Inside Ani

This is the Lion Gate we saw previously, now from the inside. The symbol depicted on the inside is deservedly disreputable today - but claimed to have an Indian origin, far from it's grim 20th century use. In the context of Ani (where the Silk Road came from the East and the Turkish, Persian and Russian spheres of influence met over the centuries, even if local rulers where often only nominal vassals of very varying degrees of loyalty to each of the empires in turn) it was said to be a Zoroastrian mark, the four arms representing the four revered elements of air, earth, water and fire.