A man watches the ruins of the ancient city of Tigranakert from the plateau of the Vanqasar church. According to historians there were 5 major cities built by Tigran the Great at various strategic positions throughout the Armenian Empire. Each of these cities was named after the king - Tigranakert. This one, named Tigranakert of Artsakh, occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert in the Nagorno-Karabakh, four kilometers South of the Khachenaget River. Excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and are currently ongoing. Aghdam region, Nagorno-Karabakh, 19 September 2008.