I imagine Hayks bow must have looked somewhat similar to this one (only much larger as the legends describe).

Bronze age Bow and Quiver form Shirakavan Armenia, 14-12 c. B.C

Cave Writing from Lake Sevan

Before hieroglyphic writing was developed, between 900 and 700 BCE, people of the Armenian region expressed themselves by carving and painting designs on rocks.  These three pictographs were executed between the 8th and 4th millenia BCE, (9000 to 3000 BCE).  According to archaeologists  the drawings are associated with Neolithic cultures, especially in the higher mountain regions (Aragats and Aghmaghan and the basin of Lake Sevan).

Urartian Hieroglyphics

Urartian Hieroglyphs

The Armenian Language and its Roots

The Indo-European group of languages is one of the most widely spoken family of languages in the world.

Around 3000 B.C.E., the Proto-Indo-European family of languages was probably closely unified, but by 2000 B.C.E., Greek and two extinct languages, Hittite and Sanskrit, were distinct languages. Though changes in grammar and meaning have taken place, analysis of vocabulary indicates that the people of the ancient Indo-European culture were metal-using farmers tending domestic animals. Recent discoveries suggest links to  the Kurgan people, who lived on the steppes west of the Ural Mountains. In the Kingdom of Van, 810 BCE, inscriptions of economic and sacrificial nature were written in hieroglyphics. Specimens of Armenian hieroglyphics are also evident in Urartean excavations at Karmir-Blur, where pottery, bronze cups and cylinder seals were found. This type of writing was used by peoples living on the Ararat Plain, even before the penetration of the Urartian tribes, according to excavations at Cholagerd.

Ancient Armenian Writing Before Mesrob

Ancient Armenian writing before Mesrob

Invention of the Armenian Alphabet St. Sahag and St. Mesrob, 404 CE

St. Sahak and St. Mesrob and their disciples translating the bible.

The Armenian Language

Indo European language tree

Lord Byron Armenian

Lord Byron, a famous English romantic poet, studied Armenian from 1816-1823 on the island of San Lazzaro at the Mekhitarist Convent in Venice, Italy.  He wrote, “It is a rich language, however, and would amply repay any one the trouble of learning it” and in a April 11, 1818 memo, wrote, “You will not neglect my Armenians.”

source: University of Minnesota 

The blade deeply recurved, with three narrow fullers along the spine, the entire surface inlaid in elaborate running vine motifs in gold. The bronze hilt with elongated triangular ears, embellished with wolves hunting amongst vegetation and a large baldheaded, mustachioed male figure with arms upraised. Mid-19th century. The earliest Armenian historian, Moses of Khoren (c. 410-490 c.e.?) records in his History of Armenia, an ancient Armenian god known as Kund (or Bald) Aramazd who presided over Navasand, the Armenian New Year.

Armenian Yataghan sword – mid 19th c.

Armenian Yataghan sword – mid 19th c., other side

Armenian Yataghan sword hilt – mid 19th c.

Armenian Yataghan sword hilt, mid 19th c.

Kinda reminds of the Hittite swords illustrated on the walls of Hattusa. Hittite were one of the oldest Indo-European speaking people, inhabiting the Armenian highlands.

Wall carvings of warriors of Hatusa.

source: Liveauctioneers

A very rare Armenian Holy Right Arm in silver representing the right hand of God. The thumb and index finger fold inwards in the form of blessing. The outer surface of the wrist is chased with lines representing veins, and the arm has floral and ornamental zig-zag patterns engraved on the outer and inner sides. It is 29 cm long.

The inscription says, “Amen. This is in memory from Margarit Yakobian to the Holy Church of St. Paul and Saint Peter in Tomarza”. The Church of St. Paul and St. Peter in Tomarza in central Turkey was built in 1570, and then reconstructed in 1837 into a massive structure that could hold 2,500 people. It was destroyed in 1915.

Holy Right arm of God made of Silver and precious stones – Melikian Antiques.

