Mysterious and interesting facts about the Anacopian fortress in New Athos. Landmark of New Athos: Anakopia Fortress Iberian Fortress

Many times, passing by New Athos, we looked at the Iverskaya mountain and the visible fortress on its top, and thought that we must definitely climb there.
Anakopia - ancient capital Abkhazian kingdom, the former name of New Athos, which, in different historical times, was also called Trachea, Nikopsia. The fortress complex of Anakopia dates back to the 4th century and rises 350 meters above sea level.
We decided to dedicate one of the days of last year's Abkhaz vacation to this most interesting place. In the morning the weather was slightly cloudy and, in connection with this, our journey to the top and the clouds became almost literal, but no less exciting. And so I really apologize for the quality of the photos (flare and lack of rich colors).

Julek relax_action you would love it here ;)

02. Getting to the cultural and historical complex "Anakopia Fortress" is easy, although at the very beginning it was even scary for us to imagine from which side to approach this mountain. For those who have not been there yet, a hint: in New Athos, you need to focus on a stop in the form of a giant mosaic shell (Tsereteli's hands, by the way), turn towards the mountain and follow the signs to the New Athos cave. At the entrance to the cave complex, turn left onto Chanba Street and go uphill.

03. Having reached the observation deck, you can leave the car in a small parking lot. There is also an observation deck with stunning views of the coast and mountains.
When we got up here it was only cloudy, but there was a slight hint of an approaching rain, but this did not stop us and we moved up!

04. Border

05. Scheme of fortifications according to excavations carried out in 1957-1958.

06. Entrance to the territory costs 100 rubles.
Starting the ascent from one side at first we were a little disappointed by the presence of a concrete path, since we still expected to see wilder paths to the historical mountain. But on the other hand, such a path would make the path easier.

07. But, thank God, this terrible concrete path ended after 300 meters and we saw the first remains of the fortress.

08. While we were climbing the line of rain was moving inexorably from the west. It was especially visible from the sea.

09. This path is already more consistent with our ideas about the path to the fortress.
The Anakopia fortress had two main defensive lines and an external line of defense. The total area of ​​this complex of buildings occupied over 70,000 square meters. meters of the area of ​​Anakopia (Iverskaya) mountain. On this road we approached the second defensive line. Anakopia is one of the earliest fortifications in Abkhazia. It was built by the Romans and the Abazgs in the 4th-5th centuries.
"Anakopia" in translation from the Abkhazian language means "cut", "protrusion", "carved by steepness". And the people who spoke Greek called it in the Greek way - Trachea, that is, "severely flinty." Under the name Trachea, Anakopia is listed in many sources.

10. Around the corner, a round tower appeared before our eyes - the Gate Tower No. 1. It is remarkable in that its location and shape made it possible to fire at the enemy from it at an angle of almost 290 °. On the second floor of the oldest part of this tower, five loopholes built in special niches and an entrance covered by an arch have been preserved. The combat power of this tower was also due to the fact that it protected the approaches to the main fortress gates.

11. Since it started to rain, we decided to take refuge in the tower for a while and at the same time explore it from the inside.

12. On top of the road along which we climbed, the southern wall was located - the most powerful of the walls and included seven towers. The wall starts at the cliff of the gorge of the river Psyrdzha, crosses the slopes of the mountain and goes down, ends above the cliff of the gorge of the river Mysra and this tower.

13. The fortress walls of the second line and the towers were tentatively built in the 7th century. The tower is built of bricks white stone and solution. Here, the construction technique of the Romans and Byzantines was used, which consisted in alternating laying of white stone with bricks. The lower two floors of the tower date back to the 7th century, and the upper superstructures to a later time - in the 11th-12th centuries.

15. In this photo you can see how it is raining :)

17. But where did this column come from and what did it serve for - it was not possible to find information about this. And while this is the mystery of the century :)

18. I love to look at the masonry of ancient walls.

19. The coastline of the sea is almost invisible. The rain did not stop, but we decided not to retreat and go further.

20. I really liked this tree, covered with moss from the roots to the top.

21. To understand the size - the height of the husband is 1.9 meters

23. Seven towers of the southern wall were located every 30-60 meters and protruded slightly forward from the walls. During the excavations in the area of ​​the second line of defense, very interesting historical objects and objects were found. Among them are the remains of a small hall-type temple, a lime kiln, eleven human burials with a Christian burial rite, a large number of fragments of dishes and more.
Remains of Tower #3.

24. Despite the weather and rain, the opening views were spectacular. View of New Athos and beyond Cape Sukhum.

26. Once inside the fortress wall, the road up became a little more difficult, since the road was no longer rolled and consisted of small, but very slippery from the rain, stones.

