafe would be consisting of
tables and chairs only. He said that the menu would be very modest:
fruits, vegetables, homemade sweet Armenian gata, and the proceeds
would be investment in preservation of the Temple. Nevertheless,
the idea of the cafe has aroused public criticism in blogs and
social media.
Historical and architectural monument Garni Temple is located near
the village of Garni. It is the only Pagan and Hellenistic monument
preserved in the territory of Armenia. The pagan temple of Garni was
built in the 2nd half of the 1st century. It is supposed that the
temple was dedicated to Mitra, the God of Sun.