Jerveshtik Bridge :: ARTSAKH HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Jerveshtik Bridge 12 — 13 cc․

NKR / Martakert / Mataghis

Location

This is a single-span bridge situated over the stream Jerveshtik (Yeghishe Arakyal, i.e. Elisha the Apostle), in a deep gorge 400 metres north-west of the Monastery of Yeghishe Arakyal, within 5 kilometres of Mataghis Village, Martakert District, Republic of Artsakh (RMK) in the same direction.

Karapetian, Samvel. The Bridges of Artsakh, Yerevan, 2009, p. 30.

Historical Introduction
12 — 13 cc․

There exist no records as to the time of its construction, but its building peculiarities allow us to trace it back to the 12th to 13th centuries.

Karapetian, Samvel. The Bridges of Artsakh, Yerevan, 2009, p. 30.

At present only the piers of the bridge of Jerveshtik are preserved. It remains unknown when it was destroyed, but this must have happened much earlier than the year 1884, as a traveller who saw it in the same year later wrote: “The bridge represents but three shaky beams covered with pieces of wood. About 200 feet beneath it in the opposite direction, amidst some prominent rocks runs the stream Yeghishe Arakyal [Elisha the Apostle] in tremendous roar...” It is already a long time since the “shaky beams” connecting the piers were levelled with the ground.

Haykuny. Travelling Notes. In: Meghu Hayastani, 1885, No. 66, p. 3 (the original in Armenian).
Karapetian, Samvel. The Bridges of Artsakh, Yerevan, 2009, p. 30.

Architectural Description

The cornerstones of the vault-bearing arch of the bridge were finely-dressed; its other parts, and particularly, its elevated main pier were built of undressed stone and mortar. Span length: 6.0 metres; passage width: 3.30 metres; height above water level according to the reconstruction of the bridge: 11.25 metres.

Karapetian, Samvel. The Bridges of Artsakh, Yerevan, 2009, p. 30.

Type Photo
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Colour Negative

Type Measurement
Author Samvel Karapetyan
Source Sketch

Measurement by Samvel Karapetian; preparation for publication by Ashot Hakobian

Name	Year/Century	Etymology
Mazi