27. At one point, we decided not to look for easy ways and go straight down the slope :)

28. Having spent about 15 minutes climbing the overgrown slope, we ended up at the walls of the first defensive line (Trachea), built in the 4th-5th centuries. This fortification is a Citadel on a mountain hill, 83 meters long and 37 meters wide. The walls of the Citadel were very powerful and reached 4-5 meters in height, and their thickness was more than 1 meter. The walls were erected from limestone blocks tightly fitted to each other.

29. This is not fog, but a wall of rain ....

30. Courtyard of the Citadel.

31. West Tower

33. Time spares little...

36. A bright page in the history of Abkhazia is connected with the constructions of the main defensive line of Anakopia. In 736-737, a 60,000-strong army of Arabs, led by the famous commander Murvan-ibn-Muhammed, was stopped at these walls.

37. In the early 30s of the 8th century, the Arab Caliph Hisham appointed Murvan ibn Mukhamed 2 as the ruler of Transcaucasia. He was given a 120,000-strong army. With the help of this army, he had to subjugate the local peoples.
Murvan made devastating campaigns in Armenia (736-738) and Albania (737-738). These devastating raids were the most bloody and disastrous for the peoples of Transcaucasia. It is no coincidence that the Armenian sources consider Murvan ibn Muhamed to be a “destroyer”, “damned”; and the Georgians called him deaf - Murvan-kru (kru - deaf), since he was deaf to the suffering and pleas of the people.

38. Murvan, having ruined all of Armenia and Georgia, followed the Kartli ruler Mir and his brother Archil to Abkhazia. The Arabs wanted to take possession of Abkhazia and Egresi, to establish their strong dominance in this region, to separate them from Byzantium and Khazaria. And the persecution of Mir and Archil was the reason for the implementation of this plan.

39. The most reliable place for the protection of Mir and Archil was Anakopia. And in Anakopia, a hasty preparation and mobilization of the forces of the Abkhazians and the Georgians who arrived there began.
Arab troops tried in vain to storm this fortified city. In Anakopia at that time there were 3 thousand soldiers - 2000 Abkhazians and 1000 Georgians. But the Arabs could not overcome them. The impregnable walls of Anakopia frustrated the plans of the Arabs. Then they decided to starve the fortress. This, too, proved to be an impossible task for them. For 6 months, the defenders of the fortress repelled attacks and assaults by many times the numerically superior enemy.

40. But then a plague suddenly broke out in the enemy camp. Encouraged by God's help, the defenders of the fortress defeated the conqueror, who was still numerous, but discouraged. The Arab troops could not withstand the attacks of the combined troops, and the invincible commander retreated from Abkhazia, suffering huge losses.
But the plague was not the only circumstance that gave the Anakopians the opportunity to move on to active action. The small army was in good fighting spirit. They waged a fair fight, defending their land and, in addition, acted as defenders of Christianity from the encroachments of Muslims. To some extent, the war was "holy". Chroniclers also pay special attention to the "miraculous" power of the Anakopia Icon of the Mother of God.

41. But besides God's help and cholera, there are other factors that contributed to the victory of the Abkhazians. The decisive role was played by the Anakopia fortress, its favorable strategic position and impregnability, which enabled the courageous defenders of the fortress to withstand the terrible force of the conquerors. The system of defensive lines of Anakopia arose from the experience of many sieges.

42. The rain inexorably pursued, not allowing to make juicy and beautiful photos.

43. The first temple on the top of Anakopia Mountain was built in the 6th-7th centuries and is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the medieval Georgian chronicles of the XI century, describing the battle near the walls of Anakopia with the Arabs in the 30s of the VIII century, evidence of the miraculous power of the Anakopia icon came Holy Mother of God: "Not a hand-made writing, but sent down from above, about which no one knows who found it on the top of that mountain ...".
Another temple may have been built on the slopes of the mountain, but only ruins remained of it.

44. A sedimentary well adjoins the temple. It is carved into the rock and lined with limestone. In ancient times, it was collected from the roofs rainwater, in our time, water comes due to the formation of condensate on the cold walls of the tank from warm, moist air masses.
This well is inexhaustible and is considered one of the "miracles" of the mountain fortress. For a long time it has attracted many pilgrims here.

46. ​​The eastern tower differs from the western one in terms of masonry quality and size. This is a quadrangular tower, reaching 16 meters in height, standing apart from the walls of the Citadel. The tower consisted of four floors built in two steps with loopholes, windows and an entrance door.
The exact date of construction is unknown, but some sources believe that it was built in the 11th century. There is also a construction inscription carved on a stone in Greek. Compiled in 1046 (6554), it testifies that Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh (1042-1055) carried out reconstruction and fortification of Anacopia. The tower served as the main observation and command post and was the last line of defense in the event of the fall of the citadel.

50. The remains of the fortress walls over the cliff.

51. Approaching the edge, we saw that at the bottom of the walls there were not just stones, but laid out inscriptions with the names of the cities of those who had been here.
Agree that this is more humane in relation to historical place than painting the walls with different inscriptions.

