Rainwater Floods Interior and Damages Mosaics: Desolate Condition of Garni Temple

Yesterday we visited the Garni Temple and hired a guide. The last time I was in Garni with a guide was about 5 years ago. This was shared on Facebook by activist Eduard Hayrumyan.

“Back then, the bathhouse's mosaics impressed me. Five years later, yesterday, the bathhouse reminded me of the neglected gazebo of the village, and at this rate, in about two years, there might not be even a trace of the 3rd-century mosaics left. Due to the continuous lack of roof renovation over the years, rainwater is flooding the interior and damaging the mosaics, which had been restored to the best of its ability 11 years ago. The former brightness of the bathhouse is now a thing of the past, and at the entrance, you are greeted by a chair brought from one of the 'veterans' of the 2000s. During our stay there, I counted about 130 visitors, and the entrance ticket costs 1,500 drams per person — 130 * 1,500 = 195,000 drams. Just from yesterday's 2-hour visit, the collected amount is enough to change these lights and repair the roof's passages, but it seems that's not important today,” he wrote.