Babken HAROUTUNIAN
Ph.D.
I. PREFACE
The Armenian extant literature originated in the 5th century. Writing the Armenian history, authors who created the first original works also incorporated vast data on the administrative divisions of the kingdom of Armenia Major, location of principalities, royal estates, Church lands, description of mountains and rivers and natural resources. In this respect, the works entitled History of Armenia by Faust of Byzantium and Movses Khorenatsi, called the Father of the Armenian historiography, are distinguished. Works by Agathangelos, Eghishe, Lazar Parpetsi, Sebeos, and many other historians also contain geographical data.II. GEOGRAPHICAL WORKS OF THE 5th -6th CENTURIES
In Armenia, the first geographical work was written at the end of the 5th century. Up to recent time a theory prevailed, according to which the Ashkharhatsuyts (Geography) was a 7th century work, and it was attributed to the famous Armenian mathematician and astronomer Anania Shirakatsi. There were also attempts to date the Geography back to the 9th and even the 10th centuries, but a detailed analysis shows that it could only pertain to the end of the 5th century. It is not incidental that all the manuscripts preserving the author’s name point at the 5th century historian Movses Khorenatsi as the geographical treatise author, and no manuscript mentions the name of Anania Shirakatsi. However, a geographical work is not the Holy Scripture, and it was redacted and corrected by copyists during later centuries, corresponding to administrative and political changes. Later interpolations have made the false impression on researchers that the Geography was written in the 7th or later centuries.To a considerable extent the Geography was not an independent work. According to the evidence of the author himself, it was based on the Geography by Pappus of Alexandria, which in its turn was a compilation of Ptolemy’s Geography. However, descriptions devoted to Armenia Major, Iberia (present Georgia), Caucasian Albania, Asian Sarmatia, and Sassanid Persia are absolutely original. The materials used here by the author reflect the data of census taken in the 3rd century, as well as the 5th century administrative and political situation.
In regard to geographical information, the work called Mghonachapk (Itineraries) is a remarkable source, which apparently dates back to the 7th century, but is based on an earlier analogous work. This conclusion is derived from the fact that Itineraries preserved information about the 4th century Armenian-Roman frontier.
The development of geographical conception was substantially favored by the great activity of Armenian merchants in neighboring and distant countries. Traveling in Asia, Europe and Africa, they accumulated interesting information on various cities, which was afterwards written down in works like Names of Indian and Persian Towns (12th century), Names of Towns, On the City of Antioch, Names of Towns in Alphabetical Order, Cities and Their Founders, compiled in different times. Works on the important rivers, mountains and various countries of the world were also written, such as On Four Rivers, On Five Rivers, Names of Rivers, Names of Twelve Mountains, The Largest Rivers and so on.
Numerous manuscripts kept in the Mesrop Mashtots Matenadaran in Yerevan have preserved the 13th century author Vardan Areveltsi’s Geography, which underwent serious changes during the following centuries, due to the interpolations of various redactors and copyists. Here and there this work follows Movses Khorenatsi’s Geography, but in total it reflects the administrative and political situation of the 13th century Armenia, in particular, of its northern region and neighboring countries.
Interesting geographical data is extant in works by Hovhannes Erzynkatsi (12th century), Martiros Yerzynkatsi (15th-16th centuries), Hovhannes Aghtamartsi (15th century), Karapet Baghishetsi (16th century), Eremia Chelebi Kumurjian (17th century), Shahmurad Baghishetsi (17th-18th century), Khachatur Tokhatetsi, Kostandin Jughayetsi, Hacob Karnetsi.
Geographical data is also available in some minor works, which are yet waiting for their investigators.
