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Marble statue of a woman found in Artashat.
'Artashat' (
Armenian: Ô±Ö€Õ¿Õ¡Õ·Õ¡Õ¿;
Hellenized as 'Artaxarta') is a city on the
Araks River in the Ararat valley. It is the provincial capital of the
Ararat Province in
Armenia.
Town Artashat is the centre of Ararat region. Once being one of the the oldest towns of Armenia, today Artashat is one of the modern towns of Armenia.
Artashat is situated on Yerevan-Nakidjevan-Baku and Nakidjevan -Tavriz railway and on Yerevan Goris-Stepanakert runnway.
It is 5km north-west from old Artashat’s place. The town has 35,100.
[1].
Artashat is a middle size town. In the center of the town one can see the buildings of marzpetaran and towns hall. Not far from the building of town’s hall one can see the monument of King Artashes –the founder of Artashat.
Artashat has also a stadium, were a lot of competitions and championships are implemented.
At present Artashat is in its development process.
The process of building St.Hovhanesss church is going on very fast.
Due to the citizens opportunities and attempts since 2004 the building process of new flats has already begun in Artashat .
There exist 6 secondary, one musical , one art and one sports school , a theatre after Amo Kharazyan, which has a historical background and represents a historico-cultural value, an art center after Sharl Aznavour , a local TV and town newspapers named “Artashat†and “Navasard “, a lot of banks, offices, shops, monuments and beautiful buildings in Artashat.
On June 1st , 2004, a park has been opened in Artashat, wich since then has become the most favourite passtime center not only for children and youth, but for adults as well, where every evening concerts and musical shows are taking place.
Recently, in the framevork of events devoted to the 1600th anniversary of the invention of Armenian Alphabeth, a syumposium took place in Artashat, during which the participant sculptors from all over Armenia and diaspora created many cultural monuments in Artashat’s place –working on it nearly a month and a half.
History
The city was founded by
Artaxias I in 190 BC.
Strabo and
Plutarch described it as a large and beautiful city, terming it "Armenian
Carthage". A focal point of
Hellenistic culture, Armenia's first theatre was built in the city. Artashat remained the principal political and cultural center of
Armenia until the fall of the Armenian Kingdom in 428. Incorporated into the
Sassanid Empire, Armenia's capital moved northward to the city of
Dvin, just south of modern day
Yerevan.
Artashat is said to have been chosen and developed on the advice of
Hannibal:
:''"It is related that Hannibal, the
Carthaginian, after the defeat of
Antiochus by the Romans, coming to Artaxias, king of Armenia, pointed out to him many other matters to his advantage, and observing the great natural capacities and the pleasantness of the site, then lying unoccupied and neglected, drew a model of a city for it, and bringing Artaxias thither, showed it to him and encouraged him to build. At which the king being pleased, and desiring him to oversee the work, erected a large and stately city, which was called after his own name, and made metropolis of Armenia.''" (
Plutarch's Life of
Lucullus)
Tigranes II was defeated by
Lucius Lucullus in
68 BC at the
Battle of Artashat, and the city remained a hotly contested military target for the next two centuries. Artashat was occupied by
Syrian legions under the
Roman general
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo in AD
58 as part of the short-lived first conquest of Armenia, and destroyed in
AD 163 when
Statius Priscus reconquered Armenia.
Historical Capitals.The Kings of Artashat
Armenian
Old Artashat
Culture
Distraction
Dvin
Artashat the 1st(189-160 B.C.)
Artashes the 1st (189-160) B.C. was one of the famous Armenian Kings. He had a huge fame in the old world. Astashes was introducing himself as an offspring of Ervanduni royal family.
But the fact was that he founded a new royal dynasty in Armenia, which was called by his name-Artashesyan.
The Artashasyan royal family existed nearly 200 years. Since the beginning of his reign, Artashes faced with the fact of territorial restoration. The problem was that during the last period of Ervanduni reigning period, the provinces of the edge of the country had been occupied by neighboring countries.
Due to Strabon, Artashes the 1st had organized invasions towards four directions.
Artashes the 1st managed to get some provinces back and implemented new territorial division of the country-dividing it into 120 strategies. Artashes the 1st got a nickname “Pious†for his Kindness.
The King Artashes built Artashat.
Artavazd the 1st (160-115 B.C.)
After the death of Artashes the 1st the royal crown was passed into his eldest son-Artavazd the 1st (160-145B.C.).
In that period the powerful country of Partevs was at war with Armenia. The Partevs managed to force Artavazd the 1st to accept their superpower on Armenia.
