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sixteenseveredhands · 1 year

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Vardzia, a Medieval Cave City in Georgia (South Caucasus), built in 1150-1200 CE: Vardzia was designed to be used as a fortress/monastery; it was accessible only through hidden passageways, and it contained more than 6,000 caves, 15 chapels, 25 wine cellars, an apothecary, a forge, a bakery, farming terraces, and an irrigation system

The monastic caves at Vardzia cover an area of about 500 meters. They are carved into the cliffs along the Erusheti mountains, which are located in Javakheti (a southern province near the borders between Georgia, Turkey, and Armenia).

Vardzia was originally meant to serve as a fortress, particularly in the event of a Mongol Invasion. It was protected by defensive walls, and the cave system itself was largely concealed within the mountain (though much of it is now exposed); it also contained a secret escape tunnel and several dead-end tunnels that were designed to delay/confuse enemy forces. The cave city could only be accessed through a series of hidden passageways that began near the banks of the Mtkvari River (which runs through the valley below the cave complex). Water was supplied through an irrigation system that was connected to the river, providing the inhabitants with both drinking water and agricultural irrigation, as the site contained its own terraced farmland.

The cave complex also functioned as a monastery, with a large collection of manuscripts and relics ultimately being housed at the site.

In its prime, the complex at Vardzia was inhabited by tens of thousands of residents.

Unfortunately, most of the original structures at Vardzia were destroyed by an earthquake that struck the region in 1283 CE, just a century after its construction; the earthquake sheared away the outer layer of the cliffside, exposed many of the caves, and demolished almost two-thirds of the site. The surviving structures represent only a fraction of the cave complex that once existed at Vardzia, with only about 500 caves still intact.

When the earthquake tore through the site in 1283, much of the fortress and many of its defenses were also destroyed, and Vardzia lost most of its military/defensive purposes. Still, it continued to operate as a Georgian Orthodox monastery for several hundred years after that. It narrowly escaped the Mongol Invasions of the 1290s, but it was raided by the Persians during the 16th century; the invading forces burned many of the manuscripts, relics, and other items that were stored within the cave system, leaving permanent scorch marks along the walls of the inner chambers. The site was abandoned shortly thereafter.

Medieval portrait of Queen/King Tamar: this portrait is one of the Medieval frescoes that still decorate the inner chambers of Vardzia; Tamar was the first queen regnant to rule over Georgia, meaning that she possessed the same power/authority as a king and, as a result, some Medieval sources even refer to her as "King Tamar"

Vardzia is often associated with the reign of Queen Tamar the Great, who ruled over the Kingdom of Georgia from 1184 to 1213 CE, during a particularly successful period that is often known as the "Golden Age" of Georgian history. Queen Tamar was also recognized as the Georgian King, with Medieval sources often referring to her as King Tamar. She possessed the powers of a sovereign leader/queen regnant, and was the first female monarch to be given that title in Georgia.

The initial phases of construction at Vardzia began under the command of King George III, but most of the complex was later built at the behest of his daughter, Queen Tamar, who owned several dedicated rooms at Vardzia and frequently visited the cave city. Due to her relationship with the cave complex at Vardzia, Queen Tamar is sometimes also referred to as the "Mountain Queen."

Despite the damage that the site has sustained throughout its history, many of the caves, tunnels, frescoes, and other structures have survived. The site currently functions as a monastery once more, with Georgian monks living in various chambers throughout the cave system.

I visited Vardzia back in 2011, during my first trip to Georgia. It's an incredible site, though some of the tunnels are very narrow, very dark, and very steep, which can get a bit claustrophobic.

Sources & More Info:

Atlas Obscura: Vardzia Cave Monastery

CNN: Exploring Vardzia, Georgia's Mysterious Rock-Hewed Cave City

Lonely Planet: Vardzia

Globonaut: 5 Facts about Vardzia, Georgia's Hidden Cave City

Wander Lush: Vardzia Cave Monastery (complete visitor's guide)

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huariqueje · 2 years

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Burg - Erik Mattijssen , 2022

Dutch , b . 1957 -

gouache op papier , 40 x 40 cm.

#Erik Mattijssen #dutch artist #pink suitcase #still life #medieval fortress

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sheltiechicago · 1 month

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Dunnottar Castle, Scotland

The sun rises creating a cascade of colour over Dunnottar Castle, a ruined medieval fortress located on a rocky headland on the north-east coast of Scotland

Photograph: Charlotte Graham/Shutterstock

#charlotte graham #photographer #shutterstock #dunnottar castle #castle #scotland #sunrise #medieval fortress #abandoned

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charlesreeza · 1 year

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Castello Ursino in Catania was built between 1239 and 1250 as one of the royal castles of Emperor Frederick II, King of Sicily. It was the scene of the so-called Sicilian Vespers, a successful rebellion that broke out at Easter 1282 against the rule of the French-born king Charles I of Anjou, who had ruled the Kingdom of Sicily since 1266. The revolt came after twenty years of Angevin rule, whose policies were deeply unpopular among the Sicilian populace. Sparked by an incident in Palermo, the revolt quickly spread throughout Sicily. Within six weeks, approximately 13,000 French men and women were slain by the rebels, and the government of Charles lost control of the island.

