Tigranakert (Artsakh)
Encyclopedia
Tigranakert is a former Armenian city dating back to the Hellenistic period
. It is one of several former cities in the Armenian plateau with the same name, named in honor of the Armenian king Tigranes the Great
(r. 95–55 B.C.), although some scholars, such as Robert Hewsen and Babken Harutyunyan, have posited that this particular Tigranakert may have been founded by Tigranes the Great's father, Tigranes I
(r. ca. 123–95 B.C.). It occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert
in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
(NKR), de jure Aghdara in the Azerbaijan
, approximately four kilometers south of the Khachenaget River.
'. Archaeologists and historians have managed to date the founding of the first one to the 120s-80s B.C., during the reign of either King Tigranes I
, or his son and successor King Tigranes the Great
. The ruins of the second Tigranakert have yet to be uncovered, although it is believed to have been located in the district of Gardman
.
After the demise of the first Tigranakert in the early Middle Ages, the name of the city was preserved and used continuously in local geographic lore as Tetrakerte and has survived to the modern day under Shahbulag.
' Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography. Archaeologists have uncovered two of the main walls of the city, as well as Hellenistic-style towers and an Armenian basilica
dating to fifth to seventh centuries. In 2008, the excavation team began to face funding issues, although the authorities of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
have promised to allocate 30 million dram
s to continue further research.
In June 2010, a museum dedicated to the study and preservation of artifacts unearthed from Tigranakert's ruins was opened on the territory of the former city of Aghdam (which lay in ruins today).
Hellenistic period
The Hellenistic period or Hellenistic era describes the time which followed the conquests of Alexander the Great. It was so named by the historian J. G. Droysen. During this time, Greek cultural influence and power was at its zenith in Europe and Asia...
. It is one of several former cities in the Armenian plateau with the same name, named in honor of the Armenian king Tigranes the Great
Tigranes the Great
Tigranes the Great was emperor of Armenia under whom the country became, for a short time, the strongest state east of the Roman Republic. He was a member of the Artaxiad Royal House...
(r. 95–55 B.C.), although some scholars, such as Robert Hewsen and Babken Harutyunyan, have posited that this particular Tigranakert may have been founded by Tigranes the Great's father, Tigranes I
Tigranes I
Tigranes I of Armenia reigned as King of Armenia from 115 BC to 95 BC. Artavasdes I did not leave any heir; his brother, Tigranes ascended to the throne of the Artaxiads. Some historians claim that Tigranes II the Great was the son of Tigranes I and not Artavasdes I....
(r. ca. 123–95 B.C.). It occupies an area of about 50 hectares and is located in the province of Martakert
Martakert
Martakert is a province of the de facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Its territory is a de jure part of Azerbaijan, divided between the Tartar and Kelbajar rayons after Azerbaijan's abolition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1991...
in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
(NKR), de jure Aghdara in the Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, approximately four kilometers south of the Khachenaget River.
History
Primary sources first make mention of Tigranakert in the seventh century, stating that there were actually two such cities with the same name in the Armenian province of UtikUtik
Utik was a historic province of the Kingdom of Armenia and a region of Caucasian Albania. Most of the region is located within present-day Azerbaijan immediately west of the Kura River while a part of it lies within the Tavush province of present-day northeastern Armenia.-History:According to...
'. Archaeologists and historians have managed to date the founding of the first one to the 120s-80s B.C., during the reign of either King Tigranes I
Tigranes I
Tigranes I of Armenia reigned as King of Armenia from 115 BC to 95 BC. Artavasdes I did not leave any heir; his brother, Tigranes ascended to the throne of the Artaxiads. Some historians claim that Tigranes II the Great was the son of Tigranes I and not Artavasdes I....
, or his son and successor King Tigranes the Great
Tigranes the Great
Tigranes the Great was emperor of Armenia under whom the country became, for a short time, the strongest state east of the Roman Republic. He was a member of the Artaxiad Royal House...
. The ruins of the second Tigranakert have yet to be uncovered, although it is believed to have been located in the district of Gardman
Gardman
Gardman was one of the eight districts of the ancient province of Utik' in the Kingdom of Armenia and simultaneously, together with the district of Tush, an Armenian principality. In the Early Middle Ages a feudal state of Gardman emerged on the area of Caucasian Albania...
.
After the demise of the first Tigranakert in the early Middle Ages, the name of the city was preserved and used continuously in local geographic lore as Tetrakerte and has survived to the modern day under Shahbulag.
Excavations
Excavations at Tigranakert began in March 2005, when it was first discovered, and are currently ongoing under the directorship of Dr. Hamlet Petrosyan of the Armenian Academy of SciencesArmenian Academy of Sciences
The Armenian Academy of Sciences is the primary body that conducts research in and coordinates activities in the fields of science and social sciences in the Republic of Armenia. It was founded on November 29, 1943...
' Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography. Archaeologists have uncovered two of the main walls of the city, as well as Hellenistic-style towers and an Armenian basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
dating to fifth to seventh centuries. In 2008, the excavation team began to face funding issues, although the authorities of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...
have promised to allocate 30 million dram
Armenian dram
The dram is the monetary unit of Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. It is subdivided into 100 luma . The word "dram" translates into English as "money" and is cognate with the Greek drachma...
s to continue further research.
In June 2010, a museum dedicated to the study and preservation of artifacts unearthed from Tigranakert's ruins was opened on the territory of the former city of Aghdam (which lay in ruins today).
External links
- Tigranakert of Artsakh: , .
- Tigranakert of Artsakh on CNNCNNCable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...