The history of Ancient Armenia has more than one thousand years, and the Armenians themselves lived long before the emergence of the nations of modern Europe. They existed even before the advent of the ancient peoples - the Romans and Hellenes.

First mentions

In the cuneiform writings of the Persian rulers, the name "Arminia" is found. Herodotus also mentions "armen" in his writings. According to one version, it was an Indo-European people who migrated from Europe in the 12th century. BC e.

Another hypothesis claims that the pra-Armenian tribal unions arose for the first time in the 4th-3rd millennium BC. It is they who, according to some scholars, are found in the poem "Iliad" by Homer under the name "Arims".

One of the names of Ancient Armenia - Hai - according to the proposals of scientists, comes from the name of the people "Hayas". This name is mentioned on Hittite clay tablets in the 2nd millennium BC. e., discovered during the archaeological excavations of Hattushashi - the ancient capital of the Hittites.

There is evidence that the Assyrians called this territory the country of rivers - Nairi. According to one hypothesis, it included 60 different peoples.

At the beginning of the ninth century BC e. a powerful kingdom of Urartu arose with the capital Van. It is believed that this is the oldest state on the territory of the Soviet Union. The civilization of Urartu, the successors of which were the Armenians, was quite developed. There was a written language based on the Babylonian-Assyrian cuneiform, agriculture, cattle breeding, and metallurgy.

Urartu was famous for the technology of erecting impregnable fortresses. On the territory of modern Yerevan there were two of them. The first - Erebuni, was built by one of the first kings Argishti. It was she who gave the name of the modern capital of Armenia. The second is Teishebaini, founded by King Rusa II (685-645 BC). This was the last ruler of Urartu. The state could not resist the powerful Assyria and perished forever from its weapons.

It was replaced by a new state. The first kings of Ancient Armenia - Yerwand and Tigran. The latter should not be confused with the famous ruler Tigranes the Great, who would later terrify the Roman Empire and create a great empire in the East. A new people appeared, formed as a result of the assimilation of the Indo-Europeans with the local ancient tribes of the Khayami and Urartu. From here came a new state - Ancient Armenia with its own culture and language.

Vassals of the Persians

At one time, Persia was a powerful state. All the peoples who lived in Asia Minor submitted to them. This fate befell the Armenian kingdom. The dominance of the Persians over them lasted more than two centuries (550-330 BC).

Greek historians about Armenia in the times of the Persians

Armenia is an ancient civilization. This is confirmed by many historians of antiquity, for example, Xenophon in the 5th century BC. e. As a participant in the events, the author of Anabasis described the retreat of 10,000 Greeks to the Black Sea through a country called Ancient Armenia. The Greeks saw the developed economic activity, as well as the life of the Armenians. Everywhere they found wheat, barley, fragrant wines, lard, various oils - pistachio, sesame, almond. The ancient Hellenes also saw here raisins, leguminous fruits. In addition to crop products, the Armenians bred domestic animals: goats, cows, pigs, chickens, horses. The data of Xenophon tell the descendants that the people living in this place were economically developed. The abundance of different products is striking. The Armenians not only produced food themselves, but also actively engaged in trade with neighboring lands. Of course, Xenophon did not say anything about this, but he listed some products that do not grow in this territory.

Strabo in the 1st century n. e. reports that ancient Armenia had very good pastures for horses. The country was not inferior to Media in this regard and supplied horses annually for the Persians. Strabo mentions the obligation of Armenian satraps, administrative governors during the reign of the Persians, of the obligation to deliver about two thousand young foals in honor of the famous festival of Mithra.

Armenian wars in antiquity

The historian Herodotus (V century BC) described the Armenian soldiers of that era, their weapons. The soldiers wore small shields, had short spears, swords, and darts. On their heads were wicker helmets, they were shod in high boots.

Conquest of Armenia by Alexander the Great

The era of Alexander the Great redrawn the entire map and the Mediterranean. All the lands of the vast Persian empire became part of a new political association under the rule of Macedonia.

After the death of Alexander the Great, the state disintegrates. In the east, the Seleucid state is formed. The once unified territory of a single people was divided into three separate regions as part of a new country: Great Armenia, located on the Ararat plain, Sophena - between the Euphrates and the upper reaches of the Tigris, and Lesser Armenia - between the Euphrates and the upper reaches of Lykos.

The history of ancient Armenia, although it speaks of constant dependence on other states, however, shows that it concerned only foreign policy issues, which had a beneficial effect on the development of the future state. It was a kind of prototype of an autonomous republic in the composition of successive empires.

