The oldest leather shoe in the world

The cave situated in the border region of Armenia has turned out to be a true treasure of archaeology. The stable, cold and dry atmosphere of the cavern, located in Vayotz Dzor province, made the objects to preserve unusually well over thousands of years. The floor of the cave was covered with a thick layer of sheep dung, which protected objects underneath and contributed to their good preservation. Excavations led by University College Cork's international researchers team discovered here findings dating back to Copper Age, the period typical of Europe between the Neolithic and the early Bronze Age.

Leather shoe extremely well preserved

The objects, which are around 5,500 years old, included not only vessels with preserved foodstuff such as wheat and barley, apricots and other edible plants, but also the leather shoe in a perfect form. “Even the laces were preserved”, explains Diana Zardaryan, a researcher from ''Armenian Institute of Archaeology'' and founder of prehistoric footwear.

"We initially thought that the shoe and other objects were only around 600 to 700 years old because they were preserved in a quite good form," adds Ron Pinhasi, the head of excavation from Cork University College of Ireland. "After the material was studied by two radiocarbon laboratories in Oxford and California, we realized that the shoe was even a few hundreds years older than those worn by Ötzi the Iceman."

The shoe, dating back to 3,500 years B.C., is made of single piece of leather that was fitted to the shape of the worn foot. It was stuffed with grass. Archaeologists, however, are not sure whether was this for the profection from cold or for keeping the shoe in shape. "It is not evident whether the shoe belonged to a man or a woman," Pinhasi said. "It coincides with today's European size 37, however in the past it could well fit a man, as well."

Interestingly, the prehistoric shoe with its style is very similar to "pampooties," a type of the shoe being made and worn in Aran Islands of Ireland from 1950 and which is still practical. "Factually, there are enormous similarities between manufacturing technique and style of these shoes to those found throughout Europe, even in later periods. The following facts prove that this type of shoe, from the living conditions' point view, was made and worn for millennials in a large and diverse regions.

The Armenian alphabet

The Armenian alphabet is one of the most perfect in the world.

It was created from 405 to 406 by the scholar and Vardapet (archimandrite) Mesrop Mashtots. The base of the writing system was Armenian ancient 28 letters, which did not correspond to the Armenian vocabulary. Mashtots' alphabet consists of 36 letters having 7 vowels and 29 consonants. After the 12th century the alphabet was enriched with two more letters. Moreover, in 1940 there was created one more letter by merging two existing letters. There are upper and lower case letters, as well as script and printed letters. The Armenian script was developed during the time when Armenia was divided between Sassanid Persia and the Roman Empire. In that period of time the country and the people were threatened by annihilation. It was very important for Armenians to fight for their national identity, but without their own script and written language system it would be very difficult. The letters developed by Mesrop became 36 soldiers that guarded the identity of people. After the creation of alphabet, there were opened schools in the country where the Armenian language was taught. The existing script writing system was not only from top to bottom but also from right to left. Now only from right to left system is used.

Scientists consider the Armenian alphabet to be one of three most perfect alphabets in the world, along with Georgian and Korean alphabets.

There is an opinion that Mesrop Mashtots also created Georgian and Albanian alphabets.

For more than six hundred years the Armenian alphabet has kept its existance almost unchanged. The monument to the creator of the Armenian alphabet, Mesrop Mashtots, is located in front of the Museum of Ancient Manuscripts ''Matenadaran'' situated in Yerevan.

The first arithmetic textbook in the world was written by an Armenian mathematician

The textbook of the world's first arithmetic problems was written by David Anhaght, Armenian scientist of the 6th century. According to Mesrop Mashtots, the copy of this textbook is kept in "Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts". The "Matenadaran" is one of the largest repositories of ancient manuscripts in the world. In Matenadaran there are also kept other ancient, not only Armenian but also foreign manuscripts.

The pomegranate as a symbol for Armenians!

Pomegranate has been unique and rich symbol since ancient times. According to ancient Greeks, pomegranates were grown by the god of vegetation, sponsor of viticulture and winemaking Dionysius, the symbol of the tree of life of Phoenicians. Pomegranate as a symbol of fertility and purity is one of three sacred fruits of Buddhism, along with citrus and peaches. Pomegranate was given to Greek goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite, as well as to the goddess of motherhood and agriculture Hera. Pomegranates are considered to be a forbidden fruit of paradise in Scandinavian folk tradition. The pomegranate is a symbol of fertility, abundance, generosity and purity. The pomegranate was also considered to be a sign of power because of the crown on its head, and a large number of fruits embedded in the thick bark symbolizing the universe with planets and stars.

The symbolism of pomegranates is very popular in Christianity. It is a symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was poured into the chalice, and in visual arts the Lord was depicted with a pomegranate, expressing the idea of Christ's resurrection.