52. From the walls of the East Tower there are stunning views of the coast.
It seems that a clearing in the sky has begun and even the coast has become visible, but the rain has not decreased.

53. And in the opposite direction, the clarification is not visible ...

55. And so I got to the inspection of the temple of St. Theodore Tyrone. In the 11th century, the temple was rebuilt and dedicated to the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tyron. This is evidenced by an epigraphic monument found in the citadel.
The remains of the temple buildings of the citadel of different times have not been fully studied due to the lack of comprehensive archaeological and architectural studies, written evidence of the past. In this regard, various scientific disputes arise, but everyone is unanimous only in the fact that the temple was repeatedly rebuilt.

56. The last changes were made by the monks of the New Athos monastery at the beginning of the 20th century. Then the rubble of the southern aisle of the temple and the premises adjacent on the eastern side were cleared, the purpose of which is unknown. A chapel was built inside the ancient temple, and stone details of the ancient temple were installed in the altar area. Partially, the layout of the adjacent territory was changed and the walls of the temple extensions were finished.

57. Eastern wall of the chapel

58. Unfortunately, I did not find data on the meaning of this wall :(
But stones from different eras are stacked in the wall.

61. The facade of the early Christian church was decorated with one slab with the image of three crosses under the arch, the central cross is large. Three crosses had the symbolic meaning of the Trinity, sometimes they are considered symbols of Christ, the Mother of God and John the Baptist.

63. In the walls of the temple, someone leaves notes ...

64. And when I left the temple, this picture appeared before my eyes. The top of the mountain was covered with a cloud and at the same time there was a combination of rain and drizzle...

65. For all the time of its existence, the Anakopia fortress has experienced a lot.
From the second half of the 17th century, Turkish expansion intensified in Abkhazia, and Christianity was gradually eradicated. Anakopia became empty and its role as a fortress and a religious center became insignificant. The events of the 19th century (the Russian-Caucasian and Russian-Turkish wars) had a tragic significance for the Abkhazian state and its people. In 1864, the Abkhaz principality was abolished, and the lands were generously transferred to new colonists. So the lands around Anakopia were transferred to the New Athos Monastery.

66. Beautiful even in such bad weather

67. My courageous and beloved Sister Voogle v_uglu_skrebet who always and in everything supports me in everything and is ready to participate in all the madness :)

68. Such a downpour was coming, and we had a long descent over the stones ....

71. And sometimes whole rivers flowed under your feet

73. But even pouring rain could not stop me from contemplating nature :)

75. Our adventure to ancient fortress ended and our faithful Volvik was already waiting below, who met us, warmed us and dried us :) We also decided to come back here next year and see the fortress in good weather :)

Before I first visited Abkhazia, I associated this country only with fruits, cheese, honey and wine. But, having arrived there once and saw fabulous landscapes, I realized that in order to see all the sights, I would definitely need to come back here more than once.

During my 30-day trip, I was lucky to visit the Anakopia fortress, which was built by the Abazgs in ancient times.

The preserved towers of the ancient fortress

The first remaining part of it, which the tourist meets on his way, is a tower with a large breach in the wall.

Anakopia fortress rises 350 meters above sea level. As befits a real defensive structure, its buildings have very strong and thick walls. Skillful architects have thought of everything to the smallest detail. It was impossible to get in. On the south side, where the slope of the mountain is gentle and accessible to the enemy, the wall was reinforced with 7 towers. Only a few of them have survived.

From the height of the main tower offers an amazing view of the sea and an incredibly beautiful panorama of.

How to get to the Anakopia fortress

The fortress is located on the Iberian mountain, which is located in New Athos. You can see the route or passage to the fortress below.

On foot

I decided to go there on foot to see and photograph local sights, as at that time I was staying at a private hotel in Athos. More than 3 kilometers uphill. Climbing here is not easy and you can only on your own feet. During my ascent to the top of the fortress, the thermometer in the sun showed +30. But this did not prevent us from climbing the mountain quite easily, as the path runs along dense thickets of trees. The serpentine bends among the oak forests are incredibly winding. However, the road is worth it.

By car

If you are traveling by car, you can leave it in a special area. The cost of parking varies within 100 rubles. The road that goes from the center of Athos to the site is completely paved. From New Athos Park, you need to go along Khazaria Street, before turning onto Ladaria Lane, then turn onto Chanba Street, previously inhabited by Georgians, and go along it to the checkpoint on the observation deck. There, where the "white" road ends, you can only go on foot. Only one path leads from the checkpoint to the fortress, and there is simply nowhere to turn from it, since there is a cliff below and a mountain above. Although I met Chechens who did not climb along the path, but directly up the mountain. They easily moved up the hills, as they grew up in the highlands.

History of Anakopia

Ancient Anakopia was located on the territory of New Athos. The ancient Abazgi tribe lived here - the ancestors of modern Abkhazians. This large building has experienced both magnificent prosperity and decline. Even in ancient times, the Abazgs built a very strong fortification here and the enemies could not overcome the impregnability of this place.