They were often called basileus, i.e. kings. They maintained only a formal dependence, sending tribute and troops to the center in wartime. Neither the Persians nor the Hellenistic state of the Seleucids made any attempts to penetrate into the internal structure of the Armenians. If the former ruled almost all of their remote territories in this way, then the successors of the Greeks always changed the internal way of the conquered peoples, imposing on them “democratic values” and a special order.

The collapse of the Seleucid state, the unification of Armenia

After the defeat of the Seleucids by Rome, the Armenians gained temporary independence. Rome was not yet ready to start new conquests of peoples after the war with the Hellenes. This was used by the once united people. Attempts began to restore a single state, which was called "Ancient Armenia".

The ruler of Greater Armenia Artashes declared himself an independent king Artashes I. He united all the lands that spoke the same language, including Lesser Armenia. The last region of Sofen became part of the new state later, after 70 years, under the famous ruler Tigran the Great.

The final formation of the Armenian nationality

It is believed that under the new Artashesid dynasty, a great historical event took place - the formation of the Armenian nationality with its own language and culture. They were greatly influenced by their proximity to developed Hellenistic peoples. The minting of their own coins with Greek inscriptions spoke of the strong influence of neighbors on culture and trade.

Artashat - the capital of the ancient state of Greater Armenia

During the reign of the Artashesid dynasty, the first large cities appeared. Among them is the city of Artashat, which became the first capital of the new state. Translated from Greek, it meant "the joy of Artaxias."

The new capital had an advantageous geographical position in that era. It was located on the main route to the ports of the Black Sea. The time of the appearance of the city coincided with the establishment of overland trade relations between Asia and India and China. Artashat began to acquire the status of a major trade and political center. Plutarch highly appreciated the role of this city. He gave it the status of "Armenian Carthage", which, translated into modern language, meant a city that unites all nearby lands. All the Mediterranean powers knew about the beauty and luxury of Artashat.

Rise of the Armenian Kingdom

The history of Armenia from ancient times contains bright moments of the power of this state. The golden age falls on the reign of Tigran the Great (95-55) - the grandson of the founder of the famous dynasty Artashes I. Tigranakert became the capital of the state. This city became one of the leading centers of science, literature and art throughout the ancient world. The best Greek actors performed in the local theater, famous scientists and historians were frequent guests of Tigran the Great. One of them is the philosopher Metrodorus, who was an ardent opponent of the growing Roman Empire.

Armenia became part of the Hellenistic world. The Greek language penetrated the aristocratic elite.

Armenia is a unique part of the Hellenistic culture

Armenia in the 1st century BC e. - developed advanced state of the world. She took all the best that was in the world - culture, science, art. Tigran the Great developed theaters and schools. Armenia was not only the cultural center of Hellenism, but also an economically strong state. Trade, industry, crafts grew. A distinctive feature of the state was that it did not take the system of slavery, which was used by the Greeks and Romans. All lands were cultivated by peasant communities, whose members were free.

The Armenia of Tigran the Great spread over vast territories. This was an empire that covered a huge part from the Caspian to the Mediterranean Seas. Many peoples and states became its vassals: in the north - Tsibania, Iberia, in the southeast - Parthia and Arab tribes.

Conquest by Rome, end of the Armenian Empire

The rise of Armenia coincided with the rise of another eastern state on the territory of the former USSR - Pontus, headed by Mithridates. After long wars with Rome, Pontus also lost its independence. Armenia was in good neighborly relations with Mithridates. After his defeat, she was left alone with mighty Rome.

After long wars, the unified Armenian Empire in 69-66. BC e. broke up. Under the rule of Tigranes, only that which was declared a "friend and ally" of Rome remained. So called all the conquered states. In fact, the country has become another province.

After entering the ancient stage of statehood begins. The country fell apart, its lands were appropriated by other states, and the local population was constantly in conflict with each other.

Armenian alphabet

In ancient times, the Armenians used writing based on the Babylonian-Assyrian cuneiform. During the heyday of Armenia, during the time of Tigran the Great, the country completely switched to the Greek language in business. On the coins, archaeologists find Greek writing.

Created by Mesrop Mashtots relatively late - in 405. It originally consisted of 36 letters: 7 vowels and 29 consonants.

The main 4 graphic forms of Armenian writing - yerkatagir, bolorgir, shkhagir and notrgir - developed only in the Middle Ages.