Having no heir Artavazd the 1st gave his nephew-Tigran as a pledge to Partevs. Though the attacks from the side of Pastevs continued since then, but they couldn’t dominate over Armenia.
Due to Movses Khorenatsi Artavazd the 1st was a brave, but at the same time an ambitious, cruel and jealous person.
Since the beginning of his reign Artavazd the 1st suspected his brothers in their faith and drove them away from royal estate, Besides Tigran, whom he kept because he have heirs and wanted Tigran to become his follower.
Tigran-Tiran I(115-95 B.C.)
Artavazd the 1st was followed by his brother Tigran (Tiran).He was the father of future Armenian king Tigran Tiran the 2nd, who was once given to Partevs as a pledge.
Noting was reached to us about the activities of Tigran the 1st except the fact that he lived in peace, liked hunting and reigned 21 years (Due to Movses Khorenasi).
Tigran II (Tidran the great) (95-55B.C.)
After fhe death of Tigran the 1st the king of Partevs agreed to leave Tigran to return to his homeland receiving the “70 valleys†instead.
In 95 B.C. Tigran was set on crown and got the name Tigran the Great (Tigran II )(95-55 B.C).
During the reign of Tigran the Great Armenia dominated over huge lands and created a big and powerful country. The territory of Armenia has been tripled. Armenia became one of the powerful countries of the world.
Tigran the 2nd continued to unite the Armenian regions.
On the second year of his reign the Armenian army entered
Tsovk and occupied it.The king of neighboring Pontish country Mihrdat
was sending a delegation to Tigran to sign a treaty. The treaty was being
signed and Tigran was marrying with the daughter of Mihrdat –
Cleopatra.
In 93 B.C. the 2 sides were planning to invade into the kingdom of Kapadovkia.
Tigran the Great invaded also Killikia, Lebanon and reached to the borders of Palestine.
The territory of Tigran the Great was spreading from Mediterranean Sea to Caspian Sea and from the river Kur up to Mesopotamia.
Tigran the 2nd built a new capital in region Aghdznik and called it Tigranakert. But the new capital didn’t have long life, because in 69 B.C. the Romans occupied and destroyed it. Artashat continued to do the role of the capital.
Armenia-Roman war, beginning in 69 B.C. ended in 66 B.C. with the contract of Artashat .Due to the contract of Artashat Mets Hayk lost its external invaded lands, but kept its own territory and continued to remain unite.
The character of Tigran the Great remained in the memory of Armenia nation as a brave, just and wise king.
Artavazd II(55-33b.C.)
After Tigran the Great the crown passed to Tigran the Great’s son-Artavazd the 2nd (55-34B.C.). He had got Hellenistic education and was very clever political and military leader. The period of Artavazd the 2nd’s reign corresponded with the period, when Rome was spreading its territory throughout the West.
The Roman army with the head of Crasos crossed Eprat and moved into Partevstan. Armenian king Artavazd the 2nd signed a treaty with Partvs. In 53 B.C. a battle took place near the town Kharan, where the Romans were defeated. In spite of the defeat, the Romans didn’t leave the idea of invading the West. Marc Antony was making up his mind to invade into Partevstan. The invasion began in 36 B.C., which was ended with the defeat of Romans. Marc Antony blamed the Armenian king Artavazd the 2nd for the Roman defeat and decided to revenge him for that. In 34 B.C. Antory invaded Armenia with a new army and arrested the Armenian king. Artavazd was put into prison and 31 B.C. was convicted to death.
Artashes II (30-20 B.C.)
The son of Artavazd the 2nd Artashes was settled in Partevstan.
With the help of Partevs Artashes sent Atrpatakan army away from Armenia.
In 30 B.C. Artashes the 2nd was put into crown. In order to revenge his father’s death he ordered to annihilate the whole Roman army of the country. By that event Armenia definitively announced about its independence. The Romans couldn’t stand that for lang.
Soon August Augtavian organized an intrigue against Artashes the 2nd and Killed him. The king Artashes the 2nd, who became the victim of Roman fraud, was the last powerful representative of Artashesyan dynasty.
Tigran III (20-9 B.C)
Due to the order of Augtavian a huge army moved into Armenia bringing with him the brother of Artashes the 2nd- Tigran, who was brought up in Rome.
Tigran the 3rd (20-9B.C.) was set into crown, which delighted Romans. But some years later Tigran the 3rd changed his point of view. Before his death he made a will of passing the Armenian crown into his son -Tigran the 4th. That fact was against the will of Rome.
Tigran IV
After the death of Tigran the 3rd his son-Tigran the 4th got the crown. Tigran the 4th was reigning with his sister Erato.
