Oshki 3.2

Oshki or Oshk Vank is a Georgian monastery from the second half of the 10th century located in the historic province of Tao, now part of the territory of Turkey. The main church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, was built between 963 and 973. The Monasterys location in Turkey is in the village of Çamlıyamaç, in northeastern Erzurum Province, bordering Artvin Province. Other sources describe it as an Armenian monastery. The monastery is disputed by the Armenians.Oshki monastery was a major centre of Georgian literature and enlightenment during the Middle Ages.Architectural sculpture and figurative reliefsThe construction of the monastery at Osk/Oshki was sponsored by the Georgian Kings Bagrat eristavt-eristavi (prince of princes) and David III Bagrationi Kuropalates.The blind arches are an important part of the whole decoration. In Oshki they stretch along the outer walls of the church in the south, east and north. It is an early example of the use of decorative blind arches on the facades. They divide the wall in line with the general architectural rhythm. The central part of the facade is mainly decorated with bas-reliefs.Bas-reliefs, placed high above the central arch, are given the place of honour on the southern facade, which is the main facade of the church. They stand out from the flat surface. The eagle with an animal in his talons probably symbolises victory, and the whole sculptural composition the triumph of the heavenly forces represented by the archangels Michael and Gabriel.