The relic for the Holy Right arm of God was set in a circle studded with rubies and covered with foil

This beautiful Armenian Cross-stone (Khachkar) was unearthed in 2011 by a team of young people from CYMA (Christian Youth Mission to Armenia). Found buried among the ruins of a 12th century monastery Mayravank in the town of Berd in the province of Tavush (Armenian).

Mayrivank Cross-stone, 12th century.

Page from Codex Atlanticus by Leonardo da Vinci (folio 393 recto). Above right is a map of Armenia; in the center, map with rocky peak of Armenia; below, gravity and impact of falling of heavy body. – Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Milan, Italy

The image above is a page from da Vinci’s work known as the Codex Atlanticus, describing Armenian Highland with sketches of Armenian mountains and a map of Armenian terrain. The Codex Atlanticus is the largest collection of Leonardo da Vincis papers. Originally gathered together by the sculptor Pompeo Leoni, it is bound in twelve volumes. Its name refers to its large size, being comparable to an atlas.

source : Bridgeman – art culture history

Gold medallion found at Armavir 2nd c. bc.

Armavir was one of the oldest and most sacred cities of Armenia. It was an ancient capital of Armenia, said to have been founded by King Aramais in 1980 B.C. In addition to its prominence as a capitol of Armenia, Armavir has served as a center of religious worship almost continuously from its establishment to present. Traces of ancient cult worship of the sun and the moon, pre-Christian temples and medieval Churches have been uncovered. Often build on top of each other, the sacred structures replaced one another as religious beliefs changed over time. Nevertheless, the sanctity of the site remained constant for thousands of years.

Armenian traditional historiography (Khorenatsi I. 10; Sebeos I) depicts the ancient history of Armavir as follows: Aramaneak (var.: Aramenak, Armenak), the eldest son of the Armenian forefather Hayk, moves from Hayk’s province of Hark‘ to the  Ararat valley and settles at the foot of Mt. Aragac. His son Aramayis (var.: Armayis), establishes a residence here, naming it Armavir after himself (Modern Arm. Armavir).  Several generations later, one of their successors, patriarch Aram, expands Armenia from all sides and establishes a new, superior Armenia, becoming the second Armenian eponym (cf. Armenians’ exonym Armen). Aram is succeeded by his son Ara the  Handsome, who after rejecting the love of the lustful Assyrian queen Semiramis dies in the war against her. Ara is succeeded by his namesake son.

The city of Armavir in Russia, founded by Armenians in the 19th century, was named after this city.

For more on Armavir as a cult center read HERE

Skevr Reliquary 1293 AD, Cilicia. – Hermitage Museum, Russia

This folding reliquary icon from one of the Cilikian monasteries is a marvelous work by a medieval Armenian craftsman (the Cilikian Armenian Kingdom existed from the 12th century to the 14th, on the north-eastern shores of the Mediterranean). It was commissioned by Bishop Constantine to commemorate the defenders of the national sacred site, the fortress of Romkla, ruined by the Egyptian Mamelukes in 1292. The themes and personalities depicted are taken both from the Old and New Testament and represent contemporary events and heroes from Armenian history.

Armenian Reliquary 1293 AD, Cilicia. – Hermitage Museum, Russia – Wood, silver, gilt 63.5 x 69.5 cm (unfolded)

The Skevr Reliquary of 1293 from the collection of the State Hermitage Museum is a wonderful monument of apllied art of Armenia. The reluquary consists of three parts – a nut-wood container for keeping relics and two folds to cover the container.The space around the cross with the figure of crusified Christ in the central part of the reliquary is filled with a tar mass in which the relics of saints mentioned in the inscriptions are symmetrically arranged. The folds inside are decorated with scenes of Announciation and figures of three saints and a king Hetum II in the medallions. The poem at the back of the central part tells that the reliquary was executed in Skevr in 1293 by the commission of the Father Superior of the Skevr cloister Constandin. For more than 500 years from the moment it was made in 1293 till 1828 when it was found in Italy the reliquary was kept in obscurity. The first mentioning of it in modern history dates back to 1828 when information about this monument was published by Baron Papaziants, an interpretor of the diplomatic representation of Sardinia in Constantinopol. At that time the reliquary was kept in the Dominican monastery of Bosco-Marengo not far from Alexandria in Piedmont. Later it appeared in the collection of Basilevsky and in 1885 together with the whole collection was acquired for the Emperor’s Hermitage. In 1900 the reliquary was restored in the Hermitage Museum.

