Armenians in the Middle East – Paris Herouni

Armenians were in territories of present Syria, Lebanon and Palestine from the very old time (before the Great Deluge) on their way to the Phoenicia and Egypt.

They played an important role in the formation of local nations. Armenians taught inhabitants knowledge, art of houses and towns building, the adoration to the kind AR God and to other Armenian Gods.

For example, in Palestine Armenians founded the town Yerusalem (Jerusalem) (before the III mill. BC), and inhabitants of old Palestine were worshippers of Armenian Gods, particularly, of the God Vahal (Vahagn) and the Goddess Astart (Astghik).

In Lebanon the quantity of Armenians increased after the genocide of Armenians in Turkey (including Kilikia) in 1915 AD, when many Armenians from Kilikia and other regions came to the neighbouring Lebanon.

Now here along the seaboard there are many Armenian villages. So now in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria there are many Armenians and other Christians, close to Armenians.

Armenians in Jews

In 586 BC Jerusalem was occupied by Babylon and part of Jews was by force transmigrated to Babylon (Babylonian captives. 586 – 539 BC).

Because the threat for Judea still existed, Jew’s Seer Ieremia invoked his nation to call Armenians for help: “Boost flags, blare trumpets amidst nations, arm nations against him (Babylon), call against him Araratian, Miniean and Askanazian” Kingdoms” [110].

King of the Great Armenia Tigran Yervandouni (560 – 535 BC) together with Iranian King Kir came and stormed Babylon, annihilated Babylon Kingdom at 539 BC and liberated Jews [90, p.64].

Armenian King Tigran n the Great (95 – 55 BC) built his second capital town Tigrannakert (southward from Lake Van) and after occupation of Jerusalem invited to Tigrannakert about ten thousand Jews (and also Greeks) – artisans.

Their descendants are living in Armenia until now. In 1960-es AD in Jerusalem lived 15 – 17 thousand Armenians. But now they are only about one thousand.

An extract from the book “Armenians and Ancient Armenia” by Paris Herouni