The “Armenian Carthage” – Artashat – lies 30 km southeast from Yerevan. The city was the fourth capital of Greater Armenia and was built by Hannibal himself – the main and sworn enemy of Rome. He founded the city on the proposal of Armenian King Artashes I. Here is what Plutarch and Strabo wrote about …
Ani was the capital of Armenia during the Bagratid dynasty. This ancient Armenian city was known as “the city of a thousand and one churches”. In 2016, Ani was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which implies some benefits related to protection and funding. Prior to being inscribed as a World Heritage Site, this …
Historian Ian Heath (born June 7, 1952) in his “Byzantine Armies, 886–1118” brings up one interesting thing – an illustration of the Armenian infantry on an ivory box. In the figure, the infantry is greeting its commander. Pay attention to the greeting gesture which is used in modern armies as well. At one time, the …
May the Georgian culinary specialists not be offended, but the Georgian churchkhela is not similar to what Armenians call “sharots.” Sharots has been made in Armenia in ancient times. This sweet’s cooking process has unique features that affect its taste. In order to find out what the basis of Armenian cuisine is, we will go …
Europa Nostra, a pan-European federation of associations that promote and protect the cultural heritage and natural environment of Europe, has shortlisted 14 European heritage sites for the “7 Most Endangered” program for 2020. The 8th-century Khoranashat Monastery located in the border village of Chinari, Tavush Province, Armenia, and the karas, a traditional Armenian clay pot …
The 5,000 years old Tigranakert walls in Historical Armenia (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List) are often targeted by thieves. The 5 kilometers long and 12 meters tall structure is a delight for tourists. Thieves are no less interested in this structure – ancient stones from the wall are being sold by them at …
Fortress walls discovered in the castle of Fayestep built in 750 BC by Van King Sarduri II showed that during the construction of the fortress, special measures have been taken against earthquakes. Archaeological excavations and restoration works are ongoing on the site of the Chavustep fortress and tombs in the north built in the brightest …
The Armenian Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary near the Bağpınar village in Caesarea Province of Turkey (Historical Armenia) has been repeatedly plundered by treasure hunters. As a result of the plunders, the church has been severely damaged, especially its wall murals. In an interview with Turkish media, Bağpınar headman Omer Nalbant said that the …
In the northern coastal area of Lake Van, archaeologists discovered an ancient stone city that appears to be 2600 years old. Haberler.com writes that about 70000 people could have lived in the 270-hectare territory of the city. After lengthy excavations, building walls and streets have been identified in the city. The scheme of the mysterious …
Armenian cave temples are part of the country’s early Christian history. They appeared in the caves where the first preachers of Christianity had found dwelling and where the first Christian communities had been located. The study of this piece of Armenian heritage is now difficult since most of these cave temples are now in Turkey. …
The 5000-year-old churn kept in the Amasi Archaeological Museum of Western Armenia sheds light on the creation of matsun, an Armenian fermented milk product. This is proof that our ancestors have made matsun in the Armenian Highlands 5000 years ago. The churn made 5000 years ago in the Bronze Age has a length of 30 …
The sixth series of “The Voice of Ararat” program produced by “Free Voice Media” is dedicated to the ancient structure of Portasar. Located about 100 km from the ancient city of Urfa, Portasar is the oldest known complex on the Armenian Highlands. This complex is aged 10-12,000 years, and it may be even older. With …
“The peak of the greatness of Armenian history, no doubt, is considered the period of the reign of Tigran the Great. Parthia even in a terrible dream could not imagine that it, the most powerful empire of Asia Minor, would suddenly become part of the Mets Hayk empire. Today, historians are wondering – how did …
Sakravor (Armenian: Սակրավոր, from the word sakura, that is, ax) was a soldier in the ancient Armenian army usually armed with an ax. Sakravors have also had shovels and some other tools. The sakravor squads paved roads, built bridges, cut down forests, set up military camps, trenches, and engaged in other forms of military engineering. …
Amaras Monastery (Armenian: Ամարասի վանք, Azerbaijani: Amaras monastırı) is a monastery of the early Middle Ages located in the southeastern areas of Artsakh. It has also been the residence of the Catholicos of the Albanian church. A major religious and cultural center of medieval Armenia, Amaras was subordinate to the Armenian Apostolic Church. According to …
The beginning of the 11th century was the peak of the glory of Byzantium of the era of the Macedonian dynasty. After the victorious campaigns of Emperor Basil II (reigned in 976-1025), the Eastern Roman Empire regained its sovereignty over a number of territories from the Armenian Mountains to the Italian Peninsula. But Basil was …
Amasya was located in Lesser Armenia on the peninsula of Asia Minor. In 281-183 BC, it has been the capital of the Greek Pontic kingdom. Subsequently, it would become part of the Roman and Byzantine empires as an administrative part of the Theme of the Armeniacs. In 1380, Amasya was captured by the Ottoman forces. …
Prehistoric settlement 30 kilometers from Yerevan, in the center of the fertile Ararat valley at the head of the Metsamor River, a five thousand years old settlement was found after years of archaeological excavations. But the most interesting findings were unearthed on the rocks surrounding the Metsamor settlement. One of them in about 200 meters …