The ruins of Ani / Krikor Balakian ; translated and with an introduction by Peter Balakian with Aram Arkun.

"A journey to Armenia's medieval capital and its legacy."--Dust jacket.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

History of Ani -- Topography of Ani -- Description of the ruins of Ani -- Scholarship on Ani.

"Ani is a ruined medieval Armenian city now situated in Turkey's province of Kars, next to the closed border with Armenia. Between 961 and 1045, it was the capital of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom that covered much of present-day Armenia and eastern Turkey. The Ruins of Ani was originally written by Grigoris Balakian in 1910. Though there were a number of works from the same period written about Ani by people who participated in excavations in the city, the history and significance of Ani was still not well known to Western Armenian readers in 1910, and Balakian's goal was to inform them about the importance of Ani for the Armenian past and Armenian culture or civilization. Thus, it is a basic summary of what was known about Ani at the time, historically and archaeologically. Balakian states that this work is both a guide for travelers who wish to visit Ani, and an introduction to those who do not have the means to actually travel there. That book has now been translated into English by his grandnephew, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and New York Times bestselling author Peter Balakian, along with Aram Arkun. Peter Balakian has also provided an introduction that frames the original text as essential to issues surrounding the Armenian Genocide and its complex aftermath with Turkish denialism. He also details the Ani restoration project now underway"-- Provided by publisher.