In the first centuries of our era, the western Transcaucasus was under the rule of the Roman Empire.

In the 3rd century Colchis was invaded by highlanders from the North Caucasus and nomadic tribes of Goths and Huns. By that time, the Trachea (the Romans called Anakopia Trachea) fortification coped well with its function as the main fortress.

Construction of the citadel

The trachea is the most ancient part of the Anakopia fortress. The citadel is the first line of defense that was built before the rest of the fortress. Limestone squares, which were very tightly fitted to each other, served as the material for the construction of the walls.

The citadel is impregnable from all sides. In the south wall there is a small gate through which you can get inside. They are raised above the ground by 2 meters. According to a local resident, there was obviously a drawbridge here. At the gates of the Citadel rise the Western and Eastern towers. Inside the complex is a medieval dilapidated hall-type temple. The local priest told me about the religion and ancient rites of the Abazgs. According to him, the main construction of this fortress, as well as the temple inside, was carried out at a time when the Abazgians were entirely Christians. He claimed that in ancient times a temple was erected inside each fortress.

In the middle of the 3rd century, there was an episcopal chair in this temple, which was headed by Bishop Anakopia. Slabs with images of various early Christian symbols have been preserved in the temple. Among them there are fish, crosses, cypresses and many other drawings.

Stones with inscriptions in Greek have been preserved in the temple.

Inside the fortress there is a pool in the rock. It was carved in the Middle Ages. The defenders of the Citadel could easily endure any trials, since they were provided with water.

Tracheal battle

Starting from the 5th century, there was a rivalry between the Roman Empire and Iran for political and economic dominance in the countries of Asia and Transcaucasia, for possession trade routes that led to India and.

The Byzantine emperor Justinian sent his army to Abazgia in 542. The mass enslavement of local residents began. The result was an uprising of the masses. The Iranian Shah, to whom the Abaza ruler Skiparn turned for help, sent his soldiers. But the Persian troops robbed the local population along the way, and they had to be forced out of Colchis. Thus, Abazgia could not get any real help from the Persians. She found herself face to face with the Byzantine Empire. After that, in Constantinople, it was decided to immediately deal with the rebels. Arriving here by sea, the Romans landed at the mouth of the Gumista River.

Seeing the impregnability of Anakopia, they resorted to a deceptive maneuver. Having rounded Trachea by the sea, they landed on land and ended up in the rear of the Abazgs - the defenders of the fortress. The assault on the Trachea began.

The numerical superiority of the Byzantines, excellent weapons and encirclement tactics decided the outcome of the battle. The trachea collapsed. The consequences were terrible. Residents and their houses were burned. The survivors were sold into slavery.

However, the Abazgi were not broken. They did not stop resisting and fighting for freedom. The freedom-loving Abazgians built the 2nd defensive line near the walls of Anakopia. The 2nd line of defense is located below the citadel and consists of the southern, western and eastern walls.

The 2nd defensive line functioned in the 6th-12th centuries. At this time, it becomes a relatively powerful political unit. Anakopia was the main fortress of the Abkhaz ruler Leon I. In the 7th century, the Arab conquests began. Byzantium suffers defeat after defeat. In Transcaucasia, nothing could resist the Arabs. And in such difficult conditions, the Abkhazians were doomed to consolidation. In the seventh century there was an intense unification process. In the same century, against the background of these events, as a symbol of the future prosperity, important military fortifications were erected in Anakopia.

Battle with the Arabs

Arab expansion in Transcaucasia begins in the 30s of the 8th century. With fire and sword, the governor of Caliph Murvan ibn Mohammed passed through the ancient Caucasus. The Armenians called him the destroyer, the Georgians called him deaf to the sufferings of the people. Having devastated Armenia and Albania, southern and western Georgia, Murlan went to Abkhazia. The rulers of Georgia fled here from the persecution of the enemy.

Having overcome the Kilosur wall, the Arab commander destroyed the city of Sebastopolis and camped in front of the Anakopian stronghold. The innumerable Arab hordes were opposed by only 5 thousand Arabs and Georgians.

Despite the clear advantage of the Arabs, the Abazgians, besieged in the fortress, maintained a fighting spirit. They honestly waged war, defended their land. And this fight was sacred.

All attempts by the Arabs to storm the city were unsuccessful. It was decided to starve the fortress. For six months, the Abazgs, enduring hunger and deprivation, repulsed the attacks of the enemy. And before the decisive battle, a miracle happened. The chronicles say: "On the night before the battle, the besieged in the fortress knelt before the icon of the Anakopia Mother of God and prayed for salvation. And they were heard." In the camp of the enemy, blood halera spread, from which 35,000 people died. And in the morning the battle was given. Another 3,000 Arabs died from the sword of the Abazgs. The rest of the army began to hastily retreat in their own footsteps. After this defeat, they never again dared to invade the territory of Abkhazia.

