The City of Kars in the Early 20th Century

The Armenian city of Kars in the early 20th century (now in the territory of Turkey). The photograph has been colourised.

Kars is thought to have been founded in the 4th century, but the city is mentioned regularly in Armenian and Byzantine chronicles from the 9th century. From 929 to 961 it was the capital of the Armenian kingdom of the Bagratunis, and from 963 to 1065 the capital of the Armenian Kingdom of Kars. The city lies on the Kars plateau, on the Kars River.

The photograph shows a winter scene. In the foreground a horse is harnessed to a cart loaded with metal containers, with a man standing beside it. Behind is a two-arched stone bridge crossed by people and another cart, and houses rise on the hillside.