Vintage Embossed Copper Enamel Wall Decoration of the Legend of Tamar, Achtamar Armenian Legend, Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Checkanka

Antique vintage embossed copper enamel wall decoration made in Armenia in the Soviet era 1980s or even early in the 1970s which evokes the ancient Armenian legend of Tamar with the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

According to an old Armenian legend, the beautiful Tamar was lighting a fire every night on the island, just to keep her lover, who was coming to see her by swimming from the opposite shore, not to get lost in the bleak darkness of the sea. And, one night, the mischievous, jealous worshippers of Tamar put off the fire. The boy thus lost his direction and perished in the waves. Before dying “Ah, Tamar!” gasped he. Since then, the island has been named after Achtamar.

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Aghtamar Island, in Lake Van in eastern Turkey, is a medieval Armenian Apostolic cathedral, built as a palatine church for the kings of Vaspurakan and later serving as the seat of the Catholicosate of Aghtamar.

Height 27.5cm – 10.82in
Width 21.5cm – 8.86in
Weight 654gr

Ref 21