Yerevan

For other uses, see Yerevan (disambiguation).

Yerevan
Երևան
Capital city
Yerevan skyline
Yerevan skyline with Mount Ararat
Karen Demirchayn Complex
Hamalir
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
Cathedral
Yerevan Opera Theatre
Opera Theatre
The Yerevan Cascade
Cascade
Erebuni Museum
Erebuni
Armenian ministry of foreign affairs building
Armenian MFA
Armenian Genocide Memorial
Tsitsernakaberd
Matenadaran
Matenadaran
Republic Square at night
Republic Square and Government House
Flag of Yerevan
Flag
Official seal of Yerevan
Seal
Nickname(s): 
"The Pink City",[4][a] "Mother City"[7][8][b]
Yerevan is located in Armenia
Yerevan
Yerevan
Location of Yerevan in Armenia
Yerevan is located in Caucasus Mountains
Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan (Caucasus Mountains)
Yerevan is located in Continental Asia
Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan (Continental Asia)
Yerevan is located in Europe
Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan (Europe)
Coordinates: 40°10′53″N 44°30′52″E / 40.18139°N 44.51444°E / 40.18139; 44.51444
Country Armenia
Settled (Shengavit)[11]c. 3300 BC[12]
Founded as Erebuni by Argishti I of Urartu782 BC
City status by Alexander II1 October 1879[13][14]
Capital of Armenia19 July 1918 (de facto)[15][16]
Administrative Districts12
Government
 • TypeMayor–Council
 • BodyCity Council
 • MayorTigran Avinyan
Area
223 km2 (86 sq mi)
Highest elevation
1,390 m (4,560 ft)
Lowest elevation
865 m (2,838 ft)
Population
 (2022 census)[17]
1,086,677
 • Density4,900/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
 • Metro
(2001 estimate)[18]
1,420,000
Demonym(s)Yerevantsi(s),[19][20] Yerevanite(s)[21][22]
GDP [23]
 • Capital city֏ 3,032 billion
(US$ 6.286 billion) · 1st
 • Per capita֏ 2,816,433
(US$ 5,838) · 1st
Time zoneUTC+04:00 (AMT)
Area code+374 10
International airportZvartnots International Airport
HDI (2022)0.821[24]
very high · 1st
Websitewww.yerevan.am

Yerevan (UK: /ˌjɛrəˈvæn/ YERR-ə-VAN, US: /-ˈvɑːn/, -⁠VAHN; Armenian: Երևան[c] [jɛɾɛˈvɑn] ⓘ; sometimes spelled Erevan)[d] is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.[28] Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country, as its primate city. It has been the capital since 1918, the fourteenth in the history of Armenia and the seventh located in or around the Ararat Plain. The city also serves as the seat of the Araratian Pontifical Diocese, which is the largest diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and one of the oldest dioceses in the world.[29]

The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC, with the founding of the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC by King Argishti I of Urartu at the western extreme of the Ararat Plain.[30] Erebuni was "designed as a great administrative and religious centre, a fully royal capital."[31] By the late ancient Armenian Kingdom, new capital cities were established and Yerevan declined in importance. The city was mostly depopulated by the Great Surgun of 1603–05, when the Safavid Empire forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of Armenians to Iran. In 1679, the city was mostly destroyed by an earthquake, and then rebuilt on a smaller scale. In 1828, Yerevan became part of the Russian Empire, which led to the repatriation of Armenians whose ancestors had been forcibly relocated in the 17th century. After World War I, Yerevan became the capital of the First Republic of Armenia as thousands of survivors of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire arrived in the area.[32] The city expanded rapidly during the 20th century while Armenia was a part of the Soviet Union. In a few decades, Yerevan was transformed from a provincial town within the Russian Empire to Armenia's principal cultural, artistic, and industrial center, as well as becoming the seat of national government.

With the growth of the Armenian economy, Yerevan has undergone major transformation. Much construction has been done throughout the city since the early 2000s, and retail outlets such as restaurants, shops, and street cafés, which were rare during Soviet times, have multiplied. As of 2011, the population of Yerevan was 1,060,138, just over 35% of Armenia's total population. By 2022, the population further increased to 1,086,677.[17] Yerevan was named the 2012 World Book Capital by UNESCO.[33] Yerevan is an associate member of Eurocities.[34]

Of the notable landmarks of Yerevan, Erebuni Fortress is considered to be the birthplace of the city, the Katoghike Tsiranavor church is the oldest surviving church of Yerevan, and Saint Gregory Cathedral is the largest Armenian cathedral in the world. Tsitsernakaberd is the official memorial to the victims of the Armenian genocide. The city is home to several opera houses, theatres, museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions. Yerevan Opera Theatre is the main spectacle hall of the Armenian capital, the National Gallery of Armenia is the largest art museum in Armenia and shares a building with the History Museum of Armenia, and the Matenadaran contains one of the largest depositories of ancient books and manuscripts in the world.

