UNDERGROUND CRUCIFORM STRUCTURE IN NARYN-KALA: A CHURCH? PRO ET CONTRA

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32653/CH173684-720

Keywords:

Derbent, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, cruciform water reservoir, cross-dome church, fire temple, martyrium

Abstract

The article discusses the interpretation of a mysterious underground building, situated in the Derbent citadel Naryn-Kala. This monumental structure is a crucifix (Latin cross) in plan, oriented with a long axis along the NNW-SSE line, roofed with pointed arches and a dome. On the plans of the citadel of Derbent in the early-mid-19th century, this underground building is indicated as a cruciform structure with the caption “water reservoir”. In historical, reference literature and documentation it is defined as an underground water reservoir of the 17th – 18th centuries. In 1976, A.A. Kudryavstev first suggested that this building was originally a church of the 5th – 6th centuries. After almost 40 years, his suggestion was recognized as an established fact, however, with no solid ground or any supplementary reasons. At the same time, distortion of facts and forgery were recorded. This unfounded opinion was promoted even by high-ranking government officials. In 1998, G.M. Kurbanov assumed a possible interpretation of this site as a Zoroastrian fire temple. In 2020, V.L. Myts speculated that this is a Christian martyrium. However, architectural and archeological data contradict these interpretations: the land-based, early medieval, or religious nature of the building has not been proved. Comprehensive (architectural, archeological, magnetometric, etc.) study of this site, without large-scale archeological excavations, is needed.

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Author Biography

  • Murtazali Serazutdinovic Gadziev, The Institute of History, Archeology and Ethnography of the Daghestan Federal Research Centre of RAS
    Bio Statement: Doctor of History, Professor ( Archaeology), Head of Department (Archaeology of Daghestan) Researcher Focus: archeology, history, historical geography, military and political history of the Caucasus, the ancient and early medieval times, the problem of formation of the city and the early class society, the defensive architecture of Sassanian Iran, history, archeology and culture of Caucasian Albania.

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Published

2021-10-19

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Section

Archeology

How to Cite

1.
Gadziev MS. UNDERGROUND CRUCIFORM STRUCTURE IN NARYN-KALA: A CHURCH? PRO ET CONTRA. ИАЭК. 2021;17(3):684-720. doi:10.32653/CH173684-720