Week 4: The essence of Armenian Identity

Let's have a look at some of the historic as well as modern facts that make Armenia a distinctly curious entity in terms of its culture, heritage, folklore and location.

World's oldest leather shoe found in an Armenian cave

This, rather modern looking female moccasin is about 5500 years old, found in Areni 1 cave in Armenia, dated to about 3500 B.C. , during Armenian copper age.
A 5900 year old skirt - was also found in Armenian cave, which could be the world's oldest piece of clothing discovered to date.

A mummified goat that could be 5900 years old was also found in Areni cave, which is more than 1000 years older than mummified animals found in Egypt.

And lastly, world's first wine producing facility was also discovered in this cave.

Noah and his family walking down from mount Ararat by I. Aivazovsky

After the great flood, Noah's Ark has come to rest upon Ararat- the historical Armenian mountain (Bible, Gen 8:4).

Hayk Nahapet, defeating the King of Babylon

Noah's great-great-grandson Hayk, established Hayk (Hayastan-Armenia) in Ararat region in 2492 B.C. (after defeating Bel of the Babylon with the shot of one arrow).

Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew

Armenian Apostolic Church was found by two of Jesus' 12 Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew in AD 40-60 (hence the name Apostolic), thus making the Armenian Church the oldest church in the world.

Armenia is the first state to embrace Christianity in 301 AD

As the first country in the world to accept Christianity in 301 AD, Armenia is a land of churches and Khachkars, its cultural, socio-economic and political faculties have always been greatly influenced by its religion. It can appear as a miracle that Armenia managed to maintain its Christian state for decades being under the rules of Islamic Ottoman and Persian empires.

Etchmiadzin- the world's oldest church

Located in current territory of Armenia, Etchmiadzin cathedral is the oldest church in the world built by the state, with the supervision of Gregory the Illuminator in 301-303 AD.

Yerevan- The world's oldest city

The capital of Armenia, Yerevan is the world's oldest city to have documented its foundation in 782 B.C. by king Argishti 1.

2nd Largest lake in the world Sevan, Armenia

Relative to its latitude, the lake Sevan is the 2nd largest in the world.

Armenian diaspora

There are about 11 million Armenians worldwide, of which only 3 million live in Armenia.

Compulsory chess

Chess is now a compulsory curriculum in Armenian schools from age of 6. Yes that is right. And Armenian men's team is the current world champion as well as Armenia won the World chess Olympiad twice in a row.

The "liberation" from communism

Armenia is also the first non-Baltic republic to declare its independence from the USSR on 23rd of August 1990.

The biggest chocolate bar

Less revolutionary indeed, but far tastier- the biggest chocolate bar in the world was made in Armenia.