III. THE GEOGRAPHY BY MOVSES KHORENATSI
The masterpiece of the Armenian medieval geographical mind is undoubtedly the Geography by Movses Khorenatsi. The question of its date and authorship attracts the researchers’ attention up to now. The later interpolations have resulted in dating the work back to the 7th, the 9th and even the 11th centuries, but a close analysis shows that, in its original version, it could have emerged in the 5th century. Consequently, the opinion prevailing to this day and ascribing the geographical work to the pen of the 7th century great astronomer and mathematician Anania Shirakatsi is simply out of question. And it is absolutely not incidental that all the manuscripts, without exception, of the Geography preserving the author’s name point at Movses Khorenatsi as of the work author, and none of them mentions the name of Anania Shirakatsi.IV. RETROSPECTION OF STUDIES DEDICATED TO THE GEOGRAPHY
The dating of the Geography back to the 7th, the 9th and even the 11th centuries is due to the fact that some interpolations were considered as integral parts of the original, but it is not difficult to make sure that they were introduced by later redactors and copyists.The scientific world first knew the Geography through its Latin translation, made by the Wiston Brothers, which gave rise to debates on the circumstances of the work’s creation, date and authorship. As early as 1789, Baron de Sainte-Croix, based himself on the reference to the city of Basra in the Geography, and came to the conclusion that Movses Khorenatsi could in no way have been its author, since Basra was a flourishing city only at the beginning of the 7th century.
The French armenologist J.-M. Saint-Martin went further in his conclusions. In 1819 he published the Geography in French translation with numerous comments, attempting to prove that it could by no means be a work by Khorenatsi. He thought the Geography to be written between the 9th and the 11th centuries, about 950, but not later than the 11th century, since the changes brought by the Seljuks invasion were not reflected in it. The French armenologist referred in his conclusions to the following facts: Khorenatsi could not have known Franks as among the inhabitants of Gaul, since Pappus of Alexandria’s Geography could not have contained such data; in the work the Taurician Peninsula is called the Crimea, and described as being held by Christians, which supposedly reflects the 10th century realities, when Russians were converted to Christianity; according to the Geography, Russians called Yawzo the river of Danube, a fact, which could have taken place between the 9th and the 11th centuries, about 950; several Armenian provinces are cited as being in the power of Iberia (present Georgia) and Caucasian Albania, which could have occurred after the extinction of the Armenian kingdom, i.e. after 428; the cities of Basra and Kufah (Kuf) are cited among those of Babylonia, whereas Arabs founded them in the middle of the 7th century; Byzantines could not have known the name of Turks prior to the end of the 6th century; the name of Ruan was given by Muslims to the part of Armenia, where Yerevan is located, and so on.
The manuscript used by Saint-Martin was, as he himself emphasized, quite defective, full of interpolations and distortions, so the entitling of the geographical work Geography of Pseudo-Movses Khorenatsi by him merely attests to insufficiently supported research. Before coming to final conclusions the investigator must have analyzed at least a good deal of the manuscripts extant. That is why it was not difficult for Ł. Inchichian, one of the Mekhitarist fathers of Venice, to show that most of Saint-Martin’s arguments were mere interpolations, which were absent from the oldest and choicest manuscripts, or misunderstood by him. Indeed, the expression “that is the Yawzo of Russians” does not exist in the oldest and choicest manuscripts; the Taurician Peninsula is not called the Crimea, but Qersones; Ruan is in Media and it is not identical with Yerevan, the Franks are not regarded as a powerful nation in Gaul, but one of its ethnical units, which fits the situation of the end of the 5th century, the inhabitants of the Crimean Peninsula were converted to Christianity as early as the time of the Roman and the Byzantine power.
Quite offended with Saint-Martin’s criticism, the Venice Mekhitarists published in 1843 the original of the Geography short redaction with a collation of six manuscripts, five of which belong to the Venice Mekhitarists and the sixth to the Echmiadzin Matenadaran.
Ł.Inchichian’s refutation certainly did not put an end to the discussion on the Geography. In 1873 the German famous geographer and cartographer H. Kiepert delivered a lecture on the date of the Geography at the Berlin Academy, showing that the descriptions of Europe, Africa, Arabia and East Asia proceeded from a 3rd (or 4th?) century Greek source, the part devoted to Roman Asia applies to the time from Theodosius I to Justinian, and that of Persian Asia to the period from Justinian to Maurice. According to H. Kiepert, it is possible to ascribe the Geography to the pen of Movses Khorenatsi, laying aside descriptions of Armenia and Persia. The author came to the conclusion that the description of Armenia took its final shape after the 6th century redaction, and such an authority on the historical geography of Armenia as Ł. Alishan was ready to support his opinion.