More pictures bellow:

1 Folded

2 Unfolded

Silver medallion 2nd century BC, excavated in Sisian, Syunik region of Armenia. Depiction of a Golden Eagle clutching some type of wild cat, most probably a leopard. The symbolism of the Golden Eagle was important in pre-historic motif’s on the Armenian highland, as well as many of the Armenian Dynasties of the the old, this is a depiction from the Artaxiad Dynasty, where King Tigran II the Great hailed from, linked to the Yervanduni (Orontid Dynasty).

River Dzoraget of Stepanavan

Stepanavan is a beautiful town in the Lori Province of Armenia. The area of present Stepanavan was inhabited since the ancient times and was the focus of an early development of mining and metallurgy. Prehistoric sites in Stepanavan date back to the Stone Age. Stepanavan with surrounding areas was part of the Tashir Province and was included in the Artashesian Dynasty, and later part of Arshakunyats Kingdoms. In 385, after division of Greater Hayk Tashir Province, Stepanavan was left in the area of Armenian principality. Located on the northern trade route, it was a large craft and commercial center in medieval Armenia. It had a population of more than 10,000 in the 11th century. Since the 9th century, Shirak’s Bagratuni Dinasty have governed the area and joined several neighboring provinces together to create Tashir -Dzoraget Province of Lori Kingdom under Kyurikians. The greatest period of the Kyurikian Kingdom was from 980 to 1048 AD, during the reign of Davit Anhoghin and after him, Kyurike, when the area was expanded. The kingdom stretched along the Pambak and Debed rivers with the center being Lori Berd (a medieval royal palace complex). This medieval town-fortress was founded by one of the powerful kings of Armenia, David I Anhoghin, between 1005–1020.

Later on, Stepanavan became the mansion of the Zakarian Dynasty. It also served as a summer resting place for Armenian kings. As for Lori Fortress, it was the Armenian King, Ashot Yerkat’s (the Iron’s) favorite summer home. History shows that by the end of the 13th century, a branch of the Prince of Khachen, Hassan-Jalal Dola’s Dynasty and 110 families inhabited the town plateau. The residential area was named Jalaloghli, after the Jalal Dynasty, when it was officially founded in 1604 by Armenian refugees running from Persian ruler, Shah Abass, during his Armenian campaign.

The Armenian poet, Hovhannes Tumanyan, also received his primary education here, writing about the area in his later life. His school (school number 3) is currently named after him and exhibits a large mosaic wall depicting his fairy tales in his remembrance. Seven hundred years later, on behalf of the Bolshevik Armenian, Stepan Shahumyan, the town was renamed Stepanavan and became the administrative center of the region.

Stepanavan and its surrounding villages have a lot to offer to visitors. There are many fortresses, churches, bridges and sacred places to admire and enjoy. One of the places to visit in the town is Stepan Shahumyan’s House-Museum, St. Nshan Basilica (XI c.), ’Lori Berd’ Fortress Town, ruins of Shushanik’s Fortress (X-XI c.), Tormakadur Church (VI-VII c.), Stepanavan Dendropark (Botanical Garden) beautiful forests, steep mountains, and much more. Situated approximately 1375 meters above sea level, the town of Stepanavan is pleasantly warm in the summer and bright and cold during the winter months.

Bellow more images of Stepanavan district and surrounding areas:

Lori Berd fortress of Stepanavan Armenia, 10 th c.