  1. ^ Billock, Jennifer (28 December 2016). "How Ancient Volcanoes Created Armenia's Pink City". Smithsonian. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  2. ^ Hovasapyan, Zara (1 August 2012). "When in Armenia, Go Where the Armenians Go". Armenian National Committee of America. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014. Made of local pink tufa stones, it gives Yerevan the nickname of "the Pink City.
  3. ^ Dunn, Ashley (21 February 1988). "Pink Rock Comes as Gift From Homeland in Answer to Armenian College's Dreams". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014. To Armenians, though, the stone is unique. They often refer to Yerevan, the capital of their homeland, as "Vartakouyn Kaghak," or the "Pink City" because of the extensive use of the stone, which can vary from pink to a light purple.
  4. ^ [1][2][3]
  5. ^ "Տուֆ [Tuff]". encyclopedia.am (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2014. Երևանն անվանում են վարդագույն քաղաք, որովհետև մեր մայրաքաղաքը կառուցապատված է վարդագույն գեղեցիկ տուֆե շենքերով:
  6. ^ "Old Yerevan". yerevan.am. Yerevan Municipality. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014. Since this construction material gave a unique vividness and specific tint to the city, Yerevan was called "Rosy city".
  7. ^ "the Maison des étudiants arméniens". Cité internationale universitaire de Paris. ...built a new "Mother-City", Yerevan, to make it the capital of Armenia.
  8. ^ Shagoyan, Gayane (2011). "The Second City as the First City". Urban Spaces After Socialism: Ethnographies of Public Places in Eurasian Cities. Campus Verlag. p. 69. ISBN 9783593393841. When curfew was declared in Yerevan in 1988, it was announced at the rally held in Leninakan that the center of the Karabakh Movement would be moving from the capital (Mother City in Armenian) to the Father City.
  9. ^ Manougian, Harout (14 September 2021). "2021 Municipal Elections in Gyumri and Other Cities". EVN Report. The translation of 'capital city' in Armenian is literally 'mother city'. It is a common refrain that while Yerevan is Armenia's mother city...
  10. ^ "Քաղաքամայր Երևանը տոնում է 2800-ամյա հոբելյանը. «Էրեբունի-Երևան» տոնակատարությունները մեկնարկում են մարաթոնով" (in Armenian). Armenpress. 21 October 2018.
  11. ^ Smith, Adam T. (2012). ""Yerevan, My Ancient Erebuni"". In Hartley, Charles W.; Yazicioğlu, G. Bike; Smith, Adam T. (eds.). The Archaeology of Power and Politics in Eurasia: Regimes and Revolutions. Cambridge University Press. p. 59. ISBN 9781107016521. A Stratigraphic History of Yerevan [...] the earliest known built settlement in the area is the Early Bronze Age site of Shengavit...
  12. ^ Simonyan, Hakob (13 December 2018). "Շենգավիթ՝ Երևանի հնագույն քաղաքատեղին [Shengavit: Yerevan's Most Ancient Settlement]". yhm.am (in Armenian). Yerevan History Museum. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. ... ավելի քան 1200 տարի (Ք. ա. 3300-2100 թթ.) Շենգավիթի անընդմեջ բնակեցմանը [...] Շենգավիթ քաղաքատեղիի շերտերից վերցված փայտածխի՝ ռադիոածխածնային տարրալուծման մեթոդով ստացվող ամենավաղ տարիքը Ք. ա. 3300 թվականն է:
  13. ^ Sarukhanyan, Petros (21 September 2011). Շնորհավո՛ր տոնդ, Երեւան դարձած իմ Էրեբունի. Hayastani Hanrapetutyun (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2014. Պատմական իրադարձությունների բերումով Երեւանին ուշ է հաջողվել քաղաք դառնալ։ Այդ կարգավիճակը նրան տրվել է 1879 թվականին, Ալեքսանդր Երկրորդ ցարի հոկտեմբերի 1—ի հրամանով։{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)()
  14. ^ "Երևան [Yerevan]". Encyclopedia of Armenian History (in Armenian). Institute for Armenian Studies of Yerevan State University. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021. 1870 թ. սահմանված քաղաքային կանոնադրության համաձայն, որը Երևանում կիրառության մեջ է մտել 1879 թ. հոկտեմբերի 1-ից, ստեղծվել են քաղաքային խորհուրդ (դումա), վարչություն և տեղական ինքնակառավարման այլ մարմիններ:{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ Hovannisian, Richard (1971). The Republic of Armenia: The First Year, 1918–1919. University of California Press. p. 41. ISBN 9780520018051. On July 19 the Armenian cabinet and National Council were greeted at the outskirts of Erevan by Aram, Dro, and General Nazarbekian. Together the entourage rode into the nation's capital.
