Yervandashat
Encyclopedia
Yervandashat is a village in the Armavir Province
of Armenia
. The village has a ruined basilica dated to the 4th or 5th century and the Saint Shushanik church of the 10th to 17th century. Along the main highway leading to and from the area are khachkar
monuments.
in 302 BC. The ancient town sits upon an escarpment overlooking the junction of the Arax River and Akhurian River
. According to Movses Kagankatvatsi, Orontes founded Yervandashat to replace Armavir
as his capital after Armavir had been left dry by a shift of the Arax. The archaeological site has not been subject of major research, but preliminarily, the fortifications and some remains of palaces have been uncovered.
Ancient Yervandashat was destroyed by the army of the Persian King Shapur II
in the 360s.
Armavir (province)
Armavir is a province of Armenia with the capital in Armavir. It is in the west of the country, located in the Ararat valley, between Mount Ararat and Mount Aragats, and shares a 45-mile border with Turkey to the south and west...
of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. The village has a ruined basilica dated to the 4th or 5th century and the Saint Shushanik church of the 10th to 17th century. Along the main highway leading to and from the area are khachkar
Khachkar
A khachkar or khatchkar is a carved, cross-bearing, memorial stele covered with rosettes and other botanical motifs. Khachkars are characteristic of Medieval Christian Armenian art found in Armenia.-Description:...
monuments.
Ancient Yervandashat
Just outside of the modern village are the ruins of ancient Yervandashat, a city founded by King Orontes IIIOrontes III
Orontes III was King of Armenia.In his reign the royal capital was moved from Armavir to Yervandashat in 302 BC....
in 302 BC. The ancient town sits upon an escarpment overlooking the junction of the Arax River and Akhurian River
Akhurian River
The Akhurian, Akhuriyan, Akhuryan or Akhouryan is a river in the South Caucasus. It originates in Armenia and flows from Lake Tseli south, along the border with Turkey, forming part of the geographic border between the two states, until it flows into the Aras River as a left tributary near Bagaran...
. According to Movses Kagankatvatsi, Orontes founded Yervandashat to replace Armavir
Armavir, Armenia
Armavir is a city located in western Armenia. The 1989 census reported that the city had a total population of 46,900, but this has declined considerably: the 2001 census counted 32,034; estimate for 2008 is 26,387. It is the capital of the Armavir province . The city of Armavir in Russia, founded...
as his capital after Armavir had been left dry by a shift of the Arax. The archaeological site has not been subject of major research, but preliminarily, the fortifications and some remains of palaces have been uncovered.
Ancient Yervandashat was destroyed by the army of the Persian King Shapur II
Shapur II
Shapur II the Great was the ninth King of the Persian Sassanid Empire from 309 to 379 and son of Hormizd II. During his long reign, the Sassanid Empire saw its first golden era since the reign of Shapur I...
in the 360s.