DISTRESSFUL YEREVAN

Origin of Yerevan is lost in the mists of time, the name of the same city, as is commonly believed, came from the Armenian verb "erevel" - to appear. It is associated with tradition, though this place was the first gaze down from Mount Ararat in November, who built the first poslepotopny city.

. . . In 1916, the rock of Van was found a stone chronicle Urartu Argishti I, who ascended the throne at the end of VIII century BC - at a difficult time for the country when its inhabitants were forced to come to grips with the Assyrians. His father, the king Menua, which began the rise of Urartu kingdom, from the other kings are distinguished by their construction activities, as they say he left numerous cuneiform inscriptions. He built fortresses, palaces and temples, with his name associated strengthening of the city-citadel Tushpa and construction of a whole system of defensive fortifications on the near and distant approaches to it. King Menua built many irrigation canals, among which enjoys the fame channel Shamiram still feed water to the area of the city of Van.

King Argishti I continued the work of his father. In the fifth year of his reign, which was in 782 BC, he built the fortress of Erebuni and placed in her 6600 soldiers.

By order of God Khaldi Argishti son Menua, said: "city of Erebuni I built for the power of the country Biaina (s) to subdue the enemy′s country. The land was a desert (and) nothing was there (before) built. Powerful business there, I made a 6 (?) Thousands of 600 soldiers of Khata and Tsupani I placed there . . . "

But exactly where the king Argishti I built a fortress with it I began Yerevan - on these questions science can not answer until 1950. In that year, excavations were carried out on the hill of Arin-Berd, which rises on the outskirts of Yerevan. Archaeologists have found many magnificent frescoes then preserved on the ancient walls, but soon learned it was all impossible. And then they decided to openly all the time to fill the earth - to trust her precious frescoes for another year. Nearby lay a basalt slab, which interfered to take the land.

Photo — «Distressful Yerevan»

When the workers pushed her, then appeared before the eyes of scientists inscription. Now I had to compare the Chronicle found on the rock of Van, with newly discovered information. Facts about the same, and it was found that the Erebuni - this is the first name of Yerevan, and that the city was founded in 782 BC. So, from the distant past has come in our time stone message about how and when arose one of the oldest cities in the world.

At the founding of the city king Argishti I certainly took into account its strategic goals, considering Erebuni as a military base, strengthens the position of Urartu in the northern part of the conquered lands. Cuneiform inscriptions indicate that the citadel of Erebuni steadily expanded, gathering all the new facilities.

Biggest construction of the citadel was the palace, which served as the residence of the king, when he was in the area of the Ararat plain. The palace was preserved so well that it survived the walls, which reach heights of four meters, quite clearly, describe its general plan - with the front rooms, places of worship, etc.

A few kilometers from the Arin-Berd hill rises another - all in red. It is called Carmine-Blur - Red Hill. In the late 1930′s scientists discovered here cuneiform mentions the name of another king of Urartu - Rusas. And on the stone foundation of an ancient temple was carved the name of the fortress and the city - Teishebaini, named after the god of war Teysheby. This town was under the age of Erebuni, and because archaeological finds in it were richer. Out Erebuni in Teishebaini moved weapons, helmets, quivers, shields, ornaments made of bronze, gold and silver. Teishebaini was a powerful fortress and the city - a major administrative center, surrounded by gardens, vineyards and fields of wheat.

Teishebaini lived one century and died in the beginning of VI century BC. He stormed the Scythians, the fortress was raging fire on the hill century painted a fiery red color. Life in the Erebuni continued until V-IV centuries BC. With the fall of Urartu kingdom of Ararat valley, new city - Artashat, Dvina and others who pushed Yerevan on the second plan, but while the city continued to play an important role in the country.

Photo — «Distressful Yerevan»

The new rise of Yerevan urban growth Dvina, which in the second half of V century became the capital of Armenia. Dvin quickly became a major trading center, and one of his trade caravan routes passed just through Yerevan, which contributed to its prosperity.

The first written sources about Yerevan, the Armenian language are to the beginning of VII century. At the church council, convened in 607 by Catholicos Abraham in the Dvina, attended (as described in "Girko-Thtots" - "Book of the scriptures"), two representatives from Yerevan - priors David and Dzhadzhik. By this time on its territory and population of Yerevan was already higher than normal rural settlements. It housed the fortress, from which the citizens are not just fend off the Arab invaders.

Foreign invasion brought serious damage to the economic development of Yerevan and throughout Armenia. In the XI century began was relatively peaceful life was again interrupted by the alien invasion. Seljuk Turks, then the Mongol-Tatars, fire and sword overrun Armenia, destroyed many cities, and some even wiped off the face of the earth. When the Mongols were kept only those of the Armenian cities, which were converted into administrative centers, these include and Yerevan. Since the second half of the XIII century, it again becomes an important focal point on the tracks of the Ararat Valley in the North Caucasus.

As the "capital of the country of Ararat" Yerevan is first mentioned in the XV century, but for nearly another four long centuries the city was not able to follow the path of their natural development. Medieval Yerevan levels of development have not reached the scale of the city: every time as soon as any noticeable signs of recovery and creative life, the city vehemently foreigners, after which he had revived.

At the end of XIV century, Yerevan was attacked by the army of Timur, in 1554 Turkish troops occupied the city, delivered his fire, and over the inhabitants waged a savage massacre. Less than 50 years, as the Persian army under the command of Shah Abbas, surrounded Yerevan, where the stronger the main force of Turkish troops.