Discussing this battle with the indigenous people of Abkhazia, I heard that they are very proud of this victory. Since once they saved the entire Caucasus from the Arab invasion.

At the end of the 8th century, the Abkhazian ruler II declared himself the Abkhazian king, and made Anakopia the capital of the Abkhazian kingdom. The city became the largest center and seaport; it was surrounded on all sides by a new defensive wall that ran along the coast. This wall, now destroyed, is the 4th line of defense of Anakopia.

Turkish domination

However, the period of prosperity and prosperity of Anakopia is replaced by a period of decline and devastation. During the three centuries of Turkish domination, the city was plundered and ravaged by the Janissaries, they took the Abkhazians prisoner and sold them into slavery. The local population left Anakopia. This was the first wave of forced resettlement of Abkhazians to Turkey.

In the second half of the 18th century, Anakopia was a ruin, which was overgrown with dense forest.

I advise you to definitely visit the Anakopia fortress when you are in Abkhazia. You can get here absolutely freely. This defensive structure offers stunning views not only of, but also of the sea, mountains and forests covering them. Silence, beauty, a light breeze, a lot of impressions and discoveries - these are the emotions that this fortress left in my memory.

Since ancient times, there were many defensive structures on the territory of Abkhazia. However, it is located in the city of New Athos that is considered the best preserved historical monument.

The majestic Anakopia fortress, whose coordinates are 43 ° 5 "40" N 40 ° 48 "29" E, was built on top. Translated from the Abkhaz language, its name means "cut". And the Greeks called the fortress Trachea, which translates as "severely rocky", so do not be surprised if you come across the name Trachea-Anakopia in some tourist guides.

Anakopia fortress: history

This land has long been attacked by aggressive neighbors. Abkhazia has long been famous for its military-defensive structures. Anakopia fortress was intended to strengthen the borders and protect against enemies. In the first centuries of our era, Transcaucasia, or rather its western part, was under the rule of the Romans. In the III-IV centuries Colchis was invaded by nomadic tribes of the Huns, Goths, as well as the North Caucasian highlanders.

The Roman forces stationed here during this period are used to control and subjugate the local population and protect the peripheral possessions of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. Abazgi and Laz were supposed to guard the passes and passages from the north. This was in the interests of the local population.

To carry out such a defense, fortresses and other military-strategic structures were required. At the turn of the early Middle Ages and ancient times, several serious fortifications appeared on the territory of Colchis, among which Anakopia occupied a special place.

The Anakopia fortress was built in the 4th-5th centuries, but, unfortunately, today we can no longer see the beautiful city-fortress as it was in the distant past. Merciless time, bloody wars with cruel battles, of which there were many in the century of this building, did their job.

Description of the Anakopia fortress

For many neighboring peoples, Abkhazia was attractive. The Anakopia fortress became a formidable defensive structure, occupying a rather large area - 70 thousand square meters. square meters. She had two defensive lines (main), as well as an external defense line.

Anakopia Mountain became the site for the construction of the first line, which was a citadel 83 meters long and 37 meters wide. I must say that for the time of construction it was a very powerful structure. The Anakopia fortress, whose height was more than five meters, and the thickness of the walls exceeded a meter, frightened off many who wanted to seize these lands.

The main defensive function was assigned to the Roman tower, from its upper positions the sea and land environs were perfectly visible. The power of the fortress city grew over time: in the 4th century it was already considered the largest city of Abazgia, and already in the 7th century it became the residence of the Abkhaz rulers, the spiritual and political capital of the country.

Tower and walls

The tower, as well as the fortress walls of the second line, were presumably built in the 7th century. The tower is made of brick, mortar and white stone. The builders used the technique of the Byzantines and Romans, which consisted in alternating brick laying with white stone.

The two lower floors of the structure date back to the 7th century, and the upper superstructures appeared much later - in the 11th-12th centuries. Seven towers were located every sixty meters and protruded slightly from the walls. During excavations in the area of ​​the second line, items and objects of historical value were found. Among them are the remains of a hall-type temple, an oven in which lime was fired, and eleven burials made in accordance with Christian rites.

Gates

Anakopia fortress (New Athos) had a main gate, which was protected by a round tower. They were built from three limestone slabs, and they were located quite high above the ground. To get to the fortress, one had to use a wooden ladder.

gate tower

This structure is remarkable in that its location and shape made it possible to fire at the enemy at an angle of almost 290 °. On the second floor there are five loopholes, which are arranged in special niches, and an arched entrance. The combat power of this tower was due to the fact that it reliably protected the approaches to the gate.

east tower

According to researchers, in the early thirties of the XI century, Tsarevich Dmitry and Princess Alda took refuge in Anakopia, who surrendered the citadel to the Greek garrison. Thus, the fortress city of Anakopia and the lands adjacent to it passed into the possession of the Byzantines for a long time.