The purpose of this article is not to review all the theories, but it should be mentioned that in the second half of the 1870-ies K. Patkanian was actively involved in scientific discussion. He felt that Geography might in no way be attributed to Movses Khorenatsi. Examining the geographical work he tried to prove that it must be dated back to the 7th century. Identifying Constantine of Antioch, whose Christian Topography passages are cited in the Geography, with Cosmas Indicopleustes, the author of the Xristianiae Topografia Pantos Kosmou, he thinks that reference to a 7th century author in the Geography excludes the possibility of ascribing the latter to the pen of Khorenatsi.
In his opinion it could have been written under the Persian King of Kings Chosroes II and the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius, prior to the Arab invasions since the revolutionary role of the Arabs in the history of the Middle East is not reflected in the Geography. Dating the work to the 7th century K. Patkanian was thereby relieving it of a number of anachronisms since Qersones indeed belonged to Christians in the 7th century, the Franks could have been regarded as inhabitants of Gaul by a 7th century author, a number of Armenia Major districts were administratively allotted to Iberia (present Georgia) and Caucasian Albania, the name of Turks were known in the 7th century Armenia, and so on.
It is greatly due to K. Patkanian that the Geography is considered to be a compilation of the Geography by Pappus of Alexandria, but at the same time he distinctly showed the author's independence in his descriptions of Armenia Major, Iberia (present Georgia), Caucasian Albania and Persia. Based on an a priori assumption that the work was written in the 7th century and taking into account the fact that anterior to the 9th century no other Armenian author was engaged in mathematical sciences, as well as the fact that a passage of one of Anania Shirakatsi’s works has wholly survived in the Geography, K. Patkanian finds it probable to recognize that the geographical work in question, which in the Armenian literature was always attributed to Movses Khorenatsi, was a product of Anania Shirakatsi’s mind.
K. Patkanian’s study signified a new phase in the investigation of the Geography. By publishing it he became the founder of a school in Armenian studies whose representatives, unlike their founder’s suppositional or hypothetical approach, without reserve declared Anania Shirakatsi the Geography author.
Accepting all the importance and the value of K. Patkanian’s study, it must be said that it was not at all invulnerable or devoid of shortcomings. Essentially basing his study on the 1843 Venice edition of the Geography, he did no attempt to include in it other manuscripts, and consequently he did not notice a number of facts and actualities, which gave evidence against his theory. On the other hand, he did not perceive some circumstances, which benefited the possibility of dating the abovementioned document to the 5th century.
Every investigation of the Geography that called in question the work traditional attribution to Khorenatsi, stimulated a new research by the Venice Mekhitarists, who aimed to prove that the work really did date from the 5th century. In 1881 Arsène Soukrian, member of the Mekhitarist Congregation, published the long redaction of the original with a short preface in French and a translation into French. The original of the long redaction is entitled Geography of Movses Khorenatsi with later additions (Venice, 1881). In the preface, not rejecting at all the fact that there are numerous additions and interpolations in the Geography, which he regards as being introduced in 600-700-ies, Soukrian dates the mentioned document as a whole to the 5th century actuality, which is obvious from the description of every country, their demarcation. He points out that the Armenian geographer follows Ptolemy step by step, in division of the mankind, as well as from those names, which he grants to each of the countries. He, too, tends to identify Constantine of Antioch with Cosmas Indicopleustes, at the same time however, he shows that the passage of Constantine of Antioch “also contains refutation of some of Cosmas’ ideas and a eulogy to Ptolemy”. It would have been natural, if this interesting observation had been followed by a conclusion that the passages attributed to Constantine of Antioch were interpolations, but, unfortunately, he did not reach this notion.
After Soukrian’s publication, K. Patkanian once again addressed himself to the question of the Geography date attempting to prove that the long redaction also testified to its being a 6th and even 7th century work. K. Patkanian’s opinion was shared by A. Gudtschmidt, who had formerly dated the Geography to the 5th century. Trying to reconcile the creating of the Geography in the 7th century with its belonging to the pen of Khorenatsi, he transferred the latter to the 7th century.
Next researchers mostly attributed the Geography’ to Anania Shirakatsi. J. Markwart, who had previously dated the work to the end of the 7th and the beginning of the 8th centuries, also came to the conclusion that it was written by Anania Shirakatsi. The outstanding German armenologist H. Hubschmann came out with an interesting theory, according to which different authors wrote the History of Armenia and the Geography, and therefore the History of Armenia could be dated without regard to the Geography, which was composed much later than the work of Khorenatsi and not earlier than the 7th century. Refraining from the question of the Geography authorship, Nikołaios Adonts considered it to reflect the administrative division of Armenia after the 5th century.