The Armenian people and the country of Armenia as its abode have existed since ancient times. The very first mentions of Armenia are found in the cuneiform writings of the Persian king Darius (522-426 BC). Xenophon tells about Armenia in the VI century BC. e. The National School believes that the history of ancient Armenia originates from Hayk, the fifth generation grandson of the biblical Noah. The most ancient Greek historians attributed the name "Armenia" to one of the Argonauts, Armenos of Tesal, i.e., they also attributed the origin of the Armenians to the prehistoric era.
The hieroglyphic records of Manetho (Egypt, late 4th - first half of the 3rd centuries BC), as well as Bishutian and Assyrian cuneiform writing, mention ancient Armenia as a country defending its independence in centuries-old wars against the all-consuming weapons of the great conquerors of the world. And in fact, being between Rome and Parthia, constantly at war with each other, the Armenians had a hard time.

While the neighboring peoples - the Marys, Persians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans - shone on the historical horizon like mighty stars, either bright or dim, Armenia, having no aggressive aspirations, almost never stood out as an all-powerful and international power, although the people of Armenians were older than some of these peoples, and had their own native land. Only in the royal family of Arshakuni, the third branch of the Parthian Arshakids, did the names of such conquerors as Vagharshak, Artashes and Tigran the Great shine for a short time. The most glorious for Armenia were the times of Tigran the Great, who ruled for 40 years, and during his reign increased the territory of Greater Armenia from 300,000 to 3,000,000 〖km〗^2.
But the ancient Armenians preferred a peaceful life and developed their merchants, agriculture and crafts. Pottery, carpet weaving, jewelry, lace-making, blacksmithing, stone and wood carving, leatherworking, and chasing were well developed. Samples of the first coins of ancient Armenia, the khalks, issued in the 3rd century BC, have been preserved. Kings Sames, Arsham I, Arsham II, Xerxes and Abdisares. Halks were made of copper and decorated in the Hellenistic style. The obverse side of the coin depicts the profile of a king wearing a crown. On the reverse side are various images describing the king, as well as inscriptions in Greek.
At the same time, medicine also developed. Ancient Armenia was famous for its medicinal herbs, which were popular in other countries as well. In the 1st century BC. in ancient Armenia there were gardens for the cultivation of medicinal plants. From the medicine of ancient Armenia, such preparations as ammonia, Armenian clay, borax, etc. got into the world.

prehistoric era

During excavations on the historical, as well as on the current territory of Armenia, many archaeological monuments were found that testify to human activity. These are burial grounds, household utensils, means of labor, military supplies, etc. Not far from the city of Sisian is the Karahunj complex, which is a structure made of huge stones, on the upper part of which there are round holes. There is an opinion that this is an ancient observatory. The structure was erected presumably in 5.7 thousand - 2 thousand years. BC.
On the shore of Lake Sevan, in the territory of the village of Lchashen, monuments of the pre-Urartian period were discovered, which are a fortress of cyclopean masonry, burial grounds and ground burials. It is proved that the complex belongs to the III millennium BC. Also, in different places of the Armenian Highlands, traces of an ancient man were found: stone tools and cave-dwellings. Traces of a man belonging to the period of the Bronze Age, as well as traces of his activities (stone structures, traces of cyclopean fortresses) were found in the Shengavit region of Yerevan.
On the territory of modern Yerevan, on the Arin-Berd hill, there are the ruins of the ancient Urartian city of Erebuni, which was built by King Argishti I. Linguists have proved that Yerevan and Erebuni have the same meaning (father's residence), therefore the year of foundation of Yerevan is considered to be the year of foundation of Erebuni – 782 BC On the territory of Artashat, the former capital of Armenia, founded by Artashes, fragments of household utensils were found during excavations of the fortress wall. Among them: karases and other ceramic products related to Urartu.

Formation of the Armenian people

According to Armenian mythology, the progenitor of the Armenians is Hayk, Noah's great-grandson (Noah-Japhet-Gomer-Tiras-Torgom-Hayk).
There are two scientific hypotheses, according to one of which the formation of the Armenian people dates back to the end of the 2nd millennium - the beginning of the 6th century BC. During this period, the Armenian-speaking tribes lived in the southeast of the Armenian Highlands (Small Hayk). According to one hypothesis, they arrived here from the Balkans, according to another - from the west of Asia Minor. In the XIII - XII centuries BC. around Lake Van, an alliance of Nairi tribes is formed, which included not only Armenians, but also the Khets, Hurrians and Luwians, who were fleeing from the constant raids of the Assyrians. Subsequently, this union turned into the Urartian state, headed by the Urartian-speaking nobility. Later, the speakers of the proto-Armenian language scattered throughout the territory of Great Hayk.
Today in Armenia, the second hypothesis is more supported, according to which it was ethnic Armenians who began to inhabit the Armenian Highlands much earlier.

