Turkmen Mausoleum Yerevan

Multicultural heritage

Raffi from Yerevan

"The "Turkmen Mausoleum" a bit outside Yerevan is a hidden place, a large stone phallic structure built by the 'black sheep' tribe. Great for a daytrip!"

Down the Hrazdan river from Central Yerevan, in the village of Argavand, lies a peculiar site. The Mausoleum of the Turkmen Emirs is a large stone phallic structure.

Since the village is only around 7km away from central Yerevan, I love to take my bike down there with my friends during the summer. We pack a lunch and have a picnic by the monument before heading back home. It's great exercise AND it's educational. The road to the monument also goes by a few interesting sites, including the military pantheon and a few medieval churches, so it's worth the trip.

It was built, like many others like it across the Caucasus and Anatolia, by the nomadic "black sheep" Turkmen tribe, which had invaded the region from Central Asia. It was meant to honour the memory of one of their fallen leaders.

This perfectly-preserved monument is also a well-kept secret, since most Yerevan locals don't even know about it.

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Yerevan Spotter Raffi

About me Montreal-born entrepreneur and founder of the e-health startup Gettreated.co, I made my home in Yerevan in 2011 with my wife and daughter. Why Yerevan Yerevan is an extremely well thought-out, centralised, and walkable city. Locals are warm and friendly, and the city's charm is much more than skin-deep. Peep into any courtyard to discover centuries-worth of history, traditions, and culture. I also can't complain about the spectacular views on Mount Ararat. Where else can you find me online? You can find me on my medium page and ...

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Argavand

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free

Dec 5, 2025

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