Artashat
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| Artashat Արտաշատ |
|
  Artashat
Արտաշատ |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Armenia |
| Marz | Ararat |
| Founded | 176 BC [1] |
| Population [2] | |
| - Total | 35,100 |
| Time zone | GMT+4 (UTC+4) |
| - Summer (DST) | GMT+5 (UTC+5) |
Artashat (Armenian: Արտաշատ; Hellenized as Artaxata: Greek: Ἀρτάξατα) is a city on the Araks River in the Ararat valley. It is the provincial capital of the Ararat Province in Armenia. Once one of the oldest towns of Armenia, today Artashat is one of the modern towns of Armenia. Artashat is situated on the Yerevan-Nakhichevan-Baku and Nakhichevan-Tabriz railway and on Yerevan Goris-Stepanakert runway. The city's name is derived from Iranian languages and means the “joy of Arta.”[1][3] The capital of Armenia from the second century B.C. until the fifth century A.D., Artashat was known as the "Ostann Hayots" or "court" or "seal of the Armenians."[1]
Artashat is a mid-sized town and has a population of 35,100 people.[2] It is located 5km north-west from Artashat’s former location. Currently, the town of Artashat is developing. In 2004, construction began on building new apartment buildings There exist six secondary, one musical, one art and one sports school, a theater named after Amo Kharazyan, which has an historical background and represents a historic-cultural value, an art center named after Charles Aznavour , a local TV station and town newspapers named “Artashat” and "Navasard." Many new banks, offices, shops, monuments are also in the process of being built in Artashat.
[edit] History
[edit] Under the Artashesyan kings
Artashat was founded by Artashes in 190 BC. According to Movses Khorenatsi, "Artashes traveled to the location where Yerasqh (Arax) and Metsamor met and, taking a liking to the position of the hills [adjacent to Ararat], chose it as the location of his new city."[3] Some sources also indicate that Artashes built his city upon the remains of an ancient Urartian settlement.[3] The Greek historians Strabo and Plutarch described it as a large and beautiful city, terming it the "Armenian Carthage."[3] A focal point of Hellenistic culture, Armenia's first theater was built in the city.[1] Movses Khorenatsi adds that there were numerous pagan temples constructed out of copper that were built in honor of the goddess Anahit-Artemis and Tir-Apollonia.
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 III 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.[4]
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. Archaeological excavations conducted during the Soviet era found a Latin inscription of the full titles of the emperor Trajan that was probably inscribed upon the governor's palace dating to the first quarter of the second century A.D.[1]
[edit] Under the Arshakuni kings
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.
[edit] Soviet Artashat
Until 1945, the town of Artashat was known as Upper Ghamarlu.[3]
[edit] Current developments
On June 1, 2004, a new park was inaugurated in Artashat, which has since become a favorite pastime center not only for children and youth, but for adults as well. The park also hosts concerts and musical shows during the eveneings.
Recently, in the framework of events devoted to the 1600th anniversary of the invention of the Armenian alphabet, a symposium took place in Artashat, during which participant sculptors from all over Armenia and the diaspora created many cultural monuments in Artashat’s center, working on it nearly a month and a half. In the center of the town one can also see the buildings of marzpetaran and the town hall and the monument of King Artashes, the founder of Artashat.
[edit] Industry
Artashat has various branches of industry. During the last decades wineries, Artashat canneries, milk, porcelain, furniture and textile factories have been opened. During the blockade years some of the industrial factories had been closed. But today a lot of factories are introducing their products in the world market. The quality of Artashat products is satisfactory for these demands.
[edit] Artashat Cannery
The Artashat Cannery is a factory with modern technology, giving the factory opportunities to increase the variety of its production. The factory produces tomato paste, fruit and vegetable cans. 75% of the production is produced in special sacks, which are later changed into 220 liter jugs.
[edit] Artashat Winery
The factory was founded in 1995 and is considered to be one of the most modern and factories of Armenia. The wines and brandies produced in this factory win many orders in international festivals. The brandies “Marzped,” Artavazd ”and “Artashat” are considered among the best types of brandies for the production of the latter. 10 year old spirit brandies have been used.
"Red" wine Areni is produced from local types of grapes.
”Black Areni” is kept for more than 2 years in wooden jugs. It doesn’t lose its special taste and pleasing odor.
[edit] “Mamikonyan and Sons, LTD"
“Mamikonyan and Sons, LTD" was founded in Artashat, in the Ararat region. It deals mainly with cans. Its production has a high level and is equal to modern standards of production. Thus, a lot of activities to improve the quality of the production is being done systematically. This gives the LTD an opportunity to export its production not only to Russia, but also to European market. The company produces more than 200 sorts of fruit and vegetable cans.
[edit] “Great Valley”
The company consists of 5 factories, one of which is the Artashat Winery.
At present “Great Valley” is the main brandy exporter to the Russian market. It is also in cooperation with Germany, Cyprus, China, Kazakhstan and other countries. The Artashat Winery has participated to international exhibitions and won more than 200 medals, 14 grand prizes and a Super grand prize.
It produces 3 sorts of brandies: 1.Brandy “Great Valley”- it is considered to be 3, 4, 5 star brandy, aged 6-25 years.
2.Brandy “King Tigran” is aged 12-30 years.
3.Brandy “Armenyak” is aged 3-21 years.
[edit] The Artashat Porcelain Factory
This factory produces porcelain tiles, which are equal to modern European standards. This tile is the oldest widespread building material built from local red clay without the usage of chemicals. It has a great demand not only locally, but abroad. At present porcelain tile production is developing. The factory is the one in the Republic, which produces porcelain tiles. The production of Artashat porcelain factory introduces itself in market with a label “M. and Mavr”.
[edit] 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 theater, musical school and an after school work center.
[edit] Artashat Theater Named after Amo Kharazyan
Artashat theater is 2050 years old. During the last 15 years performed not only Armenian national classics and modern creations, but also world masterpieces of dramatic art. Recently the theater performed “My Suffering, my Glory,” devoted to the 90th anniversary of Great Armenian Genocide. It will soon be performed for French audiences as well.
The littlest audience, the children, have always been in the attention of the theater. The theater continues to perform various tales for children.
[edit] Artashat Musical School named after Alexander Melik Pashaev
Artashat Musical School named after Alexander Melik Pashaev was founded in 1956. Since its foundation many concerts devoted to famous people and memorable events have been performed in the musical school. Nearly 443 pupils now study at Artashat Musical School.
[edit] Artashat Afterschoolwork Center
Artashat Afterschoolwork Center has various branches and aims at organizing after school coordinated trainings based on the constitution of the Ministry 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 groups of different types of sports, active games, tourism, and health. It deals also with foreign tourism
[edit] Sports
Artashat also has a stadium, where many soccer competitions and championships are held. Football clubs from Artashat include:
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Hewsen, Robert H. Artaxata. Iranica. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
- ^ a b Population of Urban Communities of Armenia as of 2002. Armenia Information. Retrieved February 25, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f Tiratsyan, G. «Արտաշատ» (Artashat). Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia. Yerevan, Armenian SSR: Armenian Academy of Sciences, vol. ii, 1976, pp. 135-136.
- ^ Plutarch. Plutarch's Lives Volume 1 (Modern Library Classics). New York: Modern Library, 2001, p. 638. ISBN 0-3757-5676-0.
[edit] Further reading
- 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.
| Historic capitals of Armenia | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Van · Ani · Armavir · Yervandashat · Artashat · Tigranakert · Vagharshapat · Dvin · Bagaran · Shirakavan · Kars |
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