175 Million 360 Thousand Drams for a Historic Unique Artifact

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended the opening of an exhibition featuring a unique artifact of medieval Armenian wood art, specifically a wooden door frame from an Armenian church dated 1188, at the History Museum of Armenia. This information has been reported by the Government of Armenia.

This artifact, which holds significant historical value, has been acquired from the London exhibition hall 'Sam Fogg' through a government decision as part of the state program for the acquisition and transportation of cultural values coordinated by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.

For the acquisition and transportation of this unique Armenian cultural treasure, which was sold at an international auction in London, 175 million 360 thousand drams have been allocated from the state budget's reserve fund to the Cultural Development Foundation.

This exceptional example of medieval Christian art is carved from eastern walnut wood and is attributed to the wood-carving tradition of the Bagratuni dynasty of 1188. The iconography of the artifact combines biblical and royal themes. At the center of the composition is depicted Daniel in the lion's den, while various scenes of beast fights are presented in the lower sections, which resonate with the allegory of Daniel's vision (Dan. 7:1–7, 7:23–27).

The central part of the composition highlights the 'winged' type of the cross, adorned with floral shoots and symbolic of fruitfulness, which aligns with the notion of the tree of life in Armenian ecclesiastical art. The artistic and expert community confirms the unique value and significance of the artifact for the study of Armenian medieval culture.

The exhibition will be open to visitors at the History Museum of Armenia starting April 3.