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A LEGENDARY CITY OF ARMENIA
Vercihan Ziflioðlu
Turkish Daily News
Feb 28 2008
Turkey
City center of Yerevan, capital of the Republic of Armenia, was
designed and given its present modern look by Alxander Tamanyan before
the disintegration of the former Soviet Union. Creating the impression
of an open-air museum, Yerevan streets are full of monumental scale
sculptures. Home to dozens of museums and art centers, Yerevan is a
wonderland of works of art, the oldest dating back to the fifth century
Little is know about Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, a city with
a rich history and a young population that has plenty to offer its
visitors including many historic buildings, magnificent churches and
artistic masterpieces.
The Republic of Armenia declared its independence in 1991, immediately
after the disintegration of the Soviet Socialist Republics, and
Yerevan became its capital. The history of Yerevan or "Yerepuni,"
as it was called in ancient times, dates back to the eighth century
B.C. The total population of Armenia, which is settled on an area of
30,000 square kilometers, is 3 million, according to official figures.
The official language of the country is Armenian, an independent branch
of the Indo-European language family. Armenian was historically split
into two vaguely-defined primary dialects: Eastern Armenian (Aravela
Hayeren), spoken in modern-day Armenia, and Western Armenian, spoken
by Armenians in Anatolia. In addition to Armenian, Russian dominates
as a second language throughout the country. An average Yerevanian
speaks three additional languages to Armenian and Russian.
The modern architectural design of the city center of Yerevan was
designed by Armenian architect Alexander Tamanyan during the time of
the Soviet Union. His style and influence is still visible in almost
all of the streets and buildings of Yerevan. The Republic Square
(Hanrabedutyan Hýrabag) is the largest and the most important of
Yerevan and the location of many of the state buildings and national
museums. Young people constitute about 70 percent of country's
entire population and the official rate of literacy is approximately
90 percent.
Soviet Union effect in Armenia
Social life in Armenia still carries traces of the Soviet experience,
with the Russian language commonly heard on TV programs, cafes,
shopping centers, cinemas and generally in every aspect of daily
life. While some Yerevanians argue Russian should remain the second
language, others wish to put an end to the dominance of Russian
language in the country.
Yerevan universities have recently become highly preferred by
students both from Europe and the Far Eastern countries. Indian,
German, Chinese, Japanese and British nationals are studying in many
of the universities including the Yerevan State University. The
majority of the students in these universities study Armenian
language and literature. The most striking department at the Yerevan
State University is the Turkology Department, where all students,
including Armenians, are taught Turkish language and literature,
Ottoman, Persian and Arabic.
Yerevan's youth has a very lively social life. Chic library cafes and
restaurants easily catch the eye in every corner of Yerevan streets.
Millennial manuscripts in 'Madenataran'
It is difficult to take one's eyes off the fabulous architectural
styles of ancient churches on Yerevan streets, most of which were
built in the 12th century. Though churches are structures with great
symbolic meaning in Armenian traditional culture, the majority of
Armenia's churches was destructed during Soviet Union times. The most
interesting of these churches is the Gatoðige Surp Asdvazsazsin (St.
Mary the Virgin) that was built and dedicated to the memory of Armenian
poet Sayat Nova and is located on Sayat Nova Street. In fact, Gatoðige
Surp Asdvazsazsin was discovered when the Soviet regime ordered the
demolishing of a monumental 12th century church.
The earlier form of the Gatoðige Surp Asdvazsazsin was constructed in
the 11th century. And its remnant was serving as "Ðhoran," the Holy
Table, under the centuries-old massive church building. The doors
of this historic building, where restoration activity will soon take
place, are wide open to visitors.
Yerevan streets, where history meets modernity, are full of monumental
sculptures, most of them dedicated to the memory of the grand masters
of Armenian traditional literature and music.
Moreover, there are many museums and art centers in Yerevan, two among
them of special importance. The one is the National Gallery of Armenia
(Hayasdani Azkayin Badgerasrah) that was constructed in the Republic
Square in 1921. It is a universally acclaimed museum where works of
prominent figures of Armenian and international art are on display. A
major division of the museum where more than 25,000 works of art are
exhibited is the 19th and 20th century Armenian artists, painters
and sculptors collection. A considerable number of masterpieces by
Armenian-origin painter Ayvazovki are also on display in that part
of the museum.
The National Gallery of Armenia also has a collection titled Eastern
and Western Art. This includes an array of artworks by major artists
of India, Egypt, Japan, France and other countries. A third part of
the museum includes samples from the works of 20th century Russian art.
The second art center having particular importance in Yerevan is
the Madenataran Manuscript Museum. Here, one can find myriads of
manuscripts that have shed light both on Armenian and world history,
art and science since the fifth century. But the most remarkable pieces
in Madenataran are volumes of religious books, all handwritten and
ornamented with Armenian miniatures. A major part of the holy books
were taken from Anatolian-Armenian churches to the land of modern
day Armenia. The rich decorations on these leather manuscripts amaze
all visitors. Beside the hundreds of millenniums-old manuscripts,
Madenataran is also home to a seal that belonged to Alexander the
Great and a firman (edict) that belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. Other
precious pieces include maps and volumes of manuscripts by ancient
Greek philosophers.
The Madenataran building, enthralling with its unique architectural
style and sculptures of philosophers, doctors and literary figures
of Armenian history is located in the Surp Maþdozs Street in Yerevan.
