Ancient city uniting Turkey and Armenia causes bitter divide

As Turkish writer, Vedat Akcayoz, gazes upon the crumbling remains of a 10th-century stone bridge over the Arpacay River which divides Turkey and Armenia, he ponders over the fish swimming beneath and questions whether they are Turkish or Armenian.

This historic bridge is just a small part of the remarkable Ani, a ruined city of great significance standing at a border steeped in centuries of history between two nations. Once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom, Ani bore witness to conquests, conversions, and natural disasters before falling into abandonment.

Ancient city uniting Turkey and Armenia bitter divide

Despite the complicated past tragedies, like the mass killings of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire, hopes are pinned on restoring the UNESCO World Heritage site to its former glory one day. Ani’s rich collection of religious and cultural layers, from Zoroastrianism to Islam, presents a shared legacy that transcends political divides.

Amidst the ongoing restoration efforts and easing travel restrictions, locals hope to show Ani’s beauty, inviting visitors to see it and its complex history that shapes the present-day landscape. The symbolic potential of Ani as a place for peace echoes the words of the late Turkish-Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink, and his vision for healing through dialogue.

Ani’s ancient ruins serve as a powerful symbol of shared history and the ongoing pursuit of peace between Turkey and Armenia. The city still likely holds many countless tales, waiting to be revealed one day.