Yerevan, the current and latest capital of the Armenian Highlands, houses a number of ancient historical and cultural monuments. The historical events of modern Yerevan are crucial for filling the open pages of the history of Armenian culture. Here, we can observe various cultures created over millennia from the most ancient times to the present …
Zvartnots has been copied more than once. Temples like it have been built in many other parts of Armenia. In addition, a Byzantine Emperor has also expressed a desire to build a similar creation for himself, though it’s unclear whether he has done so. There are three Armenian fruits that occupy a central position in …
The postulate has become quite strong in Armenia that priestly and generally pre-Christian books have been lost completely and irrevocably. Of course, the struggle of Christianity and paganism was accompanied by the demolition of pagan temples and led to the fact that the last pagan krmapet (high priest), Arzan, actually declared war on Grigor Lusavorich …
Few people have ever wondered about how Armenians had lived in Babylon. And yet, their life and activity in Babylon had been quite remarkable. Armenians played a significant role in Babylon. The trade of Armenians with Babylon has been mentioned more than once by Greek authors. Herodotus described in detail how the Armenians on willow …
Palaces and fortresses, roads and temples, bridges and irrigation systems built thousands of years ago testify to the development of mathematical knowledge in ancient Armenia. There is no doubt that in the educational institutions of Armenia, mathematics and natural sciences have been taught from ancient times. In the 5th century, the simplest fractions were known …
This large map from Tabula Chorographica Armenica (Constantinople 1691), a luxurious guide for elite traders and scholars, demonstrates the expansion of the Armenian Church at the end of the 17th century. Almost eight hundred objects are illustrated on the map, including large Armenian church centers – the Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin, Gandzasar, Aghtamar, Cilicia, and the …
Abagar (from “Abagarus” in honor of the legendary King Augar Ukkama, King of Osroene) is a printed and engraved amulet and prayer book made for Bulgarians and Serbs in the 17th-18th centuries. Abagar contains prayers, apocryphal conspiracies, gospel readings, and the apocryphal message of King Avgar to Jesus Christ. Abagar could be mounted to walls …
“Recently, my wife and I were on a vacation in Arkhyz. Arkhyz is known throughout the world as an excellent ski resort. But we were interested not just in skiing – we wanted to see the ancient Christian temples of this beautiful place. We stayed in the Pavlova Polyana hotel in the village of Solyonoye. …
After Hakob Meghapart’s contribution to the birth of Armenian printing in 1512 in Venice, Abgar Tokhatetsi undertook to further develop Armenian book publishing. This happened in the middle of the same century in the same city. Abgar Dpir (“teacher”) Tokhatetsi was the second Armenian book printer after Hakob Meghapart. He was born around 1520 in …
Medieval Armenian monasteries are an integral element of the Armenian landscape – they are merging with the mountains in such a way that they cannot be distinguished from afar. Position, proportions, color – all fit the local landscape. Vorotnavank located near the town of Sisian, Syunik Province, is one of the creations of Armenian architectonics …
In ancient Armenia, there were 5 kings bearing the name Tigran: 1) Tigran Yervanduni (reigned in 560 BC – 535 BC), the son of Yervand I Sakavakyats. King of Armenia. 2) Tigran I of Armenia (reigned in 115 BC – 95 BC), the son of Artashes I. King of Greater Armenia. 3) Tigran II the …
An interesting study was carried out by Sukias Torosyan and Zaven Ohanyan. They compared the drawings on a khachkar (cross-stone) from Yerznka with ones found on an ancient stele from Portasar (which is over 12,000 years old). On closer inspection, it’s clear that for 12,000 years, almost nothing has changed in the symbolism of the …
Artavazik Church is located in the gorge near the village of Byurakan, Armenia. Built in the 7th century from red and black tuff, the church has a cross-domed construction. The eastern wing is semicircular, while the rest are rectangular. On the northwest side is a small aisle. The west entrance is decorated with a portal …
During excavations of the fortress city of Erebuni in the early 70s, silver bowls with figures of a warrior and a horse were discovered along with a bronze cauldron lid with a small handle in the shape of a flowering pomegranate. According to archaeologists, these finds belong to the era of the Van Kingdom (6th …
Makanakhagh is one of the oldest games of the Armenian people, and it’s quite popular even today. The first mentions of this game date back to the 4th century. One variant of the game is on foot, the other is equestrian. The basic rules for dismounted Makanakhagh (currently more popular) are similar to modern football …
Khoranashat Monastery is located northeast of the village of Chinari in the Tavush Province of Armenia. It was founded by Vanakan Vardapet (archimandrite Vanakan) with the support of the Vahramyan princes in the first half of the 13th century. The monastery complex includes the churches of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) and Surb Kiraki …
This pair of nameless Siamese twins managed to survive infancy in the 10th century, as evidenced by the records left by several historians of that time. Ten centuries ago, there were only a few adult Siamese twins. In the ancient world, congenital anomalies were considered a bad omen, and children therefore were often allowed to …
Kecharis Monastery is located in the northwestern area of Tsaghkadzor, on the terrace of the slope of the Pambak Range. The monastery features 3 monastery churches, as well as the small Church of the Resurrection standing nearby, surrounded by ancient tombstones. In the 12th-13th centuries, the monastery served as a major spiritual center of Armenia …