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).

The poem by minstrel-singer of the transitional period in the development of Armenian literature - Ghunkianos Karnetsi (1781/1786-1841), “On Labor” has a cognitive meaning. One of the features of minstrel poetry is the periodic repetition in each line and stanza of a word or phrase as a semantic unit, emphasizing the meaning and essence of this poem. Here the word «դատել» means “to work”, “to labor”.

Keywordsjustice greed thoughtful and instructive minstrel art refrain-ending “datil” secular spirit biblical commandment laziness ignorance.

The kingdom of Urartu (Biainili, 9th–7th centuries BC) was an ancient Near Eastern state with redistributive economy. According to the preserved written and archaeological data, the large granaries and cellars built by the royal power in the main cities/administrative centres of Urartu, could store tens of thousands of tons of grain and provide with food ca. 100–150 thousand people throughout a year.

KeywordsUrartian kingdom palace-temple economy cuneiform inscriptions archaeological sources grain reserves daily ration redistribution.