Lazar’s cave Koghes Alaverdi, Armenia

Koghes gorge with medieval Armenian cross-stones Alaverdi Armenia.

Koghes gorge rocks Alaverdi Armenia

Koghes gorge scenery Alaverdi Armenia

Yaghdan tutu’jur mineral water Alaverdi Armenia

Akhtala fortress 10th. c. Alaverdi-Armenia

St Mariam church (10th c.), Akhtala Alaverdi Armenia

St Horomayri Church standing against the roks, covered with vagitation, near Odzun Alaverdi Armenia

Odzun basilic (6th century), Alaverdi Armenia

Haghpat monastery (10th century) Alaverdi Armenia

Haghpat monastery interior (10th century) Alaverdi Armenia

Haghpat monastery interior (10th century) Alaverdi Armenia

Sanahin Monastery 10th century, Armenia

Kobayr monastery (11th century), Alaverdi Armenia

Bardzrakash St. Grigor Monastery (10th. c.), Dsegh, Armenia

Bardzrakash St. Grigor Monastery (10th. c.), Dsegh, Armenia

Medieval khachkars near Bardzrakash monastery, Dsegh Alaverdi, Armenia

Cross stone from Mamkionyan nobel dinasty, Alaverdi Armenia

Vardablur berd (medieval fortress)Stepanavan Armenia

Ruins of Vardablur berd (medieval fortress)Stepanavan Armenia2

View from Vardablur fortress, Stepanavan, Armenia

St Jgrashen church (XI century) Stepanavan, Armenia

Kurtan – St. Astvatsatsin Basilica (V c.)

Kurtan valley, Alaverdi, Armenia

Kurtan gorge from Dsegh Alaverdi, Armenia

Kuybishev lake Stepanavan, Armenia

Kuybishev lake Stepanavan, Armenia

Lori Berd Fortress, Stepanavan Armenia

Lori Berd Fortress, Stepanavan Armenia

Lori Berd medieval bridge Stepanavan Armenia

Lori Berd Fortress wall, Stepanavan Armenia

Lori Berd Fortress wall, Stepanavan Armenia2

Ruines of Tormak church (4th century) Stepanavan, Armenia

Near Dendropark Stepanavan Armenia

Pushkin pass, Atepanavan, Armenia

Lejan’s red church (19th c.), Stepanavan Armenia

Dorbandavank, St. Astvatsatsin church (VI c.) Stepanavan Armenia

Askanazist waterbed Stepanavan, Armenia

Armanis chrchran waterfall, Stepanavan, Armenia

Khorakert monastery (XIII c.)

Stepanavan district

Depiction of Noah’s ark landing on the mountains of Armenia, from the North French Hebrew Miscellany (13th century)

The Book of Genesis speaks of mountains of Ararat where Noah’s Ark came to rest after the great flood (Genesis 8:4). The Biblical Ararat corresponds to what Assyrians called Urartu and Persians Arminya. In the trilingual Behistun inscription, carved in 521 BC by the order of Darius the Great of Persia, the country referred to as Urartu in Assyrian is called Arminiya in Old Persian and Harminuia in Elamite. The Book of Jubilees (7:1) specifies that the Ark came to rest on one of the peaks of the “Mountains of Ararat”. The original translation of the Bible the Latin Vulgate (382 AD.) says: “requievitque arca [...] super montes Armeniae”, which means literally “and the ark rested [...] on the mountains of Armenia”.

But the Biblical account is not the only nor the earliest source of the story of the ark resting on a mountain in Armenia. The quest for the remains of Noah’s ark in the mountains of Armenia was equally pursued in the ancient world.