Photo — «Distressful Yerevan»

Ahead of its troops to the walls of a besieged fortress of Shah Abbas drove the unarmed Armenian peasants, at the same time in the city of the Turks massacred the remaining residents. In addition, the soldiers of both armies were hunting for people who were taken captive women and children and sold them at slave markets.

Hostilities between Turkey and Persia ended only in 1639 - due to the partition of Armenia: the western part of the country was ceded to Turkey and east together with Yerevan - to Persia. Eastern part of Armenia ruled Sirdar (Persian governor), and Yerevan - Chief of Police designated by him, supported by a huge bureaucracy, the contents of which bear a heavy burden on residents.

The bulk of the population of Yerevan was composed of indigenous peoples - Armenians, who have traditionally engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and horticulture. By the end of XVII century in their classes have become a very significant role to play crafts - pottery, carpentry, ludilnoe, etc. As in other medieval towns, artisans have been combined in Yerevan workshops designed to protect them from feudal oppression. However, the enormous wealth annually appropriated Sirdar, whose yard on his luxury differed little from the shah. One of the last sardars, known as Husein Kuli Khan, despite his advanced age, kept a harem, which languished for more than 60 women. This Sirdar was a tyrant: he executed people fighting against foreign oppression, according to his whim deprived of many language, eyes, hands . . . Distinguished as particularly cruel brother Sardar - Hasan Khan, on which the novel "The Wounds of Armenia" a pioneer of the new Armenian literature H. Abovyan wrote as a veritable beast of one-step, which trembled mountains and canyons. For him, that the human head, the flesh - was the same. Hasan Khan, trained in shooting, shooting from his palace in the side of the road, was situated on the right bank of the TPP. I often got in the peasants, when they are with their herds returning from cities to the countryside . . .

The massacre at the slightest provocation, and often without any reason, awaited the citizens at every step, so everyone tried as carefully as possible to hide from the all-seeing eye sardarskih rioters.

Photo — «Distressful Yerevan»

Although of Yerevan pay a special tax for night security, often in their homes at night raided by bandits, and often they were themselves assistants Sirdar. H. Abovyan already mentioned in the novel, noted that "people . . . every minute waiting to see what is about to fall upon them fire from the sky - so everyone shuddered and trembled for themselves, so afraid of inadvertently get into trouble . . . In the evening people did not know if will come to him morning, at dawn, no hope that a healthy and unscathed by the night closes his eyes. "

However, severe foreign yoke is not enslaved freedom-loving people of Armenia. Desire of Armenians and Georgians escape from Persian tyranny, and coincided with the eastern policy of the tsarist government in Russia. Russian troops under the command of PD Tsitsianov in 1804 entered the territory of the Khanate of Yerevan, where the Armenian population to provide all assistance: supplied them with food and fodder, as well as reported valuable information. But it was not until a long 20 years, while Russian troops under the command of IF Paskevich not entered the Yerevan fortress. Plan storming Yerevan fortress was designed Decembrist M. Pushchino, but first broke into the besieged fortress Regiment, commanded by Decembrist I. spines. A. Lachinov Decembrist, a member of the assault, later recalled: "In moving enthusiastically greeted us everywhere oppressed and exhausted people of Armenia. As they prayed, wept with joy . . . old and young, men and women - all fled to the Russian army, saying: Russia! Russia! здра�ти!

Celebration in the city after the fall of Persian rule lasted several days, and on October 6 was a solemn military parade, which culminated in 101 in one gulp. In memory of their victory in Russia was established medal "Taking the Yerevan fortress.

In honor of the centuries-old freedom-loving aspirations of the Armenian people on the station square in Yerevan is a monument to David Sassoon - epic hero with hot and pure soul, endowed with great valor. It shows the rapid burst, ready to combat the insidious enemy of the fiery sword, smashing like lightning.

Photo — «Distressful Yerevan»

Jalali - a fantastic horse that delights in its running expanses of heaven and the depth of the sea, - vzdyblen on the huge basalt boulders. In a stone pedestal, set in the pool (the diameter of its 25 m), carved bowl, which attracts running out of blocks of water streams. If anyone ventured to encroach upon the freedom of Armenia, then fill up the cup of national patience and David Sassoon once again come to the defense of the oppressed.

Yerevan is not like those cities, the neighborhoods and streets where you can read historical eras. Much has not kept this city in the difficult times of their existence. He plundered, burned, destroyed, and once even bought the conquering Mongols. This can be read on the wall of the Church of the XIII century, which is nestled in the courtyard of one of the new buildings on the street Abovyan. An Armenian merchant, "the son Avetyan Sahmadin" from the city of Ani left the following inscription: "Purchased Yerevan with its earth and water, and turned into a hereditary possession. Year 1264.

Yerevan is a contemporary of Babylon, Nineveh and Persepolis - the cities, which are now no. And he lives and younger, while remaining ancient and majestic. Spacious, sparkling green parks and clean waters of the fountains, the city can not be separated by their contours, colors and character of the hills that tower on its outskirts. Yerevan - pink, yellow, orange, white, red, purple . . . You can not catch all the colors and shades of tufa, basalt and granite: every minute, everything changes from the play of light and shadows. Yerevan, perhaps the only city in the world where you never painted facades. Nature according to their understanding of these miracle-stained stones and prompted an Armenian architect original and unique architectural form.