3 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Medieval Masterpiece: Rare Jesus Christ Relief from Ani Ruins Unveiled After 130 Years

A significant archaeological artifact depicting Jesus Christ has been put on public display for the first time at the Kars Archaeology and Ethnography Museum. The stone relief, originally excavated in 1892 from the ancient Ani Ruins, had been preserved in the museum’s storage for over a century before finally being exhibited.

The Ani Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are renowned for having hosted 23 different civilizations throughout history. Spanning across a vast area, Ani features a remarkable collection of architectural remains, including fortifications, mosques, cathedrals, palaces, churches, monasteries, baths, bridges, and partially destroyed covered passages. About 25 major structures still stand, providing a vivid glimpse into the city’s rich past. Archaeological excavations in Ani have been ongoing for over a century, continuously uncovering artifacts that shed light on the cultural and religious history of the region.

The newly displayed relief was uncovered by Russian archaeologist Nikolai Yarkovlevich Marr during his 1892 excavation. According to Hakim Aslan, Acting Director of the Kars Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, the relief is part of the “Ani’s Story” exhibition, which showcases 244 artifacts, including 196 items on display for the first time.

Describing the artifact, Aslan explained: “At the center and bottom of the relief, there is a portrait of a saint. Above it, Jesus Christ is depicted standing on a throne in a frontal position. On either side, two soldiers present offerings to Jesus. This stone relief is considered one of the most important pieces in our museum collection.”

While the relief was discovered 133 years ago, its creation likely dates back much further. Experts suggest it originates from the 11th to 12th century, during the height of the Armenian Kingdom of Ani, making it approximately 850 to 950 years old. This period saw the flourishing of stone architecture and detailed figurative reliefs in Ani’s churches and monasteries, highlighting the city’s religious and cultural significance.

Credit: Anadolu Agency (AA)
Credit: Anadolu Agency (AA)

The Ani Ruins themselves hold immense historical and archaeological value. Located near the modern border of Türkiye and Armenia, Ani was once a bustling medieval city, often referred to as the “City of 1001 Churches” due to its numerous religious structures. Its strategic location along trade routes made it a center of commerce and culture. Over time, Ani experienced earthquakes, invasions, and political decline, but many structures still survive, offering a window into medieval urban life.

The display of the Jesus Christ relief is part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “100+2 Temporary Museum Exhibitions Project”, which aims to bring rarely seen artifacts into public view. According to Aslan, “The exhibition allows visitors to connect with Ani’s rich history and see items that have remained in storage for decades.”

The Ani exhibition and the Jesus Christ relief highlight the region’s deep religious, historical, and artistic heritage. Visitors can now witness firsthand the intricate craftsmanship of medieval Armenian stonework and the city’s long-standing significance in Anatolian history.

With Ani continuing to be a focus of archaeological study, the museum hopes to expand its collection of exhibited items, offering both scholars and the general public a chance to explore one of the most remarkable ancient cities in the world.

Cover Image Credit: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Related Articles

Kurt Tepesi: The Silent Sentinel in the Shadows of Göbeklitepe and Karahan Tepe – Unearthing the Forgotten Sister

31 May 2025

31 May 2025

In the arid plains of southeastern Anatolia, a quiet giant slumbers. While Göbekli Tepe has dazzled archaeologists and the global...

The ability to produce ceramic vessels came to Europe via Siberia and the Caspian Sea region

6 January 2023

6 January 2023

A new study suggests that the knowledge for making ceramic vessels came to Europe from the Middle East and the...

Lost Pirate Ship Possibly Identified Off Madagascar: Archaeologists Believe They’ve Found the Legendary Nossa Senhora do Cabo

9 July 2025

9 July 2025

Shipwreck site near Île Sainte-Marie matches historical records of pirate Olivier Levasseur’s treasure-laden vessel, say researchers After more than fifteen...

Rare Ancient Mosaics Seized in Türkiye: Crowned Sea Goddess and Mythical Creatures Uncovered in Smuggling Plot

2 September 2025

2 September 2025

In a decisive cultural heritage protection operation, gendarmerie officers in the Nurdağı district of Gaziantep province in southeastern Türkiye seized...

Excavations show the Temple of Poseidon at Samikon is more Monumental than Previously Assumed -New Discoveries

3 November 2024

3 November 2024

New excavations by archaeologists from the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Greek Ministry of Culture in Kleidi-Samikon in the...

Two mysterious stone balls were found buried in a tomb dating to 3500 BC in Orkney

2 September 2021

2 September 2021

In Orkney, archaeologists discovered two carved stone balls in a tomb dating from 3500 BC. Archaeologists are on-site at Tresness,...

The largest embalming cache ever found in Egypt unearthed at Abusir

10 February 2022

10 February 2022

Archaeologists from the Czech Institute for Egyptian Science have discovered a cache of artifacts related to the practice of Egyptian...

Ark of the Covenant Discovery? Biblical Ruins Unearthed in Israel May Be Key to Ancient Mystery

6 August 2025

6 August 2025

Archaeologists at Tel Shiloh Claim Structure Matches Biblical Tabernacle Where the Ark of the Covenant Was Housed In a monumental...

The secret of the mummy in the Crystal coffin found in a garage in San Francisco

30 March 2023

30 March 2023

Mysterious mummies are a symbol of ancient lost times, which we often associate with Egypt and other ancient civilizations. Therefore,...

2000-year-old quarry discovered in Jerusalem that could be the source of Second temple stones

5 September 2021

5 September 2021

Archaeologists have discovered a 2,000-year-old quarry in Har Hotzvim, now an industrial park in Jerusalem. The Israel Antiquities Authority said...

1400-Year-Old Folding Chair Found in a Woman’s Grave in Germany

30 August 2022

30 August 2022

In Steinsfeld, in the German state of Ansbach, archaeologists have unearthed a 1,400-year-old folding chair from an early medieval woman’s...

In Poland’s “Death Valley,” new evidence of Nazi atrocities

18 August 2021

18 August 2021

In October 1939, between 30,000 and 35,000 Polish intellectuals, Polish civilians, Jews and Czechs, and German prisoners from psychiatric institutions...

Research Uncovers a Long-Isolated North African Human Lineage in the Central Sahara from Over 7,000 Years Ago

4 April 2025

4 April 2025

A recent study conducted by a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, including senior author...

Parts of the City of the old city of Ghadames called the pearl of the desert collapsed due to rainfall

28 January 2022

28 January 2022

Some parts of the Old City of Ghadames, located in an oasis about 600km southwest of Tripoli near Libya’s border...

Ancient coins surface with Lake Iznik’s withdrawal in Türkiye

2 May 2023

2 May 2023

With the withdrawal of Lake Iznik in the northwest of Türkiye, the ancient coins found at the bottom of the...