Garegin Tumanyan - New interpretation of cultural belonging and dating of a group of ancient sepulchres in Armenia

13 Pages | 150-163 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2024.2-150 |

Revceived on: 2024-05-15 | Reviewed on: 2024-06-28 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-07-10

Published in: 2024 N 2 (226) / Archaeology

From the discussion of the issues related to cultural belonging and dating of a number of sepulchres attributed to Early Iron Age of Armenia, one could conclude that these issues need urgent solution. The widespread practice of looking for parallels of separate items when dating sepulchral complex is unpromising. In the best scenario, this approach can enable to identify the time interval of the formation of the given sepulchral complex, but cannot reveal its cultural belonging.

Keywordssepulchre Cimmerian Early Iron Age culture parallels simultaneous dating warrior rider related material bit.

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Arsen Bobokhian - Levon Melikset-Bek – Researcher of Dragon stones

14 Pages | 180-194 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2024.3-180 |

Revceived on: 2024-07-15 | Reviewed on: 2024-07-20 | Accepted for printing on: 2024-11-21

Published in: 2024 N 3 (227) / Archaeology and Ethnography

Abstract / Keywords

Levon Melikset-Bek, a specialist in Caucasian Studies, is known to the scientific community as a medievalist and expert in Source studies. As an archaeologist, he studied megalithic monuments, in particular dragon stones. L. Melikset-Bek showed a special interest in archaeology during his studies at Odessa University. After his studies, he was a member of several archaeological societies holding senior positions. In 1923–1930, Melikset-Bek carried out energetic archaeological activity in different parts of Georgia (Kakheti, Kavturi, South Ossetia, Trialeti, Javakheti) studying medieval monuments. However, Melikset-Bek is engaged in real archaeology not in the field of medieval, but prehistoric archaeology: in particular, the author's object of research is megalithic monuments partly in Ossetia, but mainly in Javakheti and Trialeti.

KeywordsLevon Melikset-Bek archaeology Javakheti Trialeti megalithic culture dragon stones researches of 1920s.

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Syranush Margaryan - Cultural and historical school and its influence on the works of Father Ghevond Alishan and Garegin Srvandztyants

16 Pages | 163-179 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2023.3-163 |

Revceived on: 2023-08-28 | Reviewed on: 2023-09-04 | Accepted for printing on: 2023-11-29

Published in: 2023 N 3 (224) / Literary studies

Abstract / Keywords

The cultural-historical school as a cultural-philosophical theory is a set of ideas directly related to historical time, geographical environment and race. Having been formed in France in the last decades of the XІX century, it soon became known throughout the European continent and had many followers in different countries (G. Brandes, P. Lacombe, J. Renard, N. Pipin, etc.). Taking into account the intercultural ties that developed during this period, it becomes obvious that Armenian thinkers could not stay away from this pan-European philosophical and cultural movement. This influence is especially clearly noticeable in the scientific and artistic works of two great Armenologists - Father Ghevond Alishan and Garegin Srvandztyants.

KeywordsHippolyte Adolphe Taine cultural and historical school Father Ghevond Alishan The Mkhitaryans Garegin Srvandztyants philosophy of aestheticism historicism; the trinomial formula of environment historical moment and race; Eurocentric worldview synchronicity.

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Petros Demirchyan - Collecting and ethnographic activities of Garegin Srvandztyants

9 Pages | 122-131 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2022.1-118 |

Revceived on: 2022-01-20 | Reviewed on: 2022-03-01 | Accepted for printing on: 2022-03-09

Published in: 2022 N 1 (219) / Articles, reports

Abstract / Keywords

Bishop Garegin Srvandztyants (1840–1892) is one of the most merited representatives of the Armenian people, both as a devoted national-public figure and as an incomparable philologist, folklore collector and ethnographer. The most important part of his activity is a series of collections, which are the result of a diligent collection оf over a decade (1874–1884) of folk tales and traditions and wealthy ethnographic materials. The name of G. Srvandztyants is associated, in particular, with the identification, recording and publication of the first version of the Armenian national epic “Sasna Tsrer” – “David of Sassoun or Mher’s Door”.

KeywordsGaregin Srvandztyants philologist folklore collector ethnographer “Toros Aghpar” “David of Sassoun or Mher’s Door” Arabkir city art culture Matenadaran.

