A carved gravestone in the Noratus cemetery

Noratus is a historic Armenian cemetery in the Gegharkunik Province, near Lake Sevan, known for its khachkars. It is considered the largest collection of khachkars in the world: about 1,000 khachkars over 7 hectares, each with its own ornament. The oldest date from the 9th–10th centuries, but most were created in the 13th–17th centuries. Some gravestones bear carved scenes from life, such as weddings.

According to legend, during Tamerlane’s invasion the local people put helmets on the khachkars and hung swords on them to give the impression of a large army, and the frightened enemy withdrew. Today the cemetery is a historical and cultural reserve.

The photograph shows a rectangular gravestone with an interlaced ornamental border. Carved on it are a horse, several human figures, a cross on the right and an Armenian inscription at the top.