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AGMI TO HOLD AN EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF SMYRNA DISASTER
armradio.am
20.04.2012 13:09
In September 2012 the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute is organizing
International Conference and a temporary exhibition dedicated to the
90th anniversary of Smyrna Disaster displaying Smyrna Fire in the
unique photographs and movies.
Smyrna was one of the main business and cultural centers of Asia
Minor. The Armenians had settled there since ancient times and were
living in Getezerk, Karap, Haynots Armenian districts.
The books and periodicals published in the publishing houses of Smyrna
had a significant role in the cultural, public and political life of
the Armenians. In Smyrna Mesropian School founded in 1799, Hripsimyan
Girl's School, and a number of private schools were working. There
were four Armenian churches (the famous one was St. Stephanos church),
a hospital and a theatre in Smyrna. The Armenian merchants of Smyrna
had merchant's houses in Europe, Russia, India and Egypt.
Due to its multi-cultural and developed mode of life Smyrna was called
"Little Paris of the East."
Approximately 30 000 Armenians were living in Smyrna before 1922.
In September 1922 the Kemalist forces set Smyrna on fire and massacred
the Armenians and the Greeks of the city. The premeditated fire of
the city had the intention of terrifying the Christian population
and making them leave the city forever. The streets were 'covered'
with the corpses of the Armenians and Greeks. Many of them drowned
when they were trying to set great hopes on the English, Italian and
American ships.
Thus, Smyrna Catastrophe became the last episode of the Armenian
Genocide and the starting point of the Kemalist "Turkey for Turks"
state-building policy. Nowadays, Smyrna is famous for the Turkish
name of Izmir and the majority of the inhabitants are Turks.
From: A. Papazian
armradio.am
20.04.2012 13:09
In September 2012 the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute is organizing
International Conference and a temporary exhibition dedicated to the
90th anniversary of Smyrna Disaster displaying Smyrna Fire in the
unique photographs and movies.
Smyrna was one of the main business and cultural centers of Asia
Minor. The Armenians had settled there since ancient times and were
living in Getezerk, Karap, Haynots Armenian districts.
The books and periodicals published in the publishing houses of Smyrna
had a significant role in the cultural, public and political life of
the Armenians. In Smyrna Mesropian School founded in 1799, Hripsimyan
Girl's School, and a number of private schools were working. There
were four Armenian churches (the famous one was St. Stephanos church),
a hospital and a theatre in Smyrna. The Armenian merchants of Smyrna
had merchant's houses in Europe, Russia, India and Egypt.
Due to its multi-cultural and developed mode of life Smyrna was called
"Little Paris of the East."
Approximately 30 000 Armenians were living in Smyrna before 1922.
In September 1922 the Kemalist forces set Smyrna on fire and massacred
the Armenians and the Greeks of the city. The premeditated fire of
the city had the intention of terrifying the Christian population
and making them leave the city forever. The streets were 'covered'
with the corpses of the Armenians and Greeks. Many of them drowned
when they were trying to set great hopes on the English, Italian and
American ships.
Thus, Smyrna Catastrophe became the last episode of the Armenian
Genocide and the starting point of the Kemalist "Turkey for Turks"
state-building policy. Nowadays, Smyrna is famous for the Turkish
name of Izmir and the majority of the inhabitants are Turks.
From: A. Papazian