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Garegin Tumanyan - The current state and perspectives of investigation of Cimmerian culture in the Armenian Highland

13 Pages | 210-223 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2022.1-206 |

Revceived on: 2021-11-30 | Reviewed on: 2022-01-11 | Accepted for printing on: 2022-01-18

Published in: 2022 N 1 (219) / Articles, reports

Abstract / Keywords

Cimmerians are the first historical people of Eastern Europe. The term “Cimmerian culture” is known in archaeology since the beginning of the last century. The problem of the differentation of Cimmerian and Scythian archaological complexes is very important, which has not yet found a cardinal solution, particularly – in the Western Asian region. The discussed problem was not explored in Armenian archaeology at all. Through archaeological investigation of the manifestations of Cimmerian culture in the Armenian Highland, fundamentals can be established for defining the place of Cimmerian culture among concurrent archaeological cultures of the mentioned region.

Keywordsnew approach attributes Cimmerian culture funerary complexes burial groups funerary ritual tribal groups warrior riders weaponry horse tack.

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Tamar Hayrapetyan - Food culture in Armenian oral tradition (daily, feast and ritual, and mythological levels)

24 Pages | 216-240 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2022.2-216 |

Revceived on: 2021-11-10 | Reviewed on: 2021-11-18 | Accepted for printing on: 2022-04-08

Published in: 2022 N 2 (220) / Ethnography

Abstract / Keywords

The food system is one of life essentials, where the key features of popular worldview and lifestyle of people are relatively evident. Traditional cultural manifestations of having or refusing meals are interrelated with life style of an individual, with a subsequent procedure, type of food, rules of conduct typical of festive meal. These rules are of universal nature and are represented in folklore (sometimes implicitely hidden), and often appear in mythological plots.

Keywords food food culture feast ritual holiday myth folklore.

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Hasmik Abrahamyan - “Atsik” food in the Armenian festive and ritual system (According to the materials recorded in Syunik)

15 Pages | 241-256 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2022.2-241 |

Revceived on: 2022-03-02 | Reviewed on: 2022-03-09 | Accepted for printing on: 2022-06-14

Published in: 2022 N 2 (220) / Ethnography

Abstract / Keywords

Food is an essential part of the culture of the national feasts. In this context, it is a sacrifice (cereals, meat, dairy products), the purpose of which is to express gratitude for a high harvest and protection from natural disasters (drought, rain, etc.). Atsik (malt) in the scientific literature is mentioned as food symbolizing the arrival of spring and is prepared during Lent or on the eve of Easter.

Keywords аtsik Lent Easter festive ritual culture Syunik food grain wheat rain St. Sargis matagh (sacrifice).

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Aram Abrahamyan - Observations on the historical roots of the political culture of the Armenian state (20th-21st cc.)

13 Pages | 270-283 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2022.2-270 |

Revceived on: 2022-04-06 | Reviewed on: 2022-04-11 | Accepted for printing on: 2022-06-02

Published in: 2022 N 2 (220) / Discussions

Abstract / Keywords

For many centuries, Armenians lived on the territory of various empires. Historically, the closest are the periods of the Russian and Ottoman empires, as well as the Persian Empire. The political cultures of these empires had noticeable impact on the formation of culture in the Armenian state, starting from 1918. In this matter, the way of legitimizing the first person of the state is of great importance, in particular, in the Byzantine Empire, and then in the Russian empire.

Keywords political culture Byzantine Empire Russian Empire political and legal thought legitimacy constitutionality legal awareness statehood Third Republic.

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Yervand Grekyan - The 5.2 KA BP climate event and the Armenian Highland

30 Pages | 203-233 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2022.3-203 |

Revceived on: 2022-05-12 | Reviewed on: 2022-05-18 | Accepted for printing on: 2022-11-09

Published in: 2022 N 3 (221) / Discussions

Abstract / Keywords

One of the most important events in the Armenian Highland at the turn of the 4th-3rd millennia BC is the spread of the Early Bronze Age Kura-Araxes culture towards the other parts of the highland and beyond. This phenomenon is known as “Kura-Araxes expansion”. The dating of the “expansion” at around 3000-2900 BC shows that it took place during the period of drastic climate change known as “5.2 ka BP climate event”.

Keywords Kura-Araxes culture expansion climate change palaeoenvironment mobility population movement depopulation.

