Kars is the capital of the province of the same name. Among the special attractions of the province are Lake Çıldır, the ruins of Ani, and the ski resort of Sarygamysh. The fortress of Kars in accordance with the Paris Peace Treaty of 1855 was given to the Turks in exchange for Sevastopol, Balaklava, and …
On this high relief, the first king from the dynasty of Yervanduni Yervand I Sakavakyats (“short staying” due to his short reign) protects his son Tigran, and a warrior protects the king himself from the attack of the son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar Nergal Sarasar. No such thing as the fall of Kingdom of Van (Urartu) has …
The monastery of Hakobavank (literally “monastery of Hakob”) or Metsaranits is located in the Martakert district of Artsakh in 1.5 km from the village of Kolatak (the historic province of Mets Hayk, the province of Metsarank, later renamed to Lower Khachen). In historical chronicles, there is no information on the specific date of the establishment …
The goddess of the Aryans Anahit wore a golden crown on her head decorated with hundreds of stars. In the center of this crown was an eight-pointed star. On the back of the crown, two ribbons were waving. The neck of the goddess was decorated with a cross, on her shoulders was a purple mantle, …
Yeghvard is a town in Kotayk province. It is located at the foot of Mount Ara on a vast terrace of orchards, vineyards, and fields 14 km northeast of Ashtarak and in 19 km from Yerevan. The town was first mentioned in 574 in connection with the election of Catholicos Movses II of Yeghvard (574-604). …
Given the fact that Portasar is 8,000 years older than the Stonehenge and that its every column weighs many tons, we should ask ourselves not only what types of tools were used to carve the figures in the stones but, more importantly, also ask what material these tools were made of. Remember, it was 12,000 …
Argishtikhinili (near the present-day town of Armavir) was an ancient city in the Kingdom of Van (Urartu) established under king Argishti I and named after him on the left bank of the Araks River, in its middle reaches. The city existed in the 8th-6th centuries BC. The ruins of the central fortress of Argishtikhinili are …
Bitlis (Baghesh in Armenian) is a city in historical Western Armenia and the center of the Turkish province of the same name. Bitlis Province corresponds to some areas of Greater Armenia’s provinces of Aldznik and Turuberan. The city is located at an altitude of 1600 meters, about 20 km southwest of Lake Van, south of …
The references to democracy in Ancient Armenia through the Ashkharhazhogh conference (Armenian: World Assembly) are preserved in the writings of Romano-Jewish historian Josephus from the 1st century AD. In the pre-Christian era, the Ashkharhazhogh conference was usually convened every year on Navasard holidays at the sanctuary of the Vanatur temple in Bagavan located at the …
Mughni Monastery is located in the village of the same name north of the town of Ashtarak in Aragatsotn Province. The complex includes the main church of St. Gevorg (1661–1669) with a gallery, a refectory, the abbot’s apartments, and office premises. The buildings of the monastery are surrounded by a beautiful & well-kept garden and …
Aytsemnik’s character is extremely important in Armenian history and ideology. In the Soviet years, the study of her heroic biography was part of the school curriculum. Unfortunately, at the moment, interest in her figure has waned. And this threatens oblivion to her not only as an interesting historical person but also as an example of …
The city of Tegarama, which is mentioned in Hittite sources and identified with the biblical Togarmah, is usually localized by researchers on the right bank of the Upper Euphrates, on the site of modern Gürün (west of Malatia). According to new interpretations, the city of Tegarama was located north of Malatia near the mouth of …
The photo below pictures a sardonyx seal with an Egyptian hieroglyphic text. This seal has belonged to Babylonian King Kurigalzu I (15th century BC). This discovery together with other finds of this type indicates that since ancient times, Metsamor has been located at the crossroad of trade routes passing through the Ararat valley which connected …
The festival of flowers in ancient Armenia, Tsaghkazard, was celebrated according to the ancient sacred calendar of Hayk in the month of Aekan on the day of Lusnak (May 13). The holiday of flowers was and is a holiday of nature’s prosperity, a holiday of solstices. On the night before the holiday, the constellation of …
Odzi Port (literally “snake navel” in Armenian) is one of the ancient wonders of the Lori region in Armenia. According to a legend, on the right side of the gorge, there was a school in which a wise old pilgrim was educating his seven disciples. On the left side of the gorge lived a huge …
Artashes I (reigned in 189-160 BC) was one of the most powerful rulers of the ancient world. He was respected and trusted by the rulers of many countries. The case described below testifies to the high respect King Artashes enjoyed abroad. In 183 BC, Pontic king Pharnaces I occupied key ports in Asia Minor – …
The photograph below shows one of four bronze bowls with a wedge-shaped seal which have belonged to King of the Kingdom of Van Sarduri II (ruled 764-735 BC). The bowls depicting the head of a lion, a tower, and the Tree of Life were found in Karmir Blur near Yerevan. Gevork Nazaryan Sarduri II was …
Blaise (Barsegh or Vlasy, died in 316 AD) of Sebastia was the bishop of the city of Sebastia in the Roman province of Cappadocia. His feast falls on February 11 in the Orthodox Church (according to the Julian calendar) and on February 3 in the Catholic Church. Blaise is among the saint martyrs of the …