Ani, Ancient City of Armenia Poster

Early 1900's postcard of St Gregory of the Abughamrents in the ancient Armenian City of ANI. Image was was in great disrepair and I tried to breath new life and aesthetics into it by way of Photoshop. Ani (Armenian: Անի) is a ruined and uninhabited mediaeval Armenian city-site situated in the Turkish province of Kars, beside the border with Armenia. It was once the capital of a mediaeval Armenian kingdom that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. The city is located on a triangular site, visually dramatic and naturally defensive, protected on its eastern side by the ravine of the Akhurian River and on its western side by the Bostanlar or Tzaghkotzadzor valley. The Akhurian is a branch of the Araks River and forms part of the current border between Turkey and Armenia. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", it stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world. At its height, Ani had a population of 100,000–200,000 people and was the rival of Constantinople, Baghdad and Cairo. Long ago renowned for its splendour and magnificence, Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries. Unfortunately over the years Turkish troops have used various structures of Ani for artillery practice, one more act in destroying the rightful lineage of the Armenian people to their ancestral roots.