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Avetis Grigoryan - Prince residence Sotk: History and monuments

19 Pages | 125-144 |

Revceived on: 2021-01-14 | Reviewed on: 2021-01-18 | Accepted for printing on: 2021-03-03

Published in: 2021 N 1 (216) / Articles, reports

Abstract / Keywords

Sotk village is located in the south-east of Gegharkunik province of the Republic of Armenia. According to Stepanos Orbelyan, the name of the settlement originates from the name of the cold wind blowing from the mountain pass to Sevan. The Armenian identity of medieval Sotk is evidenced not only by about two dozen Armenian medieval written sources, but also by historical monuments in the vicinity of the village – churches, khachkars, Armenian inscriptions. The church of Sotk belonged to the Diocese of the Makenyats Monastery of the Armenian Apostolic Church, which was one of the oldest orders of the Armenian Church.

KeywordsSotk Middle Ages culture Christianity monuments excavations fortress church khachkar inscription princely family.

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Gayane Kocharyan, Gayane Kocharyan - The eternal sacrament of Dvin fortress-sanctuary

11 Pages | 180-191 |

Revceived on: 2021-02-25 | Reviewed on: 2021-03-02 | Accepted for printing on: 2021-03-29

Published in: 2021 N 1 (216) / Articles, reports

Abstract / Keywords

The comparative analysis of the results of investigations based on archaeological and written sources, as well as the new data of mythology and ethnography enable to reveal the cultic sacrament of fortress-sanctuary Dvin. Near the main route Vagharshapat–Artashat the multilayer traditional sanctuary Dvin and the oracle Yerazamuyn (according to Agatangeghos – the historian of the 5th c., – god Tir was worshipped here at the 3rd century BC) were interconnected as a complete cultic complex. In this sanctuary during the Classical period in the actual process of syncretization the cult of the guardian deities of light was manifested in the image of the luminous triad Tir-Apollo-Mithra.

Keywordsmultilayer site Dvin traditional sanctuary world-view perceptions religious syncretization luminous triad Tir-Apollo-Mithra St. Gregory the Illuminator eternal sacrament cult of light.

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Vachagan Avagyan - On relations between Father Ghevond Alishan and Vladimir Stasov

6 Pages | 172-178 |

Revceived on: 2021-05-05 | Reviewed on: 2021-05-10 | Accepted for printing on: 2021-06-01

Published in: 2021 N 2 (217) / Articles, reports

Abstract / Keywords

Famous Russian academician, prominent art theorist and archaeologist Vladimir Stasov (1824–1906), while studying ancient Slavonic and Eastern ornamental sculptures, in 1880 visited a number of cities in Europe and the East. In Venice he visited the Mekhitarist congregation and met Father Ghevond Alishan (1820–1901) – a prominent figure of Armenian culture. With Alishan’s assistance, Stasov studied the miniature paintings of ancient Armenian manuscripts from Mekhitarian collection.

KeywordsFather Alishan Stasov scientist Russian Armenian culture relations correspondence study observation assessment hypothesis.

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Lusine Sahakyan - Some observations on the relationship of Komitas Vardapet with the Armenian Apostolic Church

12 Pages | 121-133 | DOI: Doi.10.52853/01350536-2021.3-121 |

Revceived on: 2021-08-25 | Reviewed on: 2021-09-08 | Accepted for printing on: 2021-10-17

Published in: 2021 N 3 (218) / Articles, reports

Abstract / Keywords

Komitas Vardapet’s relationship with the Armenian Apostolic Church has not been studied in depth to this day. During the Soviet era, the attitude towards Komitas was unilateral as he was a member of Etchmiadzin Congregation. Modern studies on Komitas present a new approach to this issue of Komitas’s biography. The present article is another attempt to look at the relationship of Komitas with the Church in a new light, with new perspectives. In the article, Komitas’s relationship with the Armenian Apostolic Church is examined in two directions:․

KeywordsKomitas Vardapet Holy Etchmiadzin Armenian Apostolic Church spiritual heritage music culture.

