2025 Theses Doctoral

The Lay of the Land: Armenian Monasteries in Their Local Landscapes

Kite, Whitney A.

This dissertation explores the complex intersection of monastic architecture and local environments in the context of medieval Armenia. The chapters center on three case studies: the medieval monasteries of Geghard, Hoṛomos, and Tat’ev. Each of these sites possesses compelling natural features, from a cave spring, to seasonal floods, to a dramatic precipice over a river gorge. Through the lenses of theology, phenomenology, climatology, and political economy, this project explores the various ways medieval Armenian inhabitants engaged with the land of the South Caucasus.