State of Hayas XVI - XIII centuries BC

According to the studies of some scholars, “Hayasa” consists of the Armenian word Hay (haya, Armenian) and the Hittite suffix asa (country), and is translated as “country of Armenians”. The state of Hayasa occupied the territory of present-day Turkey (Western Armenia). Armenian was the main language of the state of Hayasa. The capital of Hayasa was the city of Kummakh, later Kemmakh, located at the headwaters of the Euphrates. In 1405 - 1380. BC. there was a long war between Hayasa and the Hittites for the Hayasa province of Tsopk. During this period, the army of Karanni, the successor of the Hayas king Mariyas, attacked and devastated the Hittite kingdom more than once. After another attack, Karanni captured and burned the capital of the Hittite kingdom of Hattusa. The confrontation lasted until 1317 BC, until the Hittites suffered several serious defeats near the fortress of Ur and near Kanuvara.
As a result of constant wars with the Hittites and the raids of the Hurrians, the State of Hayas lost its strength. So, by the beginning of the XIII century. BC. it collapsed, and its territory went to the Hurrian tribes.

State of Urartu XIII - VI centuries BC.

After the collapse of Hayas, separate small tribes were formed on the territory of the Armenian Highlands, having the common name "Nairi". These tribes competed with each other, trying to establish their charter throughout the Armenian Highlands. But, having a common enemy - Assyria, they united into one state. So, in the XIII - XII centuries BC. around Lake Van, an alliance of Nairi tribes is formed, which later became the basis of the Urartian state, headed by the Urartian-speaking nobility. During the formation of the Armenian people, the Urartians spoke the ancient Armenian language and constituted the main genetic component of the Armenian people.
One of the famous kings of Urartu was Rusa II, who ruled in 684-645. BC. During his reign, the southern part of the highlands, the Ararat valley, was built up, and the Teishebaini fortress was erected in the northern part. After the death of Russa II, Urartu gradually lost its power. Several kings changed on the throne, but their rule did not lead to new conquests and the restoration of the territorial integrity of Urartu. Closer to 580 BC
Urartu finally ceased to exist as a state, and its territory was captured by the Scythians and Cimmerians.

Ancient country on the territory of Armenia

First letter "u"

Second letter "r"

Third letter "a"

The last beech is the letter "y"

Answer for the clue "Ancient country on the territory of Armenia", 6 letters:
urartu

Alternative questions in crossword puzzles for the word Urartu

other country on the territory of Armenia

An ancient state, the first part of the name of which comes from the military call, and the second indicates the relationship to the chewing organs

Ancient country, enemy of Assyria

The ancient state of the IX-VI centuries. BC e. on the territory of the Armenian Highlands

An ancient state on the territory of Armenia, from where rye came to us

ancient state

Word definitions for Urartu in dictionaries

New explanatory and derivational dictionary of the Russian language, T. F. Efremova. The meaning of the word in the dictionary New explanatory and derivational dictionary of the Russian language, T. F. Efremova.
pl. non-cl. The most ancient state of the IX-VI centuries. BC, located on the territory of the Armenian Highlands.

Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998 The meaning of the word in the dictionary Encyclopedic Dictionary, 1998
ancient state 9-6 centuries. BC e. on the territory of the Armenian Highlands (including the territory of modern Armenia). The capital is Tushpa. In the 13th-11th centuries. BC e. tribal union. Heyday - con. 9 - 1st floor. 8th century BC e. (kings: Menua, Argishti I, Sarduri II, etc.). Cycling long...

Great Soviet Encyclopedia The meaning of the word in the dictionary Great Soviet Encyclopedia
(Assyrian name; Urartian √ Biaynili, biblical √ "kingdom of Ararat"), a state in Western Asia in the 9th-6th centuries. BC e., covering during the period of its power the entire Armenian Highlands (now the territory that is part of the USSR, Turkey and Iran). The population of...

Wikipedia The meaning of the word in the Wikipedia dictionary
The Urartu Basketball Club was established in 2016 on the basis of the Armenian national team that won the European Championship among small countries in the same year. The Yerevan basketball club with the same name existed during the years of the USSR and participated in the USSR basketball championship. Participates...

Examples of the use of the word Urartu in literature.

If you are offered something like a vase from the time of the state Urartu Please refrain from buying.

Nowadays, the most daring researchers compare the language of the state with the Proto-Slavic Urartu, leading the origins of our civilization to the third millennium BC, when the general movement of the Aryan peoples through the Black Sea steppes to the west began.