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Marine Sargsyan - Vahan Teryan: cultural and political figure

30 Pages | 73-103 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2025.1-73 |

Revceived on: 2025-03-24 | Reviewed on: 2025-03-26 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-03-27

Published in: 2025 N 1 (228) / Literary studies

Abstract / Keywords

Vahan Teryan, one of the pillars of the Armenian literature and culture of the XX century, was born on January 28, 1885 in the village of Gandza in the Akhalkalaki province (now Georgia). He received his primary education at the rural and Akhalkalaki city schools and then he continued his studies in Tiflis. From 1899 to 1906, Teryan studied at the gymnasium of the Lazarev Seminary in Moscow. From 1906 to 1912, he studied at the department of Russian Language and Russian Literature of the Historical and Philological Faculty of Moscow University and from 1913 to 1916, he was a student at the faculty of Oriental Languages at St. Petersburg University.

KeywordsVahan Teryan poetic series artistic system symbolism publicistics cultural-political concept political and state activity dialogue of cultures.

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Narine Dilbaryan - Words of Iranian origin for the concept of “Home, Dwelling” in the work “History of Armenia” by Movses Khorenatsi

13 Pages | 136-149 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2025.1-136 |

Revceived on: 2024-11-22 | Reviewed on: 2024-12-10 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-03-27

Published in: 2025 N 1 (228) / Linguistics

Abstract / Keywords

The basic units of the ancient Armenian, which express the concept of “home, dwelling” are characteristic of all phases of the development of the literary Armenian language. In other words, these are common Armenian words passed into the modern literary language and dialects from the classical Armenian language. Most of the words related to the concept of “home, dwelling” are simple roots used in the formation of word combinations. Statistically, the most significant group consists of words with suffixes, followed by compound words.

Keywordsthe concept of “home dwelling” world view cultural interaction Iranian borrowings etymology semantics word formation.

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Armine Tigranyan - Azerbaijan’s policy of destruction and appropriation of the cultural heritage of the Armenians of Artsakh in the context of violation of cultural rights (in Eng.)

33 Pages | 195-228 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2025.1-195 |

Revceived on: 2024-09-11 | Reviewed on: 2024-11-24 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-03-27

Published in: 2025 N 1 (228) / Cultural studies

Abstract / Keywords

The war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh on September 27, 2020, and the subsequent developments (the transfer of Artsakh’s historical territory under Azerbaijan’s control and the complete depopulation of Artsakh of its Armenian population) demonstrate that the systematic destruction of Armenian heritage has directly violated the cultural rights of the Armenians of Artsakh–depriving them of the ability to preserve and pass on their heritage to future generations. These destructions continue to this day on an alarming scale, deepening the crisis and erasing the Armenian presence in Artsakh.

KeywordsArtsakh Armenian cultural heritage cultural rights Azerbaijan heritage destruction appropriation forced displacement․

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Gohar Vardumyan , Karen Tokhatyan - The petroglyphs of Armenia and their environment as a sacred area (in Eng.)

20 Pages | 226-246 | DOI: Doi:10.54503/0135-0536-2025.2-226 |

Revceived on: 2025-05-13 | Reviewed on: 2025-05-07 | Accepted for printing on: 2025-07-11

Published in: 2025 N 2 (229) / Cultural studies

Abstract / Keywords

In ancient Armenia there were various types of sanctuaries and sacred places. They served the purpose of worship and its various manifestations, in which the ritual, its traditions and customs were significant and important. In archaic times the petroglyph environment was also a unique sacred area. The votive elements, in various forms of expressions, are present in many scenes and compositions.

KeywordsArmenia rock carving cult worship mythology world creation magic ritual imaginary creature cosmological ideas patriarch Hayk dragon-vishap symbol.

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Qnarik Avagyan - Integration Programs Implemented for Syrian–Armenian Children and Youth in Armenia (2012 – 2018) (in Eng.)

22 Pages | 26-48 | DOI: 10.54503/0135-0536-2026.1-26 |

Revceived on: 2026-01-25 | Reviewed on: 2026-02-05 | Accepted for printing on: 2026-03-20

Published in: 2026 N 1(231) / History

Abstract / Keywords

During 2012–2018, the RA authorities, as a result of coordinated work with the Ministry of Diaspora (hereinafter: MD) and various international, Diaspora and local organizations, took care of and ensured the summer vacation of Armenian children who stayed in Armenia, as well as those who remained in Syria and experienced all the bitterness of war and the horrors of military clashes, in their native camps and rest homes, organized educational, rehabilitation and healing, New Year’s, cultural, festive, sports and other events, as well as organized excursions to the sights of Armenia and other programs.

KeywordsSyria community war repatriation integration summer recreation New Year events cultural events.

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