I have wanted to visit Ani for years. It was once the capital of a medieval Armenian Kingdom that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. The city is located on a branch of the Araks River and forms part of the current border between Turkey and Armenia. It was called the "City of 1001 Churches" and it stood astride the Silk Road trade route. 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 splendor and magnificence, Ani has been abandoned and largely forgotten for centuries.
The site was occupied long before Christian Armenia and also includes a ruined Zoroastrian Fire Temple. It is here thatthe Armenian esoteric philosopher and mystic claims to have discovered a map buried in the ruins. The map led him on a quest accross the Middle East to find the Brotherhood of the Sarmoung from whom he learned of Secret Wisdom and sacred dances.
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