The ancient Greek historian Abydenus wrote around 200 BC: “To him the deity Cronus foretold that on the fifteenth day of the month Desius there would be a deluge of rain: and he commanded him to deposit all the writings whatever which were in his possession, in the city of the Sun in Sippara. Sisithrus, when he had complied with commands, sailed immediately to Armenia, and was presently inspired by God. Upon the third day after the cessation of the rain Sisithrus sent out birds, by way of experiment, that he might judge whether the flood had subsided. But the birds passing over an unbounded sea, without finding any place of rest, returned again to Sisithrus. This he repeated with other birds. And when upon the third trial he succeeded, for the birds then returned with their feet stained with mud, the gods translated him from among men. With respect to the vessel, which yet remains in Armenia, it is a custom of the inhabitants to form bracelets and amulets of its wood.”—Syncel. Chron. 38.—Euseb. Præp. Evan. lib. 9.—Euseb. Chron. 5. 8.[1]

Nicolaus of Damascus another Greek historian recounts in 1st. century BC.: “There is above Minyas in the land of Armenia a very great mountain which is called Baris; to which, it is said, that many persons retreated at the time of the deluge, and were saved; and that one in particular was carried thither in an ark, and was landed on its summit, and that the remains of the vessel were long preserved upon the mountain. Perhaps this was the same individual of whom Moses the legislator of the Jews has made mention.”—Jos. Ant. Jud. I. 3.—Euseb. Præp. Evan. 9.[2]

Noah sacrificing animals to the God(s)

Alexander Polyhistor (50 BC) describes a similar flood story, in which a Deity appears to Xisuthrus in a vision warning him of an imminent flood, by which mankind would be destroyed. The Deity tells Xisuthrus to write a history of the beginning, procedure, and conclusion of all things; and to bury it in the city of the Sun at Sippara; and to build a vessel, and take with him his friends and relations, together with animals of all different types. When Xisuthrus asks the Deity where the vessel will be heading, the Deity answers: “To the Gods:”[3]. Interestingly mount Ararat in ancient Armenia was considered the home of all Gods, much like Mt. Olympus is in Greek Mythology. After the flood Xisuthrus releases birds to search for land which he finds after the 3rd try. Xisuthrus and his companions initially decide to turn the ark into their residence, but later on Xisuthrus with his family was taken by the Gods, leaving the group with the following message that “they should return to Babylonia; and, as it was ordained, search for the writings at Sippara, which they were to make known to all mankind: moreover that the place, wherein they then were, was the land of Armenia.”[3] The land of the ancient Gods.

Polyhistor adds: ”The vessel being thus stranded in Armenia, some part of it yet remains in the Corcyræan mountains of Armenia; and the people scrape off the bitumen, with which it had been outwardly coated, and make use of it by way of an alexipharmic and amulet.” —Syncel. Chron. 28.—Euseb. Chron. 5. 8. [3]

Descent of Noah from Ararat – Aivazovsky

Evidence for this can also be found in the work composed by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in the 1st century AD. In his historic book Flavius Josephus writes:

“the ark rested on the top of a certain mountain in Armenia … However, the Armenians call this place, αποβατηριον ‘The Place of Descent’; for the ark being saved in that place, its remains are shown there by the inhabitants to this day. Now all the writers of barbarian histories make mention of this flood, and of this ark; among whom is Berossus. For when he is describing the circumstances of the flood, he goes on thus: “It is said there is still some part of this ship in Armenia, at the mountain of the Cordyaeans; and that some people carry off pieces of the bitumen, which they take away, and use chiefly as amulets for the averting of mischiefs.” Hieronymus the Egyptian also, who wrote the Phoenician Antiquities, and Mnaseas, and a great many more, make mention of the same. Nay, Nicolaus of Damascus, in his ninety-sixth book, hath a particular relation about them; where he speaks thus: “There is a great mountain in Armenia, over Minyas, called Baris, upon which it is reported that many who fled at the time of the Deluge were saved; and that one who was carried in an ark came on shore upon the top of it; and that the remains of the timber were a great while preserved. This might be the man about whom Moses the legislator of the Jews wrote.”[5]