  16. ^ National Academy of Sciences of Armenia (2012). "Երևան [Yerevan]". In Ayvazyan, Hovhannes (ed.). Հայաստան Հանրագիտարան [Armenia Encyclopedia] (in Armenian). Yerevan: Armenian Encyclopedia Publishing. p. 809. 1918-ի հուլիսին Երևան է տեղափոխվել նույն թվականի մայիսի 28-ին Թիֆլիսում հռչակված Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Կառավարությունը։ Երևանը դարձել է Հայաստանի առաջին հանրապետության մայրաքաղաքը։
  17. ^ a b "The Main Results of RA Census 2022, trilingual / Armenian Statistical Service of Republic of Armenia". www.armstat.am. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  18. ^ Bell, Imogen (ed.). "Armenia". Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia 2003 (3rd ed.). London: Taylor & Francis. p. 84. ISBN 9781857431377.
  19. ^ Hartley, Charles W.; Yazicioğlu, G. Bike; Smith, Adam T., eds. (2012). The Archaeology of Power and Politics in Eurasia: Regimes and Revolutions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 72. ISBN 9781107016521. ...of even the most modern Yerevantsi.
  20. ^ Ishkhanian, Armine (2005). Atabaki, Touraj; Mehendale, Sanjyot (eds.). Central Asia and the Caucasus: Transnationalism and Diaspora. New York: Routledge. p. 122. ISBN 9781134319947. ...Yerevantsis (residents of Yerevan)...
  21. ^ Connelly, Andrew (13 April 2015). "Syria conflict: A century after the 'genocide', Armenians flee war and return to land of their ancestors". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018. ...cafés as Yerevanites have taken to smoking nargile water pipes.
  22. ^ Azadian, Edmond Y. (4 December 2014). "Armenian Politics in Yerevan Taxicabs". Armenian Mirror-Spectator. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018. Most of Yerevanites are enjoying better living conditions....
  23. ^ "Համախառն ներքին արդյունքն (ՀՆԱ) ըստ ՀՀ մարզերի եւ Երեւան քաղաքի 2015-2017թթ" (PDF), armstat.am
  24. ^ "Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  25. ^ Korkotyan, Zaven (1932). Խորհրդային Հայաստանի բնակչությունը վերջին հարյուրամյակում (1831-1931) [The population of Soviet Armenia in the last century (1831–1931)] (PDF) (in Armenian). Yerevan: Pethrat. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2022.
  26. ^ Shekoyan, Armen [in Armenian] (24 June 2006). "Ծերունին եւ ծովը Գլուխ հինգերորդ [The Old Man and The Sea. Chapter Five]". Aravot (in Armenian). Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016. – Ես առավո՛տը ղալաթ արի, որ չգացի Էրեւան,- ասաց Հերոսը.- որ հիմի Էրեւան ըլնեի, դու դժվար թե ըսենց բլբլայիր:
  27. ^ "Ես քեզ սիրում եմ",- այս խոսքերը ասում եմ քեզ, ի'մ Էրևան, արժեր հասնել աշխարհի ծերը, որ էս բառերը հասկանամ...». panorama.am (in Armenian). 21 September 2011. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  28. ^ Bournoutian, George A. (2003). A Concise History of the Armenian People: From Ancient Times to the Present (2nd ed.). Costa Mesa, California: Mazda Publishers. ISBN 9781568591414.
  29. ^ "Qahana.am". Qahana.am. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  30. ^ Katsenelinboĭgen, Aron (1990). The Soviet Union: Empire, Nation and Systems. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers. p. 143. ISBN 0-88738-332-7.
  31. ^ R. D. Barnett (1982). "Urartu". In John Boardman; I. E. S. Edwards; N. G. L. Hammond; E. Sollberger (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. 3, Part 1: The Prehistory of the Balkans, the Aegean World, Tenth to Eighth Centuries BC (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 346. ISBN 978-0521224963.
  32. ^ Hovannisian, Richard G. (1971). The Republic of Armenia: The First Year, 1918–1919, Vol. I. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 126–127. ISBN 0-520-01984-9.
  33. ^ "Yerevan named World Book Capital 2012 by UN cultural agency". UN News. 6 July 2010. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  34. ^ "Members List". eurocities.eu. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).