The pomegranate, both in its symbolic sense and as a national ornament, was widely used in Armenian architecture, carpets, in other types of applied art, and in miniature, as of illustrated by Grigor Khlatetsi, Toros Taronatsi, Toros Roslin, and others.

Pomegranates, in the interpretation of Armenian Church, are considered to be words of prophets who, like a parable cover the bouquet of sweetness with their thick and bitter skin. There is an opinion that in ancient times the old royal crown shape idea was taken from the pomegranate crown.

The motherland of apricots

Apricots have been growing in Armenia for over 3,000 years. The evidence are apricot seeds founded during excavations done near Garni Temple. In Latin, apricots are called "Prúnus armeniáca". Apricot is one of the symbols of Armenia which occupies a special place in the national culture. Already in the 3rd millennium BC the Akkadians called the fruit "Armanu" (i.e. "Armenian"), and the land Armenia- Armani. The ancient inhabitants of Mesopotamia, the Arameans (Chaldeans), called the apricot tree "khazura Armenaya"- Armenian apple.

One of the previous Arabic names for apricots is "tufah al armani", which again means Armenian apple.

In the 1st century BC, the Roman general Lucios Lukullos, while returning Rome from the invasions of Armenia, against the Armenian king Tigran the Great, took apricot seedlings and cultivated in his motherland by naming them “Armenian plums”. Apricots penetrated to European countries and travelled to Greece and Rome via seedlings brought from Armenia.

The famous French biologist De Poerderlé wrote in 18th century, "The name of this tree comes from Armenia, the Asiatic province where it was originated and was brought to Europe"

Apricot growing centers today include China and Central Asia.

Apricot contains carotene and a number of vitamins that are very useful for human body. This fruit refreshes and strengthens people physically and increases workability.

The popular Armenian musical instrument duduk which is made of apricot tree, is also called “Tsiranapogh” that is “apricot-made wind instrument”.

Apricot jam is a medicine for armenians.

Yerevan is one of the oldest cities in the world

The 13th capital of Armenia, Yerevan, is one of the oldest cities in the world and is located in the northeastern part of Ararat Valley. The city was built in 782. BC by the Urartian king Argishti I. The history of Yerevan is equal to the epochs of Babylon, Rome, Carthage and Samarkand. Moreover, Yerevan is 29 years older than Rome. In 2018, the city celebrated its 2800th anniversary.

What do the archaeologists say? It turns out that in 1950, during the excavations of Arinberd hill (situated in the southeastern part of Yerevan), they managed to discover the "birth certificate" of the city of Yerevan, carved in cuneiform on a basalt stone.

The inscription reads:

"For the glory of the god Chaldi, Argishti, the son of Menua built this mighty fortress, gave it the name Erebuni for the power of the land of Biaini and for the invasion prevention of hostile countries".

The immense and impregnable Erebuni Fortress was the largest strategic citadel of the northern borders of the State of Urartu for that period. It had a large military garrison and was surrounded by massive fortress walls, which were laid out in triplicate. In the fortress there were the palace for the king Argishti I with large columns and wide halls, the walls of which were covered with rich murals of cultic and secular purposes, temples, one of which was dedicated to the supreme god Chaldi, grain stores, a water conduit and other buildings. During excavations, a large number of bronze and iron tools, earthenware, weapons and jewelry, as well as artifacts of Urartian masters were found. The findings testify to a wonderful building technique and a highly developed economy of the Urartians.

Today, you can admire all the findings in the museum of "Erebuni".

The Armenian people adopted not only the rich culture, but also the architectural and construction traditions of Urartians. Today's architectural ensemble of Yerevan gives to the city very unique character and style.

Yerevan is included, as it were, in the grandiose panorama of the Ararat valley, crowned with the cone of Great Ararat and Less Ararat. The Great Ararat is especially admirable in early mornings, when it is illuminated with the golden shimmering rays of the sun.

The eminent Armenian architect Alexander Tamanyan and his students created the unique external shape of the city. Multicolored stone in all its splendor is prevailed in the architecture of Yerevan.

If architecture is the face of the city, museums are its soul. Yerevan has a large number of museums, monuments and parks with unique sculptures and individual memorials.

The Armenian capital has made a great progress since the end of the Soviet era. Instead of dreariness, there is a spirit of optimism.

Today, especially during warm months, the city becomes a bustling place from morning to late nights. A boom has exploded in Armenia's metropolis in the last fifteen years or so. Yerevan, sad and mysterious city at the foots of eternally snow-covered Ararat, has shed its skin. One café next to another, committed to the international style of comfortable wicker furniture, and waiters everywhere elegantly balancing their trays between the tables.

Here are gathered all the colors of the rainbow: from purple, pink and orange, reddish and white tufa stone. From gray basalt there have been built homes, public buildings, churches, theaters and museums.