page_title: Temple of Garni
section_title: Notable events
hierarchical_section_title: Temple of Garni / Current state and use / Notable events
caption_attribution_description: Русский: 5000 драм 1995 English: 5000 dram 1995
context_page_description: The Temple of Garni is the only standing Greco-Roman colonnaded building in Armenia and the former Soviet Union. Built in the Ionic order in the village of Garni, Armenia, it is the best-known structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia.
  The structure was probably built by king Tiridates I in the first century AD as a temple to the sun god Mihr. After Armenia's conversion to Christianity in the early fourth century, it was converted into a royal summer house of Khosrovidukht, the sister of Tiridates III. According to some scholars it was not a temple but a tomb and thus survived the destruction of pagan structures. It collapsed in a 1679 earthquake. Renewed interest in the 19th century led to excavations at the site in early and mid-20th century, and its eventual reconstruction between 1969 and 1975, using the anastylosis method. It is one of the main tourist attractions in Armenia and the central shrine of Hetanism.
context_section_description: The square in front of the temple is a site of occasional concerts. In 1985 the Soviet televised music festival Pesnya goda ("Song of the Year") was recorded at the temple.
  In 1985 some scenes of Polish movie Travels of Mr. Kleks were shot at the Garni temple.
  The torch of the first Pan-Armenian Games was lit near the temple on August 28, 1999.
  Another concert was held near the temple on July 2, 2004 by the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, conducted by Aram Gharabekian. The orchestra played the works of Aram Khachaturian, Komitas, Edvard Mirzoyan, Strauss, Mozart, and other composers.
  On May 6, 2019 Acid Pauli performed a live concert of electronic music in front of the temple.
  On July 14, 2019 the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia performed a concert in front of the temple dedicated to the 150th anniversaries of Komitas and Hovhannes Tumanyan.
caption: Obverse side of 5000-dram banknote (1995–2005).[110]
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