It was at this time that the eastern tower appeared in the fortress. It served as the main command and observation post. It was the last frontier of the defenders in the event of the fall of the fortress. The tower has no architectural frills - everything is subordinated to its main functional purpose. It is built of limestone hewn blocks of rather large sizes, which are fastened with lime-gravel-sand mortar. At the base, the walls are two meters thick, highest point- 1.6 meters. An observation deck was created at the top. Today, the eastern tower after reconstruction is open to tourists.

Well

Many guests from countries former USSR attracts Abkhazia. Anakopia fortress is included in almost all tourist routes. Pilgrims are drawn here by a well with life-giving Anacopian water. It is closely adjacent to the temple. It is believed that this container hollowed out in the rock is inexhaustible, and the water that fills it is life-giving and healing.

The well is carved into the rock and lined with limestone. In ancient times, rainwater from the roofs was collected in it, and today the water comes due to the appearance of condensate on the cold walls of the “bath”.

The water conduit to this miracle well was built in ancient times by the builders of the fortress. He acted on the principle of communicating vessels. Presumably, such a conduit could be carried out in a ditch dug on the slopes of the Iberian and Athos mountains. It passed through the valley between them under the river, and was later disguised by the earth.

Temple of Theodore Tyrone

Abkhazia is famous for many ancient places of worship. The Anakopia fortress had its own temple, which was located on the top of the Anakopia mountain. The temple was erected in the VI-VII centuries in the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the chronicles of the XI century, which describe the battle with the Arabs near the walls of Anakopia in the thirties of the VIII century, it follows that the Anakopia Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos possessed miraculous power that protected the inhabitants of the fortress.

There is an assumption that another temple existed on the slopes of the mountain, but it has not been preserved. In the XI century, the temple was rebuilt and consecrated in the name of This confirms the epigraphic monument found in the fortress. Abkhazia (Anakopia fortress) still attracts historians. In our time, the remains of the temple buildings of the fortress of different times have not yet been fully studied, due to the lack of comprehensive large-scale architectural and archaeological research, and written evidence. In this regard, there are numerous scientific disputes, but all experts agree that the temple was rebuilt many times.

Scientists are sure that the monks of the New Athos Monastery carried out the last changes in the temple. This happened at the beginning of the 20th century. He cleared the rubble of the southern aisle of the cathedral, as well as the adjacent premises (on the east side). Its purpose has not yet been clarified.

A small chapel was built inside the temple. In addition, minor changes have affected the layout of the adjacent territory. Some sections of the walls were completed.

Facade

The facade of this early Christian building was decorated with only one slab, on which three crosses were depicted. It was located under the arch. Three crosses symbolized the Great Trinity. Some researchers believe that these are symbols of Christ, John the Baptist and the Mother of God.

Reconstruction

In 2008, the reconstruction of the fortress was completed. As a result, the watchtower was restored and an observation deck appeared on it. True, many tourists believe that after the restoration work, the tower began to resemble a remake. The slopes of the Apsara mountain and the hiking trail leading to the top were put in order.

How to get there?

We hope that you are interested in the Anakopia fortress (Abkhazia). How to get here? Pretty simple. Today it leads from New Athos to the fortress. A landmark for travelers is a stop in the form of a huge shell, by the way, it is called "Shell".

Near it, turn towards the Iverskaya Mountain, and follow the paved serpentine past the famous one. Then you should turn onto Chanba Street and continue moving uphill. Soon you will see an observation deck and a car park with a seating area. Here you can leave the car, buy tickets at the box office and join the tour group. A professional guide will accompany you on the tour, which will last an hour and a half.

Chapel at the top of Anakopia Mountain

Climbing the Anakopia Mountain, tourists can see the restored ruins of the citadel, the fortress wall, a well, the remains of residential premises, a watchtower, two churches and a chapel built in the 19th century. The road runs through picturesque rocky terrain. There is even a legend that God hid paradise under the mountain.

Translated from the Abkhaz language, the name of the Anakopia fortress means "cut". The Greeks called it Trachea, which means "severely rocky", so sometimes in geographical atlases you can find the name "Trachea Anakopia".

This region has attracted invaders since ancient times due to its location. Being on the northern road of the Great Silk Road, the cities of Anakopia brought their owners a solid income. In its lifetime, the Anakopia fortress has repeatedly repulsed enemy raids. It was a powerful outpost with walls 1 m thick and 5 m high. The Roman tower played an important role in the defense, from which land and sea environs were viewed 360 degrees.

Panorama of the Anakopia fortress and its environs

History of Anakopia fortress

The first stones, which became the basis of the fortress, were laid by the Romans presumably in the 4th-5th centuries. It was high-quality processed limestone, laid in accordance with Roman building traditions. The gates were assembled from 3 monoliths and placed on a stone wall, high above the ground. Thus, in order to get to the Anakopia fortress, one had to use ladder. Notice the stone steps with inside citadels, through which people got into the courtyard, are possible even today.

