2. Yerevan is the capital of Armenia and the oldest cities in the
world. It is older than Rome and younger than Athens. It was
founded in 782 BC by the orders of King Argishti . Situated
along the Hrazdan river , Yerevan is the administrative,
cultural, and industrial center of the country. Yerevan has
been the capital of Armenia since 1918 , when the Dashnak
leader Aram Manukyan proclaimed the first Armenian
3. Archeological exploration done in the 20th century in the sit e of
former Erebuni fortress resulted in finding a basalt flagstone with
cuniform inscription on it. It reads “By the greatness of the God Khaldi,
Argishti, son of Menua, built this mighty stronghold in 782 BC and
proclaimed it Erebuni for the glory of Biainili and to the fear of its
enemies. Argishti says, “The land was a desert, before the great works
I accomplished upon it. By the greatness of Khaldi, Argishti, son of
Menua, is a mighty king, king of Biainili, and ruler of Tushpa.”
4. Erebuni was a fort also a military stronghold, citadel
to protect the northern extreme of Ararat Plain in the
time of Urartu kingdom from the attacks of the north
Caucasian tribes Skythian ,Alans, Kimers. However
during the centuries Erebuni was subjected to Arabic and
Turkish attacks, consequently they greatly damaged the
fortress.
5. However, the city expanded rapidly during the 20th century as
Armenia became one of the fifteen republics in the Soviet Union. At
the start of the 20th century, Yerevan was a small provincial town with
the population of 30,000. Within fifty years, Yerevan was
transformed and became Armenia’s principal cultural, artistic, and
industrial center, as well as the seat of national government. In 1991
with the independence of Armenia, Yerevan continued with its status
as the political and cultural center of the country, being home to all
the national institutions: the Government house, the Parliament,
ministries, the presidential palace, the constitutional court, judicial
court and other public organizations.
6.
7. Today’s Yerevan is a big and beautiful city, and has population of more than one
million. It is situated in the North –Eastern part of the Ararat Valley along the
Hrazdan River. The central part of the city involves three main squares: Republic
Square, Theatrical Square Sakharov Square. Republic Square is the gemstone of the
city. A few governmental and administrative buildings built in national traditional style
of architecture frame the square. The buildings are built with Tufa stone. The warm
color of Tufa and carvings made on them give specific charm to the buildings. The
History museum, the National four main streets meet in the square they’re Abovyan,
Amiryan, Nalbandyan and Tigran the Great. Those who travel to Armenia by plane
land at the Zvatrnots Airport located to the South-West of the city. So they enter the
city from the South-Western side passing along the Victory Bridge.
8. The name of Yerevan comes from
In one of old documents “Girq Grqots” the name of
the city was first mentioned as Yerevan in the seventh
century Ad.
