One of the many fascinating mysteries about the Armenian Highlands is the existence of countless prehistoric megaliths known to the Armenians as the Vishapakar “serpent-stones” or “dragon stones”. Fascinating, not just because of their quantity (over 150 have survived. Imagine how many haven’t been found yet or didn’t survive the test of time), but...
How a 5th century history book led to the discovery of a forgotten kingdom
Armenia is so old that its early history only survived in the form of legends and myths. It often reminds me of the following line: And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. ― Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien A...
Armenia – The Cradle of Wine
Wine is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world and has a fascinating ancient history that goes back to the dawn of civilization some 10,000 years ago. Once considered the beverage of the Gods worshiped and praised in many cultures by priests, poets and scholars alike. The Armenian Highlands played an important role in the history of the...
Illustrations from Daredevils of Sassoun by Yervand Kochar 1939
These beautiful illustrations were created by Yervand Kochar in 1939 for the Armenian national epic “Daredevils of Sassoun“. Yervand Kochar was a prominent sculptor and artist of the twentieth century. He gained fame and recognition in Paris when he settled there in 1923 and invented a genre called “Painting in Space” (click the bar...
Armenia as Represented on a Roman Temple (2nd century AD)
This marble statue of Armenia was adorned on a Roman temple of Hadrian erected by Antoninus Pius in 145 AD. The Roman temple depicted statues representing Roman provinces among them the Roman province of Armenia. The Temple of Hadrian is a temple to the deified roman emperor Hadrian on the Campus Martius in Rome, Italy, built by his...
Why a Roman God wears an Armenian Tiara!
During various periods in the ancient Rome, several “mystery” cults and their deities of Near Eastern character became highly popularized. Through Roman expansion into the east, Roman society came in contact with many Near Eastern and Middle Eastern religions and started to worship some of the deities in their own fashion. Mithras Maybe the most famous...
Could this mysterious deity be the Armenian God Vahagn?
A mysterious sculpture of an unknown deity was discovered in southeast Turkey, last year. The sculpture shows an enigmatic bearded deity rising from out the stalk of a plant. Scholars seem to be baffled about the identity of the deity and Live Science reported that “More than a dozen experts contacted by Live Science had no idea who the...
Armenia to host Vardavar International Festival 2015
On Sunday, the Federation of Youth Clubs of Armenia is organizing the second educational and cultural “Vardavar International Festival” at the ancient sites of Geghard and Garni. The festival is organized with support of several organisations including the RA Ministry of Culture and Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The program will include church ceremony, fascinating performances by folk dance...
Ancient Shrines Used for Predicting the Future Discovered in Armenia
Three shrines, dating back about 3,300 years, have been discovered within a hilltop fortress at Gegharot, in Armenia. Live Science reports! Local rulers at the time likely used the shrines for divination, a practice aimed at predicting the future, the archaeologists involved in the discovery say. Each of the three shrines consists of a...
Church of the Armenian Saint Minias of Florence
San Miniato al Monte (St. Minias on the Mountain) is a basilica in Florence, central Italy, dedicated to Saint Minias, standing atop one of the highest points in the city. It has been described as one of the finest Romanesque structures in Tuscany and one of the most scenic churches in Italy. In Europe...