The main fortress walls on the Iverskaya mountain were erected at the end of the 7th century by the forces of local residents and the Byzantines. Additional protection was provided by 7 towers built on the gently sloping south side of the mountain. Anakopia fortress is the earliest in Abazgia.

In 736-737. Here the Anakopia battle, unique in its kind, took place. The Arab caliph from the Umayyad dynasty and concurrently the great commander Murvan-ibn-Muhammed with an army of 60,000 Arabs besieged the fortress. At that time, the Georgian kings Mir and Archil took refuge in the citadel under the patronage of the Abkhaz prince Leon. The Anakopia fortress was defended by only 1,000 Georgian and 2,000 Abkhaz soldiers. Although there was practically no chance of victory, the unforeseen happened: an epidemic of gastric infection broke out in the ranks of the Arab invaders, killing 35,000 soldiers in a matter of days. Another 3,000 Arabs gave their lives during the assault on the fortress walls. The remnants of the army could not conquer Anakopia. The next campaign of Murvan - now through Abazgia to Byzantium - also failed.

In 788, the Arab commander Suleiman-ibn-Isam went to the fortress located to the west of Anakopia, but the campaign failed, so in the end he did not reach the Iberian Mountain.

In the second half of the 7th century, monks from Greece built a modest temple on top of the mountain. The religious building was dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, in honor of the Anacopian icon discovered on the mountainside. It is believed that she had miraculous powers and helped in the battle with the Arabs. In the 11th century, the church was rebuilt and consecrated in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tyron. Another temple was erected on the Iverskaya mountain in the 7th-8th centuries.

The Anakopia fortress has its own miracle - an inexhaustible well with healing water. This place attracts believers and tourists. The well adjoins the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, it is carved directly into the rock. There are two theories about how such a tank appeared. According to the first hypothesis, the ancient builders dug a water pipeline from the Athos to the Iberian mountains, through the valley under the river, and then sprinkled it with soil. Then the water enters the well according to the principle of communicating vessels. According to an alternative version, a funnel was dug under the buildings on the top of the mountain, in which rainwater accumulated.

The main Eastern tower appeared on the territory of the Anakopia fortress in the middle of the 11th century. It consisted of 4 floors and was used as an observation post. The observation tower was considered the last line of defense.

In the XIV century, the Genoese settled in this region. They contributed to the architecture of the outpost: they added a watchtower lined with smooth stone.

New Athos monks took up the improvement of the Anakopia fortress at the end of the 19th century. The brethren laid a stone road, leveled stone terraces, built a chapel, hotels, cable car stations.

In 1990, the New Athos Historical and Architectural Reserve "Anakopia Fortress" was founded.

In 2008, the restoration of the Main Eastern Tower was completed, timed to coincide with the 15th anniversary of Victory Day in Patriotic war Abkhazia.

Video: Anakopia fortress in winter

For visitors

Entrance to the territory of the Anakopia Reserve is paid - 200 rubles for adults, 100 rubles for schoolchildren. The ticket is valid throughout its territory, so if you decide to go to the Grotto of Simon Canonite, you do not need to pay a second time. Ticket offices open at 7:00 and close at 21:00. A parking space on the site in front of the entrance costs 100 rubles. Thematic brochure will cost 30 rubles. If a tourist group of more than 10 people is recruited, you can go on an excursion with a guide.

The ascent to the mountain takes about 50 minutes. The road is dirt and rocky, so it is important to take care of comfortable shoes. Climbing the slope, trying to shorten the path, is not recommended, as there is a risk of slipping and sliding down. It is better to allocate more time and enjoy the opening mountain landscapes. You can also make stops at the benches, have a snack and rest, so that the walk is not a burden. Some tourists use Nordic walking poles.

The ideal time to start climbing Mount Anakopia is in the morning when the weather is still cool, or in the early evening to watch the sunset at the top.

Take a bottle with you - in the Anacopian well you can collect the purest water, according to legend, possessing life-giving power.

In the Church of the Most Holy Mother of God, you can pray, light a candle, put a note between the stone walls with a request to make a donation. Pilgrims leave various gifts in the church - books, postcards, icons, shells.

Local residents and monks treat travelers kindly, they will always tell you the way and even treat you with tangerines grown in gardens on the slopes. The colors are added by cheerful dogs walking here. Tourists note the peaceful atmosphere and breathtaking views, for which it is definitely worth climbing.

Sunset at the Anakopia Fortress

How to get there

Fortress address: Gudauta district, New Athos, Top and southern slope of Anakopia Mountain.

In New Athos public transport or by car you need to get to the famous stop "Rakushka". It has the shape of a giant sea shell and is decorated with mosaics. From the stop, the route makes a turn towards the Iverskaya Mountain and then winds in a serpentine to the New Athos cave. To the left of the cave, an asphalt road leads to the mountains, along which the ascent to the Anakopia fortress begins. Halfway can be overcome by taxi or car, which is then left in the parking lot near the entrance to the Anakopia Reserve.