The critical analysis of the Geography entered a new period after the establishment of the Soviet power. Intending to solve the problem of Movses Khorenatsi once and forever, in his monograph H. Manandian came to the conclusion that the Geography also belonged to the pen of Khorenatsi. The investigation was made brilliantly, but the armenologist’s conclusions did not follow from the valid results of his study. To his opinion the Geography was written in the 9th century, during the thriving of the Bagratids princely house. H. Manandian convincingly shows that Anania Shirakatsi could not have composed the Geography since his cosmographic ideas do not correspond to those of the work. For instance, according to the author of the Geography the Earth is spherical, whereas Anania Shirakatsi regards it to be a quadrilateral plane, or the Sun in the Geography is smaller than the Earth, whereas to Anania Shirakatsi’s opinion it is much larger than the Earth, and so on.
The theory of H. Manandian gave rise to a strong opposition. Referring to the question of the Geography authorship, A. Abrahamian once more came to the conclusion that it was a 7th century work and belonged to the pen of Anania Shirakatsi. In 1944 he edited one of the manuscripts of the short redaction (Matenadaran, Ms. 582) that has passages and important readings lacking in the other manuscripts.
The study of the Geography was greatly contributed to by the works of S. Yeremian and T. Hacobian. According to S. Yeremian, the Geography was previously an Atlas of 15 maps among which the principal one was that of Armenia Major, Colchidia, Iberia (present Georgia) and Caucasian Albania, restored by him. To his opinion the author of the Geography lived at the end of the 7th and in the beginning of the 8th century and followed the administrative-territorial division of Armenia between 591 and 610. At the same time he believes that the author had got to know Ptolemy not only by way of Pappus of Alexandria, but also directly. He was quite right to suppose, on the basis of the expression “ the Cathedral and the martyriums of the virgins”, that the geographical work was compiled prior to the time when the churches of Hripsime (618) and Gayane were built. Yeremian’s conclusion is precise: the Geography cannot be attributed to Anania Shirakatsi. However, in one of his articles published in 1980 he, much to researchers’ surprise, recognized Anania Shirakatsi as the author of the geographical work.
S. Yeremian’s theories were not generally acknowledged. In 1965 T. Hacobian published a critical review, in which he praised the author’s work and at the same time attempted to reject his ideas. The reviewer regarded the Geography as being first of all topography and ascribed it to Anania Shirakatsi. One of the next researchers is M. Khachatrian. Partly agreeing with S. Yeremian, he basically rejects a number of his significant viewpoints. He believes that the Geography was written between 571 and 622, when Anania Shirakatsi was 10 or 12 years old and could not be the author of a scientific work. A. Abrahamian answered this theory in his The Problem of the Author of the Geography, in which he once again attempted to substantiate Anania Shirakatsi as the author of the work. This viewpoint in whole was shared by the American (of Armenian origin) researcher R.H. Hewsen. Abrahamian’s and G. Petrossian’s scientific collaboration resulted in the translation into modern Armenian of the Geography and Robert Hewsen edited an English translation of the short and long redactions of the Geography. E. Danielian, V. Butba and others have published interesting works connected with the questions of the Geography.
Examining questions of the date and authorship of the Geography researchers have regarded as most important arguments the reference to the four Armenias in it, the use of Constantine of Antioch’s (Cosmas Indicopleustes’) Christian Topography by the author and a number of other similar actualities. It was already mentioned that this geographical treatise has not reached us in its original form. Particularly, in the 7th century and later on it was seriously redacted. This made the impression that the Geography was composed in the 7th century. In fact, the Geography and its date are defined and attested by data of the 5th century. Let us cite the most characteristic ones.
For example, the description of Kapkoh kustak mentions that it consists of 13 regions, whereas 14 are cited while listing them. It is clear that one was added later on by a redactor. Investigation shows that among three provinces (Shanjan=Zenjan, Baghasakan and Sisakan) supposed to be interpolated, Sisakan was actually added, since Baghasakan could have entered the ‘Geography’ only in the 5th century when it was a small separate kingdom, whereas in the 7th century it was simply attached to the vice-royalty of Caucasian Albania; as a separate region, Shanjan could have existed both in the 5th and the 7th centuries, and only Sisakan was formed as a separate administrative unit after 571. Revealing of this fact certainly makes it impossible to date the work to the time after 571.
