A tsaytaghbyur, more commonly known as a pulpulak, is a public water fountain common in Armenia and Artsakh. They are a significant part of Armenian culture with their unique architectural style.
The word pulpulak is colloquial and derives from the sound of the murmuring of water “pul-pul”, suffixed with “ak” (ակ), meaning “water source”. Tsaytaghbyur means “gushing spring”.
Pulpulaks are small, usually one-meter-tall stone memorials with running water. They are often fed by a mountain spring and carved out of stone and decorated with traditional ornaments.
Pulpulaks can be seen at every step in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
These fountains have long been one of the most recognized symbols of the city. There are over 1500 pulpulaks in Yerevan.
The first pulpulaks appeared in the streets of Yerevan in the 1920s and over time became extremely popular.
Some pulpulaks are erected in the yards in memory of the dead. In drinking from a memorial pulpulak, passersby give their blessing to the person in memory of whom it is constructed.
Pulpulaks are often designated as meeting places.
The city’s most famous and one of the oldest pulpulaksstands in the heart of the city, Republic Square. It is called “Yotnaghbyur” (meaning “seven springs”). It was designed by architect Spartak Gndeghtsyan in 1965.