Anakopia fortress in New Athos is one of the oldest and most mysterious sights of Abkhazia. Mighty even by modern standards, the bastion rises above the city on the southern slope of the Iverskaya mountain. Once there was the residence of the Abkhazian kings, but now the ruins of the citadel are included in a large-scale historical and architectural reserve.

The height of the Anakopia fortress above sea level- 350 meters.

The fortress has two official names fixed in guidebooks - Anakopia and Trachea. The second name goes back to the canonical Greek pronunciation and literally means: "stony land", which is close to the truth - the path to the top is strewn with boulders.

Story

There is still no consensus on when the walls of the ancient bastion adorned the Iverskaya peak. Most researchers agree that the fortification could have appeared in the early Middle Ages, during the reign of the Byzantines. Around the 5th century AD, the Abkhaz lands needed protection from Muslim raids, and then the construction of walls began to shelter civilians during the siege and repel enemy attacks.

Every Abkhaz knows how impregnable the fortress turned out to be. The chronicles preserved two dates - 736 and 788, when the Arab commanders tried to storm the citadel. Both campaigns failed, and the defense of Anakopia became a symbol of Caucasian courage. In memory of the victory, one of the inner halls was rebuilt into the temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, and the Greek migrant monks founded a parish here, declaring this place a miraculous Christian shrine.

But the glorious period of history ended by the 15th century, when the Genoese merchants bought the rights to the land, taking control of the entire Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. The Italians failed to hold the bastion, and after 200 years the Turks captured it, devastating the neighboring lands and driving the Abkhazians to the slave markets. Only in the 19th century, with the establishment of a Russian protectorate here and the birth of the New Athos Monastery, Anakopia began to be restored.

Today, the fortress is an architectural and archaeological ensemble of 13 internal objects, including the ruins of walls and defensive lines, as well as a completely reconstructed eastern tower. The restoration was completed in 2008, when Abkhazia celebrated the anniversary of independence from Georgia. To this day, this is one of the key and most visited places, both in New Athos and in the entire republic.

An inexhaustible well in the Anakopia fortress

This is the most popular object among tourists and pilgrims inside the citadel. It is still unclear when exactly it was founded, but the peoples of the Caucasus mastered the principle of "inexhaustibility" in ancient times. It's all about a complex system of communicating vessels, in which precipitation and morning dew accumulated - this is how people inside the fortress were with supplies of drinking water all year round.

In the 19th century, the well was redesigned - now moisture accumulates in it due to temperature differences and condensate on the stone walls. The entrance was also ennobled - gratings typical of grottoes appeared, and the reservoir itself was decorated with an arch in a medieval style. It is noteworthy that the guides often call this place "the pool", because its depth is more than 3 meters. Everyone can collect the purest water, but without undue zeal - it takes time to restore supplies.

How to get to the Anakopia fortress

Despite the fact that only one serpentine road leads to the top of the Iverskaya Mountain, the path for tourists is long and difficult. The rise due to the constant bends of the path exceeds 3 kilometers, mounds of stones are found everywhere, and an impenetrable oak grove grows around. The closer to the goal, the steeper the cliffs - you need to go carefully and with constant looking back.

The starting point of the route is New Athos Cave, from where you need to turn onto Chanba Street and walk along the right side of the roadside to the nearest intersection. This will be the beginning of the ascent, it is impossible to miss it - the place is equipped with an observation deck, which also functions as a paid parking lot. There is also an inconspicuous kiosk with a sign: "Cashier", where tickets to the territory of the fortress are sold and guides are hired.

Then there is only one way - up the serpentine, without turning anywhere. There are no signs, you need to focus on the winding path leading to the ascent. The first 500 meters is a wide cemented path, but then it narrows, turning into a snake with potholes, boulders and "traps" in the form of cut steps. Heaped logs on the roadsides serve as a warning - there is a steep cliff behind them, and you need to be extremely careful.

The very approach to the fortress gates is indicated by a modest sign, further - a few signs for orientation. You should move around the territory with caution - often tourist paths overlap during excavations. The approach to the observation deck is open all the time, the main thing is to see the inscriptions "DANGER" in time, so as not to fall into the abyss.

How to get there by car

Due to the unrecognized status of Abkhazia, international taxi services do not work here. You can catch a car with checkers in any part of the city, and just say that you want to get to the Anakopia fortress, and the driver will already know where to go. There is only one stop for everyone - this is the same parking lot near the ticket offices, it is simply impossible to drive further.

For those who travel by private car, it is better to immediately follow the navigator:

coordinates - 43.092722, 40.802610.

Leave transport at the gates of the reserve - 200 rubles. If you do not want to pay for a parking space, you can stop below the serpentine turn at any private house, and negotiate with the owners, they may agree to look after the car for free.