ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Apahen 1600 — 1812 yy․ Monuments

NKR (Country) / Karvajar (District) / Apahen (Village)

Location

Apahen is located on the slope of the gorge, on the altitude of 1900 m, and extends (especially its old part) along the left (southern) bank of the Dotkhu.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 66.

Historical Introduction
1214 y․

These two historical villages were recorded for the first time in the bequest to be inherited by the monastery, later as its estate in the building inscription of Dadi Vank, dated 1214: “...And we assigned a village and a settlement within their borders: Apahen and Yeznaratzants as the bequest of the church...”

"Corpus", Issue 5, compiled by S. Barkhudarian, Yerevan, 1982, p. 199; Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 65.

14 c․

Once more Apahen and Yeznaratzants were mentioned as monastery estate in a document of the XIV cent already.

"Corpus", Issue 5, compiled by S. Barkhudarian, Yerevan, 1982, p. 216; Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 65.

1763 y․

Apahen was mentioned under the same name in the cadastre of Dadi Vank estates dated 1763.

"Jambr" Assembled and Rendered by Simeon Catholicos Yerevantsi, Vagharshapat, 1873, p. 283 (in Armenian); Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 65.

Scriptoria
1652 y․

Contrary to Yeznaratzants that was not mentioned any more, Apahen was still mentioned in various records. Particularly, in 1652 the colophon of a Hymnal (“Sharaknots”) rewritten, illustrated and compiled by Movses, the church scribe, referred the place of compilation as: “in the land of Tzar, in the village, which is called Apahen”.

Colophons of Armenian manuscripts of the XVII cent., Yerevan, 1984, p. 488-489 (in Armenian); Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 65.

1659 y․

Another manuscript completed in 1659 mentions: “Deacon Johannes, who comes from the village Apahen...”

"Corpus", Issue 5, compiled by S. Barkhudarian, Yerevan, 1982, p. 865; Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 65.

Population
1908 y․

Bashlibel was reinhabited by the Kurdish Mollamamatlu tribe. In 1908 the village had 240 inhabitants only.

Caucasian Calendar of 1910, Tiflis, 1909 (In Russian); Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 65.

1976 y․

In 1976 the number of the local residents reached 1065.

e Soviet Encyclopaedia of Azerbaijan, vol. 2, Baku, 1978, p. 53 (in Azerbaijanian); Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 65.

Etymology

Description

After being emptied of Armenians, Apahen sank into oblivion, to such extent, that even its geographical location was a matter of dispute. But if we consider the etymology of the Turkish toponym Bashlibel, located in the upper stream of the river Dutkhu, we might arrive at a conclusion that the Armenian toponym is disguised under the Turkish caique.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 65.

It seems that being the main settlement of a small district, Apahen in the late Middle Ages was identified with Tpel, taking the name of the province.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 66.

Contrary to rich historical past of the village, there are almost no traces of Armenians here.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 66.

17 c․

In conformity with a research Bashlibel (former Bashtubel) should be identified with historical Tpel, mentioned as an administrative district in a record relating to the events of the beginning of the XVII cent.

Hakobian A. H., Simonian H. E., The Newly Discovered Inscription of Dadi Vank and the Location of Tpel, "PBH", 1998, N 1-2, p. 227-231. (in Armenian); Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, pp. 65-66.

Monuments

The walls of the spring situated 4.5 km southwest of the village are repaired by processed base stones apparently taken from the facing of some destroyed church.

Samvel Karapetian, Armenian Cultural Monuments in the Region of Karabakh, Yerevan, 2001, p. 66.

Type Photo
View Exterior
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Tpel	1600 — 1812 yy․
Bashlibel
Bashtubel	1812 — 1920 yy․
Seyidlar	1812 — 1920 yy․