In the 2nd to 1st millennium BC, the territory of Aghitu was one of the southern strongholds of the Etiuni confederation in Armenia, with the archaeological ruins of a fortress from that time period located in the village.[4]
Mausoleum of Aghitu
Aghitu Mausoleum (Mahardzan)
The village is famous for the 6th-7th century Aghitu mausoleum and funerary complex.[5][6] Two rectangular towers rise above the mausoleum with a richly decorated octagonal column in the center. The monument is decorated with carvings of pomegranates, grapes, vegetables, and geometric ornaments similar to the 7th century churches of Sisian and Zvartnots.[6][3] According to tradition, the mausoleum was in honor of three Armenian princes of Syunik who fought off Persian soldiers. The Persians and Armenians fought a decisive battle near a village called Aghudi where they were able to drive out the Persians. However, that battle took the lives of the three princes. In their honor, the residents of the village buried the princes and built a crypt and monument for them.[5][6]
The monument was damaged in the earthquake of 1931 however it was restored promptly by the Armenian authorities.[3]
Dum-Tragut, Jasmine (2023). "Aghitu". Armenien: 3000 Jahre Kultur zwischen Ost und West. Mit Jerevan, Edschmiatsin, Sevansee, Dilidschan, Gjumri, Vandzor und Goris [Armenia: 3000 years of culture between East and West. With Yerevan, Edzmiatsin, Lake Sevan, Dilijan, Gyumri, Vandzor and Goris] (in German). Germany: Trescher Verlag. p. 452. ISBN9783897946248.
Hakobyan, Tadevos Kh.; Melik-Bakhshyan, Stepan T.; Barseghyan, Hovhannes Kh. (1986). "Աղուդի [Aghitu]". Հայաստանի եւ հարակից շրջանների տեղանունների բառարան [Dictionary of place names of Armenia and neighboring regions]. Vol. 1. Yerevan: Yerevan State University Press. p. 200.
