Tatev means “giving wings”. According to the legend the architect of Tatev, after finishing the building, prayed God to have wings. God granted him wings and he flew away.
Tatev monastery was founded in the IXth century and was the political center of the Syunik principality. In the Xth century the population of the monastery was around 1,000 people. Stepanos Obelyan, an Armenian historian of the XIVth century called Tatev “the perl of Syunik”.
In the XIV-XV cc. Tatev was one of the biggest and most important center of science, education, literature and art of Armenia. The famous school of Armenian miniature was founded in Tatev those times.
In the yard of the monastery you will find an 8-meter-tall pillar, made os small stones. This pillar is a unique work of Armenian architectural and engineering art. It survived hundreds of years of earthquakes and the strong earthquake of 1931, that caused severe destruction to the buildings of Tatev, because it’s swinging. Even a mere touch of hand can cause the pillar to tilt. The pillar used to warn the dwellers of the monastery of coming earthquake or approaching enemy forces.
You may take a virtual 3D tour to Tatev Monastery here (need to download Vizerra 3D client) or watch it on YouTube
May 13, 2009
Hi, nice 3D tour and interesting information!
I wanna go and see it with my own eyes now 
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