Tigran thr 4th was awarded with a title “King of the kingsâ€. So he announced himself independent from Rome. But soon Tigran the 4th was killed during the war against northern tribes, who invaded Armenia.
After her brother’s death Erato resigned from Armenia crown. So Artashesyan dynasty was interrupted in 1B.C.
The Industry of Artashat
Artashat has various branches of industry. It has become so during the last decades,
when winneres, Artashat cannery, milk, porcelain, furniture and textile factories were
opened one after another.
During the blockade years some of the industrial factories had been closed. But today a lot of factories not only exist, but they have also reached to the level of introducing their products in world market.The quality of Artashat factories’ products are satisfctory for higher demands.
Artashat Cannery
Artashat Cannery is a factory with modern technology, which gives the factory opportunities to increase the variety of its production. The factory produces tomato paste, fruit and vegetable canns. The 75% of the production is produced in special sacks, which are later changed into 220 liter jugs.
Artashat winnery
The factory was founded in 1995 and is considered to be one of the moderrn and best factories of Armenia.
The wines and brandies produced in this factory win a lot of orders in many international festivals.
The brandies “Marzped,†Artavazd â€and “Artashat†are considered among the best types of brandies for the production of the latters 10 year old spirit brandies have been used.
Red wine “Areniâ€- is produced from local types of grapes.
â€Black Areniâ€- being kept for more than 2 years in wooden jugs. It doesn’t lose its special taste and catching smell.
“Mamikonyan and sons†LTD
“Mamikonyand and sons†LTD was founded in Artashat, Ararat region. It deals mainly with canns. Its production has a high level and is equal to modern stadards of production. Thus, a lot of activities to improve the quality of the production is being done systematically. This gives the LTD an opporturity to export its production not only to Russia, but also to European market. The company produces more than 200 sorts of fruit and vegetable canns.
“Great Valleyâ€
The company consists of 5 factories, amany which is Artashat Winnery.
At present “Great Valley†is the main brandy exporter to Russian market. It has also cooperation with Germany, Cuprus, China, Ghazakhstan and other countries.
Artashat Winnery has participated to international exhibitions and won morethan 200
medals, 14 grand pries and a Super grand pri.
It produces 3 sorts of brandies:
1.Brandy “Great Valleyâ€- it is considered to be 3, 4, 5 star brandy having 6-25 years oldness time.
2.Brandy “King Tigranâ€- has 12-30 years oldness time.
3.Brandy “Armenyakâ€- has 3-21 years oldness time.
Artashat Porcelain Factory
The factory produces porcelain tiles, which are equal to modern European standards.
The tile is the oldest widespread building material built from local red clay without the usage of chemicals. It has a great demand not on ly in local, but also in abroad market.
At present the porcelain tile production is developing. The factory is the one in the Republic, which produces porcelain ti les.
The production of Artashat porcelain factory introduces itself in market with a label “M. and Mavrâ€.
The Cultural places of Artashat
At present the cultural life of Artashat prospers. Being a middle size town Artashat has several cultural places, among them a theatre, musical school and afterschoolwork center.
Artashat Theatre after Amo Kharazyan
Artashat theatre,which has 2050 years history, during the last 15years performed and now continues to perform not only Armenian national classic and modern creations, but also world masterpieces of drama art.
Recently the theatre performed a performance called “My Suffered, my Glorius†devoted to the 90th anniversary of Great Armenian Genocide. That performance will soon be performed forFrench audience, too.
The little audience of the theatre-the children, have always been in the attention of the theatre.
The theatre performed and continues to perform various tales for children.
Artashat musical school after Alexander Melik Pashaev
Artashat musical shcool after Alexander Melik Pashaev was founded in 1956. Since
its foundation a lot of events devoted to famous persons’ annivesaries and memorable events had been performed in musical school.Nearly 443 pupils now study at Artashat musical school.
Artashat Afterschoolwork Center
Artashat Afterschoolwork Center is a center having various branches and aims at organizing fterschool coordinated trainings based on the constitution of the Ministery of education.
The center has an art department, which combines the groups of folk dances, theatrical, choral, brass band and drawing.
The department also combines the clubs and grups of ifferent types of sports, active games, tourism, and health. It deals also with foreign tourism
Sports
★
Dvin Artashat - football club
★
FC Artashat - football club
References
★ Vahan M. Kurkjian - Chapter XII - The Armenian Kingdom
★ B.N. Arakelian, "Les fouilles d'Artaxata : bilan provisoire", Revue des Études arméniennes, 18, 1984, pp. 367-395.
1. ArmeniaInfo
2. ArmeniaInfo
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