Avey reserve: a treasure of spiritual and architectural heritage A journey into history on Caliber.Az

Azerbaijan is rich in historical and architectural monuments, each a living witness to the centuries of history and spiritual heritage. Sited here, at the crossroads of cultures and civilizations, majestic temples, fortresses, ancient settlements, and unique natural sanctuaries have been preserved. These monuments not only adorn the landscape of the country but also allow us to touch the roots of the past and gain a deeper understanding of the present. The Avey State Historical and Cultural Reserve holds a special place among them.

Covering an area of 3,613 hectares, it remains a unique site where nature and history intertwine. The reserve consists of three parts — Damjili, Goyazan, and Yukhari-Askipara. Every step here feels like a journey through centuries, opening new horizons of knowledge and harmony.

The main feature of the reserve is Mount Avey, one of the peaks of the Lesser Caucasus. On its slopes and summit, around thirty caves and shrines have been preserved, along with a unique Albanian temple, which scholars believe was built between the 5th and 7th centuries. Standing at an elevation of 922 meters, it stuns with its location and architecture.

The temple has a rectangular shape on the outside and an oval-circular layout inside. Its architecture is complemented by relatively narrow and elongated windows that harmoniously fit into the building’s design and partially illuminate the interior.

The structure consists of two naves built from a locally sourced stone: the northern part is covered with a vault, while the southern part ends with a conical dome. The temple’s interior is decorated with ornaments of great interest to researchers studying the culture of Caucasian Albania.

For the construction of the walls, local galtan stone and river rock were used, while the roof was covered with baked tiles. This combination of materials and techniques reflects the high level of building culture and the sophistication of Albanian architecture.

The name of the mountain carries symbolic meaning. It is believed that “Aveydagh” (Azerbaijani name, translating as Mount Avey) comes from “Ayevdag” — “the mountain on which the Moon is at home.” The ancient Greek geographer Strabo wrote that the Albanians worshiped the Moon. This was also typical for ancient Turkic peoples, who had the concept of “Ay-Tengri” — the “Moon Divinity.”

Historian Giyaseddin Geybullayev noted that the temple might have been dedicated to the Greek goddess Selene, and that among the ancient Turks the word “Avey” also meant “House of the Moon.” Thus, the construction of a Christian temple on this site continued the tradition of building sanctuaries in already venerated sacred places.

The Albanian temple is among the priceless monuments of Caucasian Albani with its architecture combining features of Christian construction with elements of pre-Christian cults, showing the influence of Roman and Greek traditions.

Next to the temple lies an ancient cemetery with massive tombstones decorated with ornaments, characteristic of Albanian tradition. Of particular significance are the lotus motif — a symbol of the Albanians — and the eight-petal rosette, symbolizing the sun.

Archaeological research was carried out in the reserve from 2023–2024, under the direction of Docent Shamil Najafov, a professor of Historical Sciences. Excavations were conducted both inside the temple and in the surrounding area. The aim was to clarify architectural features, determine construction dates, and correlate discovered burials with historical periods.

During the research, a skeleton buried in accordance to Christian rituals was discovered, with an arrowhead found nearby. In another grave, a copper coin was unearthed — a dirham minted in Tabriz in 1265 during the reign of the Ilkhanid ruler Abaqa Khan. Coins of that period are known to bear Christian crosses and inscriptions such as: “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the one God.” A total of 34 tombs were recorded in the churchyard.

Equally significant are the caves at the foot of the mountain, approx. ten with some of which having been created man-made. In different eras, they served as dwellings and shelters, and later were used by monks as cells for seclusion and prayer.

The Avey State Historical and Cultural Reserve is not merely a monument of architecture and archaeology. It is a space where the past and present, the spiritual and the natural as well as history and myth come together. It is rightly considered one of the jewels of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage and is deserving of its careful preservation, continued research, and wider recognition.

By Vahid Shukurov, exclusively for Caliber.Az