Artashat

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Artashat
Արտաշատ
name_local = Արտաշատ
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = ARM
subdivision_type1 = Marz
subdivision_name1 = Ararat
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leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Gagik Muradyan
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 176 BC Hewsen, Robert H. [http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v2f6/v2f6a016.html Artaxata] . Iranica. Accessed February 25, 2008.]
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population_footnotes = [http://www.armeniainfo.am/about/?section=population Population of Urban Communities of Armenia as of 2002] . Armenia Information. Accessed February 25, 2008.]
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population_total =35100
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timezone = GMT+4
utc_offset = +4
timezone_DST = GMT+5
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latd=39 |latm=57 |lats=14 |latNS=N
longd=44 |longm=33 |longs=02 |longEW=E
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Artashat ( _hy. Արտաշատ; Hellenized as Artaxata: _el. 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 cities of Armenia, today Artashat is one of the modern cities 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.”Tiratsyan, G. "«Արտաշատ»" (Artashat). Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia. vol. ii. Yerevan, Armenian SSR: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1976, pp. 135-136.] 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."

Artashat is now a mid-sized city and has a population of 35,100 people. [http://www.armeniainfo.am/about/?section=population ArmeniaInfo] ] It is located 5km north-west from Artashat’s former location. Currently, the city of Artashat is developing. In 2004, construction began on building new apartment buildingsThere 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 newspapers named “Artashat” and "Navasard." Many new banks, offices, shops, monuments are also in the process of being built in Artashat.

History

Under the Artashesyan kings

As Artashes I assumed the reins of power in Armenia circa 189 BC - 188 BC, he chose to inaugurate this event by founding a new city. The story of the founding of Artashat is related by the fifth century Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi, who tells of how "Artashes traveled to the location of the confluence of the Yerasqh and the Metsamor [rivers] and, taking a liking to the position of the hills [adjacent to Ararat] , chose it as the location of his new city, naming it after himself." [hy icon Movses Khorenatsi. "History of Armenia, 5th Century" ("Հայոց Պատմություն, Ե Դար"). Annotated translation and commentary by Stepan Malkhasyants. Gagik Sarkisyan (ed.) Yerevan: Hayastan Publishing, 1997, 2.49, p. 164. ISBN 5-5400-1192-9.] According to the accounts written by Greek historians Plutarch and Strabo, Artashat is said to have been chosen and developed on the advice of the Carthaginian general Hannibal:

There is, however, no evidence to support the above claim. [Bournoutian, George A. (2006). "A Concise History of the Armenian People: From Ancient Times to the Present". Costa Mesa, CA: Mazda, p. 29. ISBN 1-5685-9141-1.] Some sources have also indicated that Artashes built his city upon the remains of an ancient Urartian settlement. Strabo and Plutarch described it as a large and beautiful city, terming it the "Armenian Carthage." A focal point of Hellenistic culture, Armenia's first theater was built in the city. Movses Khorenatsi adds that numerous copper pagan statues of the gods and goddesses of Anahit, Artemis and Tir (Apollo) were brought in from other lands to the city. [Movses Khorenatsi. "History of Armenia", 2.49, p. 164.]

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.

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.

oviet Artashat

Until 1945, the city of Artashat was known as Upper Ghamarlu, also Romanized as Kamarlyu, Kamarlu, and Kamarl. [GEOnet Names Server, "Artashat"]

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 city one can also see the buildings of marzpetaran and the city hall and the monument of King Artashes, the founder of Artashat.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

“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 200medals, 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.

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”.

The Cultural places of Artashat

At present the cultural life of Artashat prospers. Being a middle size city, Artashat has several cultural places, among them a theater, musical school and an after school work center.

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.

Artashat Musical School named after Alexander Melik Pashaev

Artashat Musical School named after Alexander Melik Pashaev was founded in 1956. Sinceits 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.

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

ports

Artashat also has a stadium, where many soccer competitions and championships are held. Football clubs from Artashat include:
* Dvin Artashat
* FC Artashat

References

ee also

*GEOnet2|32FA881E73963774E0440003BA962ED3
* [http://www.armstat.am/file/doc/97.pdf Report of the results of the 2001 Armenian Census]
*Verin Artashat

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.