The use of Constantine of Antioch’s work by the author of the Geography seems at first sight to be a very impressive argument. Actually, it is an interpolation that can be easily explained. The author’s statement that in the books of the Bible there is no perfect knowledge of geography and that he has to address himself to exterior, i.e. pagan authors, already contradicts the possibility of knowing or using of the Christian Topography by the author. Shortly after this statement he twice cites a quotation from the work of Constantine of Antioch or Cosmas Indicopleustes. Let us cite a passage to show that the quotation is an interpolation.
“The Ocean is said to surround not only the Torrid Zone, but also the whole world, which is also said in the Christian Topography of Constantine of Antioch who tells that the Ark came to us from the Eastern land. Ptolemy, whose men measured all the land during multiple travels, said, however, that the Ocean did not surround everything, but only its northwestern corner …”
One must be totally devoid of philological flair to accept the above underlined passage as being from the beginning an integral part of the text. The second quotation from the same author is a similar interpolation. In other words, the presence of the 6th century author’s name in the extant text of the Geography absolutely cannot serve as proof for dating the work even to the 6th century. It is merely a result of the Christian redactors’ attempt to attenuate the circumstance of applying to foreign and pagan geographers by the author.
It must be mentioned that the reference to the four Armenias in the Geography is quite a serious argument, since they could only have emerged after 536 connected with the Emperor Justinian’s administrative reforms, or, at the end of the 6th century when West or Byzantine Armenia underwent vast administrative reorganization under the Emperor Maurice (582-602). The comparative analysis of manuscripts shows, however, that the four Armenias primarily could not have been referred to in the Geography. The fact is that First and Second Armenias with their administrative territorial scope are identical not to the Emperor Justinian’s or Maurice’s First and Second Armenias, but to the provinces created by the Emperor Theodosius the Great, which were called First and Second Armenias, too. It is absolutely ungrounded to suppose that the author could have cited First and Second Armenias of Theodosius and then - Third and Fourth Armenias of Justinian or Maurice. Collation of manuscripts shows that some of them contained Armenia, First Armenia and Second Armenia or Second Armenia, First Armenia and Second Armenia in the description of Armenia Minor. When the province of Fourth Armenia had been formed on the territory of Armenia Major as a result of Maurice’s reorganization, the redactors of the Geography, influenced by the administrative actualities of their age replaced the name of Tsopk by Fourth Armenia, but they did not make any changes in the passage of Armenia. This resulted in an unusual, quite absurd situation: a group of manuscripts has the administrative regions of Armenia, First Armenia, Second Armenia and Fourth Armenia, another group has Second Armenia, First Armenia, Second Armenia and Fourth Armenia. As we see, there is no Third Armenia. Later on it was attempted to correct the unnumbered Armenia by Third Armenia, which seemed to harmonize the problem of Armenias, or, the first of the two Second Armenias was corrected by Third Armenia. Venice Mekhitarists made this last correction. While republishing the text formerly edited, one of the two Second Armenias was regarded as a copyist’s mistake and corrected by Third Armenia. Further investigation reveals that the latter of the two Second Armenias is an interpolation connected with Justinian’s administrative reorganizations. This is obvious from the geographical description of the province. Consequently, this passage of the original merely deals with interpolations and alterations, since in the primary text there was only the description of First and Second Armenias.
These are not all the arguments testifying to the 5th century, they reach dozens. Let us cite a few of them. It is told in the Geography that Italy “had two capitals: the splendid Ravenna and the great Rome”. This report is regarded as an important and trustworthy fact by the adherents of the 7th century theory, according to which Ravenna being the center of the Exarchate could only have been considered as the capital of Italy in the 7th century. In fact, Ravenna had been the capital of the state during the last decades of the West Roman Empire’s decline in the 5th century, and Rome traditionally continued to be regarded as a capital. In other words, the Geography reflects the administrative political situation of the 5th century.
