Scholars of Armenian history have repeatedly addressed the mysterious staircase corridors cut out in rocks. They have offered many theories on their purpose and also the time when they had been made. Such a monument can be found in the Yelpin rock located 150 kilometers south of Yerevan in Vayots Dzor province. Even though the …
The pomegranate is one of most recognizable symbols of Armenia. It symbolizes fertility and fortune in Armenian mythology. It was also believed to be a guardian against the evil eye. At weddings, the bride would throw a pomegranate to break it into pieces. The scattered seeds of the pomegranate ensured that she would bear children. …
Many wonders are concealed within the rock formations of Armenia. Speleologists have thoroughly examined separate cave structures, but there is undoubtedly more large-scale research ahead to do. Only in the territory of modern Armenia, the number of rock formations – canopies, niches, grottoes, and caves – varies between 10-15 thousand. And in the initial period …
The formation of the modern landscape of the Armenian Highlands began about 25 million years ago. Due to intense changes in the terrain during the Alpine orogeny, mountain masses began to ascend out the from water. The first new mountain ranges would form in the following 15 million years. The whole territory of the Highlands …
The Armenian mouflon is a mouflon species indigenous to the Armenian Highlands, though it is also spread in the steppes of Iran. Armenian mouflons are commonly found in open mid- to high-altitude areas and in rocky mountains. These wild species of sheep spend the summer in the highest areas they can reach that are typically …
Powerful streams of lava covered numerous river channels. Some of the rivers managed to maintain their flow underground, but most weren’t able to withstand the molten rock. Among the survived streams is an ancient watercourse discovered under a thick layer of volcanic rock. This watercourse can be observed along the modern river Kasagh River near …
During one of my trips to Armenia, I visited my friend Manuk. It was summer at the time. We entered his small garden, and Manuk lead me to a tree with a lush crown. “Try them”, said he, carefully collecting dark-violet mulberries. My lips turned violet from the fruit, but I couldn’t stop eating: the …
Lori Province is one of the most beautiful regions in Armenia. It boasts a multitude of natural picturesque sceneries, as well as numerous fine examples of Armenian architecture. The most renowned architectural and cultural monuments of Lori Province are the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin, as well as the monastery-fortress Akhtala. In fact, they enjoy …
In the middle of January 2016, the art world burst in a grandiose scandal. The legendary New York Museum of Modern Art had been holding an exhibition of Pablo Picasso’s sculptures when it became known that one of the primary showpieces of the exhibition, the large gypsum bust of Picasso’s mistress Marie-Thérèse Walter, had been …
The Armenian Highlands are pierced with countless ancient cave dwellings that date back to the earliest pages of human settlement. Investigations of the Areni cave complex in Armenia provided the archaeologists with such phenomenal finds as a straw skirt (6,000 years old), the oldest leather shoe (5,500 years old), the oldest winemaking facility (6,100 years …
Artsakh is a highly mountainous region, as many people probably know. The Soviet-era toponym of the region – Nagorno-Karabakh – even contains the Russian word for “mountainous”, “nagorno”. Artsakh holds heaven-reaching mountains and unexplored caves housing many secrets to human evolution, not to mention unique archaeological sights. Another kind of artifact from Artsakh, though not …
The mountainous Vorotan River rises in the northern part of Syunik Province. It stretches for 178 km before emptying into the Araks River at the border between Iran and the Republic of Artsakh. The river flows through deep canyons, in particular, through the beautiful gorges of Tatev Monastery, which along with its adjacent areas and …
On the high slopes of the Debed Canyon and on the slopes of the basalt Lori mounts with completely bare tops and grass-covered foothills stands a gorgeous architectural complex of antique religious significance. It is located 10 km south of the town of Alaverdi in Lori Province, Armenia. Kobayravank (also known as Kobayr Monastery) was …
Gosh is a small lake located in Dilijan National Park, Tavush Province, Armenia. It is lying 2 km southeast of the village of Gosh, as well as in the vicinity of the Goshavank Monastery. The village, the monastery, and the lake were named after an Armenian writer, thinker, and public figure Mkhitar Gosh. The surface …
Artsakh is a historical territory in the Transcaucasia, which has been the 9th province of the Greater Armenia. It covered the area of the modern Republic of Artsakh and its adjacent areas. Since the 2nd century BC until 387 AD, Artsakh has been a province of Greater Armenia, the northeastern borders of which passed along …
The Asiatic/Persian Lion (Panthera leo persica) has once lived in Armenia before going extinct in the region. This species of lions has ranged from the Mediterranean to India in ancient times as well. Now, these lions can found in Gir Forest National Park in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India, where only 523 species exist. …
From the standpoint of archaeology, culture, and nature, Armenia is one of the wealthiest states in the world. The ancient culture of Armenia is literally filled with legends, tales, and symbols. We will cover some of those symbols below. “Nur” means pomegranate in Armenian. For Armenians, nur is not merely a plant. Like the apricot, …
Back in the times immemorial, horse breeding emerged in Armenia, leading to the domestication of horses and further the development of the chariot in Armenia. Moreover, the Armenian Highlands have been renowned for their horse breeding techniques and horsemanship over centuries. The Armenian cavalry has been equally revered. A testimony to the richness of horse …