Photos by Charles Reeza

#medieval fortress #castle #Italy #history of Sicily #umbrella vault #travel photos

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ai-yura15cbx · 5 months

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Fortress houses from all over the galaxy. Дома-крепости со всей галактики. AI от Microsoft Bing на платформе DALL·E 3

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nepalcamel · 1 year

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Sandholt Castle

Sandholt Castle is a magnificent fortress that stands proudly in the center of the medieval village of Sandholt. The castle is a formidable structure, built from local grey stone and surrounded by a moat that once served as a defensive barrier against invaders.

The castle is a testament to the skill and artistry of the medieval craftsmen who built it. Its walls are adorned with intricate carvings and ornate details, and its towers and turrets rise high into the sky, providing a commanding view of the surrounding countryside.

At the heart of the castle lies a spacious courtyard, surrounded by towering walls and punctuated by a well that has been providing water to the castle's inhabitants for centuries. From the courtyard, a grand staircase leads up to the castle's main entrance, which is guarded by a pair of massive wooden doors.

Inside, the castle is a maze of twisting corridors and winding staircases, leading to a series of rooms and chambers that are as impressive as they are functional. There are banquet halls, bedchambers, and even a chapel, all decorated with the finest tapestries and works of art.

The castle is also home to a variety of armaments and defenses, including arrow slits, murder holes, and hidden passageways. It is a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the castle's designers, who built it to withstand even the most determined siege.

Despite its imposing appearance, Sandholt Castle is also a place of warmth and hospitality. The Duke and Duchess of Sandholt regularly host banquets and balls in its halls, welcoming guests from far and wide to enjoy the castle's comforts and luxuries.

Sandholt Castle is a magnificent and awe-inspiring structure, a testament to the skill and determination of the medieval craftsmen who built it. It is a true jewel of the village, a symbol of its power and prestige, and a testament to the rich history and culture of the region.

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livesunique · 5 months

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Swabian Castle, Rocca Imperiale, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy

#art #design #architecture #history #luxury lifestyle #style #luxury house #castle #luxury home #rocca imperiale #italy #medieval #fortress #swabian castle #cosenza #calabria

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illustratus · 18 days

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Studies into the Past by Laurent Grasso

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boschintegral-photo · 1 year

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Basilique Des Saints Nazaire Et Celse Cité De Carcassonne Carcassonne, France

#photographers on tumblr #architecture #churches #windows #gothic #medieval #fortress #cité de carcassonne #art #unesco world heritage site #carcassonne #occitanie #france #basilique des saints nazaire et celse #vertical #original photographers #original photography #1k

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bekkathyst · 8 months

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Burgruine Schaunberg

#original #original photography #ruins #castle #medieval ruins #fortress #austria #landscape #nature

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wgm-beautiful-world · 11 months

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C A R C A S S O N N E

#medieval #cite #city #ciudad #fortress #fuerte #forteresse #carcassonne #occitania #france #francia #europe #europa

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catgirlscout · 11 months

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Hello dear fellow tf2 enjoyers. Have you recently craved for a ridiculously passionate, drawn-out, self-indulgent and at times horny, Fantasy AU of your favorite old men (and Scout and Pyro)? Including magic, wizards, dragons, knights with fancy swords and armor, having sex with said knights, found family, vampires and other mythical creatures. Oh boy, then do I have the FanFiction for you. Read The Fortresses (Medieval Mercs AU) on Ao3!!!!!!

Anyway Schleichwerbung aside, I would be really happy if you would check out my fanfic. There's some sketches and the map from the world building. I am putting a lot of work into it and I am very, very much in love. It's mostly for my own self enjoyment, so the updates are kinda irregular but the chapters are relatively short and easy to read. I just posted the newest chapter (Chapter 3) and I have a set outline for at least the next three chapters. Also, there are some really cool ships in this. The main ones are BLUDemo x REDScout, REDSniper x BLUSpy, REDSpy x BLUEngie, Heavy x Medic, BLUSniper x BLUScout, Soldier x Merasmus, Saxton Hale x Mr. Bidwell, Administrator x Miss Pauling. And there's even a bunch of OCs (mainly Scout's brothers) and children of OG mercs. There is to say there will be smut in this fanfiction, which will be relevant to the story and I don't know how explicit it will gonna get. But looking at my notes there will definitely be some SniperSpy, HeavyMedic and SoldierMerasmus fuckery in earlier chapters. And most definitely SpeedingBullet and Saxwell in the later ones as the story progresses. So yeah...hope anybody is looking forward to that. I sure am. In the meantime I also have a lot of other fanfics finished and actually exactly 20 wips currently. I lack any sort of self control. Help!

That's it. Enjoy your day!

Btw the map was made with Inkarnate. I literally put my whole Scoutussy into that map, it took like 9 hours to make. But it was completely free because I am a cheap whore.