--Boundary_(ID_S4sAC34udmnjWl5ObBcq6g)--
Vercihan Ziflioðlu
Turkish Daily News
Feb 28 2008
Turkey
City center of Yerevan, capital of the Republic of Armenia, was
designed and given its present modern look by Alxander Tamanyan before
the disintegration of the former Soviet Union. Creating the impression
of an open-air museum, Yerevan streets are full of monumental scale
sculptures. Home to dozens of museums and art centers, Yerevan is a
wonderland of works of art, the oldest dating back to the fifth century
Little is know about Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, a city with
a rich history and a young population that has plenty to offer its
visitors including many historic buildings, magnificent churches and
artistic masterpieces.
The Republic of Armenia declared its independence in 1991, immediately
after the disintegration of the Soviet Socialist Republics, and
Yerevan became its capital. The history of Yerevan or "Yerepuni,"
as it was called in ancient times, dates back to the eighth century
B.C. The total population of Armenia, which is settled on an area of
30,000 square kilometers, is 3 million, according to official figures.
The official language of the country is Armenian, an independent branch
of the Indo-European language family. Armenian was historically split
into two vaguely-defined primary dialects: Eastern Armenian (Aravela
Hayeren), spoken in modern-day Armenia, and Western Armenian, spoken
by Armenians in Anatolia. In addition to Armenian, Russian dominates
as a second language throughout the country. An average Yerevanian
speaks three additional languages to Armenian and Russian.
The modern architectural design of the city center of Yerevan was
designed by Armenian architect Alexander Tamanyan during the time of
the Soviet Union. His style and influence is still visible in almost
all of the streets and buildings of Yerevan. The Republic Square
(Hanrabedutyan Hýrabag) is the largest and the most important of
Yerevan and the location of many of the state buildings and national
museums. Young people constitute about 70 percent of country's
entire population and the official rate of literacy is approximately
90 percent.
Soviet Union effect in Armenia
Social life in Armenia still carries traces of the Soviet experience,
with the Russian language commonly heard on TV programs, cafes,
shopping centers, cinemas and generally in every aspect of daily
life. While some Yerevanians argue Russian should remain the second
language, others wish to put an end to the dominance of Russian
language in the country.
Yerevan universities have recently become highly preferred by
students both from Europe and the Far Eastern countries. Indian,
German, Chinese, Japanese and British nationals are studying in many
of the universities including the Yerevan State University. The
majority of the students in these universities study Armenian
language and literature. The most striking department at the Yerevan
State University is the Turkology Department, where all students,
including Armenians, are taught Turkish language and literature,
Ottoman, Persian and Arabic.
Yerevan's youth has a very lively social life. Chic library cafes and
restaurants easily catch the eye in every corner of Yerevan streets.
Millennial manuscripts in 'Madenataran'
It is difficult to take one's eyes off the fabulous architectural
styles of ancient churches on Yerevan streets, most of which were
built in the 12th century. Though churches are structures with great
symbolic meaning in Armenian traditional culture, the majority of
Armenia's churches was destructed during Soviet Union times. The most
interesting of these churches is the Gatoðige Surp Asdvazsazsin (St.
Mary the Virgin) that was built and dedicated to the memory of Armenian
poet Sayat Nova and is located on Sayat Nova Street. In fact, Gatoðige
Surp Asdvazsazsin was discovered when the Soviet regime ordered the
demolishing of a monumental 12th century church.
The earlier form of the Gatoðige Surp Asdvazsazsin was constructed in
the 11th century. And its remnant was serving as "Ðhoran," the Holy
Table, under the centuries-old massive church building. The doors
of this historic building, where restoration activity will soon take
place, are wide open to visitors.
Yerevan streets, where history meets modernity, are full of monumental
sculptures, most of them dedicated to the memory of the grand masters
of Armenian traditional literature and music.
Moreover, there are many museums and art centers in Yerevan, two among
them of special importance. The one is the National Gallery of Armenia
(Hayasdani Azkayin Badgerasrah) that was constructed in the Republic
Square in 1921. It is a universally acclaimed museum where works of
prominent figures of Armenian and international art are on display. A
major division of the museum where more than 25,000 works of art are
exhibited is the 19th and 20th century Armenian artists, painters
and sculptors collection. A considerable number of masterpieces by
Armenian-origin painter Ayvazovki are also on display in that part
of the museum.
The National Gallery of Armenia also has a collection titled Eastern
and Western Art. This includes an array of artworks by major artists
of India, Egypt, Japan, France and other countries. A third part of
the museum includes samples from the works of 20th century Russian art.
The second art center having particular importance in Yerevan is
the Madenataran Manuscript Museum. Here, one can find myriads of
manuscripts that have shed light both on Armenian and world history,
art and science since the fifth century. But the most remarkable pieces
in Madenataran are volumes of religious books, all handwritten and
ornamented with Armenian miniatures. A major part of the holy books
were taken from Anatolian-Armenian churches to the land of modern
day Armenia. The rich decorations on these leather manuscripts amaze
all visitors. Beside the hundreds of millenniums-old manuscripts,
Madenataran is also home to a seal that belonged to Alexander the
Great and a firman (edict) that belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. Other
precious pieces include maps and volumes of manuscripts by ancient
Greek philosophers.
The Madenataran building, enthralling with its unique architectural
style and sculptures of philosophers, doctors and literary figures
of Armenian history is located in the Surp Maþdozs Street in Yerevan.
--Boundary_(ID_S4sAC34udmnjWl5ObBcq6g)--