According to the work, the city of Paytakaran was situated “on the shore of the Caspian Sea, at the entrance of Eraskh”, i.e. at the author’s time the city was located at the mouth of Eraskh, on the coast of the Caspian Sea. In the Itineraries, a 7th century work, however, Paytakaran is 60 miles far from the Caspian Sea. Indeed, this corresponds to the historical actuality, since in the 5th century the level of the Caspian Sea was quite high, and in the 6th century and the beginning of the 7th the water decreased caused by the recurrent regression of the sea, leaving Paytakaran considerably far from it.
Laying aside the next arguments I would like to mention that the compiling of the Geography pursued much more important questions than we conceive. To all appearance, the Geography, or, more precisely, the detailed description of Armenia Major in it was a political program for the Armenian insurgents. Sahak Bagratuni, the patron of Khorenatsi, entrusted him not only with the Armenian History, but also the geographical description of Armenia Major. The first became an ideological weapon in rebel’s hands, while the second was a political program pointing out the boundaries and territory of the future Armenian kingdom after the restoring of the political independence of Armenia. When the actual leader of 482-484 insurrection Sahak Bagratuni was killed in the battle of Charmana, and his successor Vahan Mamikonian finally came to terms with the Persian court owing to his victorious fights, Movses Khorenatsi anthologizing the Geography of Pappus of Alexandria integrated the Geography and set forth the geography of Asian Sarmatia, Iberia (present Georgia), Caucasian Albania, Persia and the countries of Asia Minor on the basis of new data.
The Geography incorporates general information on the earth, climatic zones, seas, three continents known to the mankind at that time: Europe, Asia and Africa. The Geography is a concise topography, which, as the author himself says, to a considerable extent is a compilation of the Geography of Pappus of Alexandria, a contemporary of the Roman Emperor Diocletian (284-305). The latter in its turn, however, had been an abridgement of Claudius Ptolemy’s Geography. The work of Pappus of Alexandria has not reached us, it is therefore difficult to answer the vexed question if the author of the Geography had directly used Ptolemy’s work or by way of Pappus. It is most likely that the author of the Geography had not used the work of Ptolemy. The viewpoint, according to which the Geography had been a textbook describing a group of maps, has also been seriously criticized, since the Geography virtually does not contain co-ordinate data, which is the first condition of a cartographical work.
The analysis shows that the description of Armenia Major, Iberia (present Georgia) and Caucasian Albania in the Geography is set forth on the basis of the 3rd century census data, however, the author made some corrections connected with the 5th century administrative-political situation. The comparative analysis of the Ptolemaic description of Armenia Major and that of the Geography shows that Armenia Major’s division into regions most likely originates as early as the 1st century A.D. In the 2nd century it was fixed in the Geography of Claudius Ptolemy and, in a developed state, was expressed in the Geography, as well as in the Armenian History of Agathangelos. The opinion quite prevailing in the historiography, according to which the administrative division mentioned in the Geography originated with the administrative reorganization of the Byzantine Emperor Maurice at the end of the 6th century, is in no way supported by the sources.
According to the Geography the Kingdom of Armenia Major consisted of 15 regions: 1. Upper Armenia, 2. Tsopk (or Fourth Armenia), 3. Aghdznik, 4. Tawruberan or Turuberan, 5. Mokq,
6. Korjayk, 7. Parskahayk, 8. Vaspurakan, 9. Siunik, 10. Artsakh, 11. Paytakaran, 12. Utik, 13. Gougark, 14. Tayk, 15. Ayrarat.
According to the long redaction of the Geography, Armenia Major had 183 or 184 provinces,
whereas the short redaction cites 194, an actuality, which is a result of the feudal development of the country, and which was reflected in later redactions. The examination shows that Pliny the Elder’s report on the 120 prefectures of Armenia Major is a historical actuality. The prefectures corresponded to Armenia Major’s division into provinces and the disintegration of the provinces into domains caused by feudal relations resulted in the increase of the number of provinces by 194. The regions were divides into provinces as follows:
Upper Armenia - Daranaghi, Aghiwn, Mzur (Muzur), Ekegheats, Mananaghi, Derjan, Sper, Shaghagomk (Shatgomk) and Karin (9 provinces).
Tsopk (Fourth Armenia) – Khordzean, Hashteank, Paghnatun, Balahovit, Tsopk, Andzit, Degik and Gavrek (8 provinces).