Berossus of whom Josephus speaks was a 3rd century BC. Babylonian writer, a priest of Bel Marduk and astronomer. The Babylonians recorded the story of the flood in many different accounts (f.e. Sumerian Eridu 2150 BC, Sumerian Kings 2119-2112 BC, Shuruppak 2100 BC, Atra-Hasis 1635 BC. and 18th century BC. Epic of Gilgamesh). Using ancient Babylonian records and texts, Berossus published the Babyloniaca (History of Babylonia) in three books some time around 290-278 BC. There he mentions the ark rested on a mountain in Armenia. It was equally confirmed by Abydenus (200 BC), Apollodorus (160 BC), Alexander Polyhistor (50 BC), Josephus (110 AD), Georgius Syncellus (800 AD) and Eusebius, (325 AD).[6]

Depiction of the god Shamash (2100 BC) as he rises from Mt. Mashu to bring the golden dawn. He wears the horned crown of divinity and holds a pruning saw in his hand, as the rays of the sun emanate from his shoulder.

Going even further back in time we observe many striking parallels between the ancient Sumerian tales and Armenian folklore of mount Ararat. One such parallel can be drawn regarding the names of the twin peaks of mount Ararat. In the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh (18th century BC.) the twin peaked mountain where Ut-napištim (companion of Noah) lives is called mt. “Mashu”. Interestingly enough the names of the largest peaks of mt. Ararat in Armenian is called “Masis”. Similarly the Sumerian Deity of the Sun “Shamash” (according to myth) also lived between the twin peaked mountain Mashu where Ut-napištim lives, near the “headwaters of the two rivers”. Mount Ararat is also near headwaters of two rivers; Euphrates and Tigris. [4] Just like the Sumerian tale of Shamash residing at mount Ararat, the ancient Armenian tales speak of Ararat as the residence of Deities. On ancient Sumerian clay tablets and seals Shamash (solar Deity) is depicted rising from the twin peaks of Ararat.

A famous cylinder seal depicting Utu/Shamash rising from Mt. Mashu (lower center holding a saw in his left hand), standing above him to the left is the winged Inana/Ishtar, to the right is Ea/Enki (the water and fish flows from his shoulders) and to the far right his two faced minister god Usmu.

Notice that the written language symbols for “Shamash” in Cuneiform and Egyptian show a god living between two mountain peaks.

The accounts of a great flood and survivors with different types of animals landing on the mountains of Armenia are one of worlds oldest surviving tales. Strengthened by accounts of residence of Deities at mount Ararat (Mashu – Masis) one can safely conclude that from the times immemorial (predating even Biblical accounts) mountains in Armenian Highlands have been highly regarded as secret sites by the ancients. To this very day Armenians venerate their mountains in particular mount Ararat with it’s marvelous twin peaks.

Ararat twin peaks and medieval Khor Virap Monastery

Sources:

[1] http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/af/af04.htm

[2] http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/af/af07.htm

[3] http://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/af/af02.htm

[4] http://www.noahs-ark.tv/noahs-ark-flood-creation-stories-myths-epic-of-gilgamesh-neo-babylonian-akkadian-cuneiform-ut-napistim-tablet11-1150bc.htm

[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountains_of_Ararat

[6] http://www.noahs-ark.tv/noahs-ark-flood-creation-stories-myths-berossus-xisuthrus-babyloniaca-history-of-babylonia-abydenus-apollodorus-alexander-polyhistor-josephus-eusebius-georgius-syncellus-oannes-280bc.htm

Recent discoveries in historic Armenia reveal traces of earliest civilizations. Turkish archaeologists recently found a wealth of artifacts in Başur Höyük, Siirt in modern day Turkey (Aghdznik province of Greater Armenia).  Small carved stones unearthed in a nearly 5,000-year-old burial could represent the earliest gaming tokens ever found. The elaborate pieces consist of 49 small stones sculpted in different shapes and painted in green, red, blue, black and white. Some depict pigs, dogs and pyramids, others feature round and bullet shapes. There were also found dice as well as three circular tokens made of white shell and topped with a black round stone.

