The British newspaper “The Telegraph” presented 16 of the oldest cities in Europe which have been continuously populated. The list includes the capital of Armenia Yerevan, which is mentioned in the publication as a city founded 30 years before Rome and a city captured by Assyrian rulers, Romans, Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Seljuks, Turks, and the …
Almost all the most famous masterpieces of Islamic architecture in Turkey were built by Christian architects, mainly Armenians and Greeks. Today, one can often hear theses in Azerbaijani groups about how evil Armenians destroy mosques. Similarly, Azerbaijanis aim to turn all Muslims against Armenians. But in fairness, it should be noted that in modern Turkey, …
A few people know, but the city of Tarsus in Cilicia was the birthplace of Apostle Paul, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ. Pictured is the Armenian monastery of St. Paul in Tarsus built in the 12th century in the era of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. The monastery was built presumably on …
A number of famous European artists of the 17-19th centuries dedicated numerous paintings to Queen Zenobia of Armenia (1st century AD). Aside from that, she was featured in several operas. For example, composer George Frideric Handel wrote the opera Radamisto where the main characters of the opera were the rulers of Greater Armenia who lived …
The ancient state of Aratta is identified with the Cucuteni–Trypillia culture. According to another point of view, “Aratta” is distorted “Ararat” or “Urartu.” Researchers have also proposed identifying a Sanskrit toponym mentioned in the Mahabharata and other texts with Aratta. In Sumerian literature, Aratta is described as follows: “Wisdom and art ‘descended’ from the country …
We present to your attention the ruins of the palace complex of the Avanian meliks (princes) in the town of Tugh near Hadrut in Artsakh. Recall that in the 11th-17th centuries, after the Turks destroyed key regions of Armenia, an independent Armenian state named Khachen was established in Artsakh (called Nagorno-Karabakh in the 18th century) …
Along the shores of the salt lake Van, the Van Rock is rising. Here, a fort has been erected to become the center of the ancient city of Tosp (Tushpa), the capital of the Van Kingdom. During its heyday, this belligerent state controlled all of Asia Minor. The citizens of the Van Kingdom were not …
Joscelin II of Edessa (1113 – 1159) was the last ruling count of the county of Edessa. He was the son of Armenian princess Beatrice and Count Joscelin I. During the battle of Azaz in 1125, Joscelin was taken hostage by Muslims. Soon, through the efforts of the King of Jerusalem Baldwin II, he was …
Tigran Yervanduni was the son and heir of Yervand I Sakavakyats (“short-staying”, reigned in 570-560 BC). Tigran reigned in 560-535 BC. He was a hunting companion to the founder of Achaemenid Persia Cyrus the Great. Tigran was the one to kill the king of Media Azhdahak. During his reign, the territory of Armenia also spread …
The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia was a feudal kingdom that existed from 1080 to 1375. The inhabitants of Cilicia were very freedom-loving and only nominally obeyed the Persians, Seleucids, and from 63 BC the Romans. The Romans kept in submission only the plain of Cilicia. The Cilicians have always been distinguished by their courage and …
In the Armenian pantheon, Tir was a god of writing, sciences, arts, a scribe of the chief deity Aramazd, and a diviner of fate. Tir brought dreams to people, revealing their future to them. In the temple of Tir (between the cities of Vagharshapat and Artashat), the priests interpreted these dreams. Besides, they taught sciences …
Oshakan is a village 3 km southeast of the town of Ashtarak. According to a legend, Noah and his family descended from the top of Mount Masis (Ararat) and saw Oshakan freed from the water. At its sight, they exclaimed “Oshakan,” which roughly translates as “Marvel for the eyes.” Located within the estates of Arshakids …
Here, it is necessary to at least briefly cover the strength of the Armenian army. It is only on the basis of its strength that we can get a true idea of the duration and continuity of the Armenian military traditions, as well as the influence that the Armenian army and its system of values …
Movses Kaghankatvatsi was a 7th-century Armenian historian and the author or editor of “The History of the Country of Aghvank.” This work tells about the historian’s native lands. “The History of the Country of Aghvank” is a unique work, in fact – it is the only source on the history of Caucasian Albanians. Kaghankatvatsi’s work …
Below are renders from a 3D reconstruction of the central quarter of the city of Tigranakert of Artsakh, the first city built in the territory of Artsakh. Recall that the Artsakh Tigranakert was founded in 77 BC by King of Greater Armenia Tigran the Great. The city existed for 1,500 years until the 14th century …
The illustration (14th century) above is from the Armenian translation of “Stories of Alexander the Great.” Most likely, the artist depicted Armenian cavalrymen. After the heroic resistance of the Armenian army in the Battle of Gaugamela and the defeat of the Macedonian army led by commander Memnon in Armenia, Alexander the Great ceased to attempt …
One theory claims that the most ancient centers of astronomical knowledge were the territories of Armenia and Asia Minor. Prominent historians and astronomers concluded that people who divided the sky into constellations have lived between 36 and 42 degrees of northern latitude. According to English astronomer Olcott, people who invented the ancient figures of the …
Vishaps in Armenian mythology were dragons, chthonic creatures. They were represented in a zoomorphic (most often in the form of a snake) or anthropomorphic appearance and personified thunderstorms, tornadoes, or thunderclouds. According to myths, the big Vishap absorbed the sun, causing an eclipse. Vishaps lived in high mountains, in large lakes, in the sky, in …