Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the Biblical
mountains of Ararat, upon which Noah's Ark is said to have come to rest after
the flood. Culturally, historically and politically, Armenia is considered to
be a part of Europe. However, due to its location (Armenian Highlands), we can
say that it’s an intercontinental country.
The Kingdom of Armenia became the first state in the world
to adopt Christianity as its official religion.
Armenians call themselves Hay (Հայ) and the native
Armenian name for the country is Hayastan. It has traditionally been derived
from Hayk, the legendary patriarch of the Armenians and a great-great-grandson
of Noah, who, according to the 5th-century AD author Moses of Chorene, defeated
the Babylonian king Bel in 2492 BC and established his nation in the Ararat
region. It is also further postulated that the name Hay comes from one of the
two confederated, Hittite vassal states—the Hayasa-Azzi (1600–1200 BC). The
exonym Armenia is attested in the Old Persian Behistun Inscription (6th c. BC)
as Armina. The ancient Greek terms Armenía are first mentioned by Hecataeus of
Miletus in 476 BC. Xenophon describes many aspects of Armenian village life and
hospitality in around 401 BC.
Several bronze-era states flourished in the area of Greater
Armenia, including Hayasa (1600–1200 BC),
Arme-Shupria (1300s–1190 BC) and the Kingdom of Urartu / Ararat
(1000–600 BC) successively established their sovereignty over the Armenian
Highland. A large cuneiform lapidary inscription found in Yerevan established
that the modern capital of Armenia was founded in the summer of 782 BC by king
Argishti I. Yerevan is the world's oldest city to have documented the exact
date of its foundation.
Around 600 BC, the Kingdom of Armenia was established under
the Orontid Dynasty. The kingdom reached its height between 95 and 66 BC under
Tigranes the Great, becoming one of the most powerful kingdoms of its time
within the region.
Christianity spread into the country as early as AD 40. King
Tiridates III (AD 238–314) made Christianity the state religion in AD 301.
Now Armenia is a modern country with nice and talented
people, thousands of historical monuments, rich culture, traditional
hospitality, delicious and healthy food, beautiful nature and safe environment.
