The Tignis Fortress – Ayrarat, Greater Armenia

The Tignis (Տիգնիս) fortress was located in the Shirak region of the Ayrarat province of Greater Armenia and has been known since the pre-Christian times.

It is unknown when the fortress was built. In the 9th century, it was renovated by the kings of the Bagratuni dynasty as it was considered an important element of the defense of the Shirakavan city.

From the site of Tignis, the Shirak field, Shirakavan, Argini, and many other areas are visible. The polished-stone high walls of the square-shaped fortress consisted of eight powerful towers. The walls rise on the foundation of huge stones.

In the 1940s, the fortress was transformed into a military base of the armed forces of Turkey. In the late 1940s, the unit blew up the fortress and was redeployed.

The ruins of the two walls now rise on a hill above the village of Kalkankale (formerly called Tignis) near the district center of Akyaka, which is located on the site of one of the capitals of Armenia, the city of Shirakavan.