These small sculpted stones unearthed from an early Bronze Age burial in modern day Turkey could be the earliest gaming tokens ever found, confirming that board games likely originated and spread from Armenian Highlands. The elaborate pieces consist of 49 small stones sculpted in different shapes and painted in green, red, blue, black and white.

The find confirms that board games likely originated and spread from the Armenian Highlands more than 5,000 years ago.  According to distribution, shape and numbers of the stone pieces, it appears that the game is based on the number 4.

Archaeological records indicate that board games were widely played in Mesopotamia. Several beautifully crafted boards were found by British archaeologist Leonard Wooley in the Royal cemetery of Ur, the ancient Sumerian city near the modern Iraqi city of Nasiriya. Much more elaborate, the newly discovered gaming stones were recovered from one of nine graves found at Başur Höyük. The site was inhabited as early as from 7,000 B.C. and was on a trade route between East and West.

About 300 well-preserved amorphous bronze artefacts were present in the nine burials. The nearly 5,000 year old artifacts were produced following advanced technologies.

Overall, the graves revealed a unique treasure made of painted and unpainted pottery, bronze spearhead, various ritual artifacts, seals with geometric motifs and about 300 well-preserved amorphous bronze artifacts. The majority of pots featured bitumen residues. Bitumen was most likely part of a burial ritual or was applied to prevent secondary use of the pots. Tens of thousands of beads made of mountain crystal and other types of stones were also recovered from the burials.

The playing pieces were recovered from one of nine graves found at Başur Höyük, a 820- by 492-foot mound near Siirt in Armenian Highland today southeast Turkey. Inhabited as early as from 7,000 BC.

“The gaming pieces, thousands of beads, hundreds of complete pots and metal artifacts indicate those graves were not ordinary burials but most probably belonged to individuals of a ruling class,” archaeologist Sağlamtimur said. Radio carbon dating traced the grave goods back to 3100-2900 B.C., confirming the Early Bronze Age stylistic features of the items and the advanced technological level of the local population.

“The graves contained metal artifacts, ceramic finds and seals with different attributes and influences which indicate the local people were in close relationship with their surrounding cultural regions,”

The burial featured an abundance of painted and unpainted pottery, with several examples from the Ninivite 5 culture.

From folk tales we know that early settlements of Armenians were established around Lake Van (modern-day Turkey). Hayk the legendary patriarch of Armenians slew the Babylonian tyrant Bel east from lake Van and established settlements nearby. Spearheads and weaponry found in the burials reveal warrior culture of the region.

The abundance of bronze spearhead and other weapons, not appearing in the Mesopotamia Ninivite burials, reveal the presence of “an important warrior component,” – Marcella Frangipane.

Discoveries in Armenian Highland, will allow us to reconstruct a new history of this region which is indeed the meeting point of the most ancient Near East civilizations

Tens of thousands of beads made of mountain crystal and other types of stones were recovered.

Tigranes II “the Great” (95-56 B.C.), Kingdom of Armenia, Silver Tetradrachm, Diadem and draped bust of Tigranes II facing right, wearing an Armenian tiara ornamented with a star between two eagles. On the reverse side is Tyche of Antioch seated right on a rock, holding a palm-branch, river god Orontes swimming below to right, monogram on rock and in field.

Tigranes II “the Great” was one of the finest kings of ancient Armenia. At its height, his empire extended from the Pontic Alps (in modern north-eastern Turkey) to Mesopotamia, and from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean. Tigranes invaded territories as far away as Ecbatana and took the title King of Kings which, at the time, according to their coins, even the Parthian kings did not assume. He was called “Tigranes the Great” by many historians and writers, such as Plutarch. The “King of Kings” never appeared in public without having at least four kings attending him. Cicero, referring to his success in the east, said that he “made the Republic of Rome tremble before the prowess of his arms.”