Aghdznik – Npret (Nprkert), Ardzn, Kagh (=Angeghtun), Ketik, Tatik, Aznuats dzor, Erkhetk, Gzegh, Salnadzor and Sanasank (10 provinces).
Tawruberan (Turuberan) – Khoyt, Aspakuneats dzor, Taron, Ashmunik (Arshamunik), Mardaghi, Dastavork, Tuaratzatap, Dalar, Hark, Varazhnunik, Bznunik, Erevark, Aghiovit, Apahunik, Koroy gavar and Khorkhorunik (the latter had hardly ever been a province) – (16 provinces).
Mokq – Ishayr, Miws Ishayr, Ishots gavar, Aruenits dzor, Mija, Mokq Arandznak, Arkaits gavar, Argastovit and Jermadzor (9 provinces).
Korjayk – Korduk, Kordik verin, Kordik mijin, Kordik nerkin, Aytvank, Aygask, Motoghank, Vorsirank, Kartunik, Jahuk and Pokr Aghbak (11 provinces).
Parskahayk – Ayli (Kurichan), Mari gavar, Trabi gavar, Arisi (Ovea), Arna, Tamber (Tambet), Zarehavan, Zarevand and Her (9 provinces).
Vaspurakan – Reshtunik, Tosp, Bogunik, Archishakovit, Kughanovit, Barilovit, Garni (Darni), Arberani, Buzhunik, Arnoyotn, Andzevatsik, Trpatunik, Eruandunik, Mardastan, Artaz, Ake, Aghbak Metz, Andzakhi dzor, Tornavan, Chuash-rot, Krchunik, Metznunik, Palunik, Gukank, Aghand-rot, Parspatunik, Artashisean, Artavanean, Bakan, Gabetean, Gazrikan, Taygrean, Varazhnunik, Goghtn and Nakhchavan (35 provinces). Sometimes Marand is cited, too.
Siunik – Ernjak, Chahuk, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik, Sotk, Aghahechk, Tseghukq, Haband, Baghk, Dzork, Arevik, Kovsakan (12 provinces).
Artsakh – Miws Haband, Vaykunik, Berdzor (Berdadzor), Metzirank, Metz Kuenk, Harchlank, Movsank, Piank, Patzkank, Sisakan-i-Kotak (Sisakan-i-Vostan), Kust-i-Parnes and Kokht (12 provinces).
Paytakaran – Hrakot-Perozh, Vardanakert including Evtnporakean bagink, Rot-i-Bagha, Kaghan-Rot, Aros, Pichan, Hani, Atshi-Bagavan, Spandaran-Perozh, Vormizd-Perozh Koekean and Alean (12 provinces).
Utik – Aran-Rot, Tri, Rot-Patsean, Aghue, Tuchkatak, Gardman, Shikashen (Shakashen), (and Uti Arandznak) (7 or 8 provinces).
Gougark – Dzoropor, Koghbopor, Dzobopor, Tashir, Treghk, Kangark, Javakhk verin, Artahan and Kagharjk (9 provinces). According to the description of the vice-royalty of Iberia (present Georgia): 13 provinces with Shavshet, Mangleats Por, Kushapor and Boghnopor.
Tayk – Kogh, Berdats Por, Partizats Por, Chakq, Bughkha, Vokaghe, Azordats Por, Alaeats Por (8 provinces).
Ayrarat – Basen (Basean), Gabegheank, Abegheank, Havnunik, Arsharunik, Bagrevand, Tsaghkotn, Vanand, Shirak, Aragatzotn, Nig, Maseats votn, Kogovit, Vostan Hayots, Urtzadzor and Aratzoy koghmn (16 provinces). The number of provinces in the short redaction is 20, which has become 22 due to S. Yeremian’s error. The additional provinces are Chakatk, Ashotsk, Mazaz and Vostan Dunay.
V. THE WORK CALLED “ITINERARIES”
Mghonachapk (Itineraries) is a remarkable source in regard to geographical information. To allappearances it is a 7th century work which belongs to the pen of Anania Shirakatsi. According to this itinerary the city of Paytakaran was located 60 miles far from the Caspian Sea, in contrast to the Geography that locates the city at the mouth of Eraskh, on the coast of the Caspian Sea. Only this fact is enough to prove that the above works reflect the state of the Caspian Sea’s level in the 5th and 7th centuries, in particular, the great regression of the Caspian Sea at the end of the 6th and the beginning of the 7th centuries when it moved away from the mountain ridge, giving birth to the passage of Darband. The Sassanid Kings intending to close the Northern Caucasian mountaineers’ entrance to Transcaucasia, built a firm wall stretching from the mountain ridge to the sea which is extant to this day.
Itineraries with their content remind of the map of Castorius (Peutinger Map). And what is more, it is possible that it is a textual reflection of an earlier medieval Armenian map-itinerary. The difference is that the main juncture of roads in Armenia Major, according to Castorius, is Artashat whereas in the Itineraries it is Dvin. Being a 7th century work it has preserved interesting information on the 4th century Armenian-Roman frontier, which indirectly testifies to its derivation from an earlier itinerary. There are routes in the Itineraries that do not exist in the map of Castorius. Itineraries are usually entitled On the Science of Itineraries in the manuscripts.
VI. DESCRIPTIONS OF RIVERS AND MOUNTAINS
Forty-two Rivers, Their Streams and Their Names - Here are cited the names of the most famous rivers and their streams. It was probably compiled in the developed Middle Ages, possibly earlier. Anyway, the oldest manuscript dates back to the 13th century. This work is included in several codices of the Matenadaran.Names of Eleven Mountains – Famous mountains are listed in four codices of the Matenadaran.
Four Rivers Flowing out of the Paradise – This applies to the rivers of Euphrates, Tigris, Phison and Gehon. It is included in seven manuscripts of the Matenadaran.
Forty Large Rivers and their Names – Famous rivers are listed and described in eight codices of the Matenadaran.
VII. DESCRIPTIONS OF TOWNS
Names of Towns – It is a list of cities, compiled at quite early date, which is to be found in forty-one manuscripts of the Matenadaran.Names of Towns in Alphabetical Order – Famous cities are listed in alphabetical order.
Names of Towns – Names of some cities are listed concisely.
Geographical Words – Important cities of the East are concisely listed.
Names of Towns – A list of well-known cities. Their names are compared with the new ones.
Names of Places Mentioned by Philosophers - Important cities and regions of historical Armenia are cited with their location and interpretation of the names. It has survived in eight codices of the Matenadaran.
Names of Towns and Villages of Armenia - The cities and villages of Armenia per provinces are cited. It is included in ten codices of the Matenadaran.
Names of the Towns to Which Paul the Apostle Wrote His Letters - A list of the town names used in the letters of the Apostle Paul is cited. It is included in four codices.
On the Names of Towns and Villages… - It has survived in a single codex.
Names of Indian and Persian Towns - The author traveling to India cites the roads, the towns, distances between them, informs of the economic life, the trade and daily round of the Indians. It has survived in eight manuscripts of the Matenadaran.
Names of Towns – The cities of Armenia are cited with the interpretation of their names.
On the Towns and Provinces Put in Alphabetical Order – Important cities of the world are cited with the interpretation of their names. It has survived in three codices of the Matenadaran.
Reverend Aristakes Baghdasarian – This auteur compiled a list of cities with their old and new names, taking from another source. It is cited with the expression “It is written in Grabar (Old Armenian) from a special dictionary…”
Grigor Kesaratsi († 1636) – He lived in the last quarter of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century. He was the patriarch of Jerusalem and Constantinople and was engaged in scientific work, in particular, mathematics and geography. See under Names of Towns.
Karapet Baghishetsi – Author of the 17th century. He wrote in verse a Concise Geography, which can be found in ten manuscripts of the Matenadaran.
Hovhannes Ankiuratsi – Author of the 17th century. He is famous for his great contribution to the organization of the Armenian printing. He has a number of translations from Latin, including those of geographical contents.
Geography dedicated to all the lands of the Universe, translated from Latin by Hovhannes Ankiuratsi – The work chiefly applies to the general economic geography.
A Book Called History of the Worlds Which Tells of the Old and New Worlds in Detail – It can be found in two manuscripts of the Matenadaran.
VIII. OTHER GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCES
Harutiun Ghukassian – In Astrakhan, in 1821, the author collected into one place various materials on general geography. At the end he put the names of famous cities of his time in chronological order.Hovhan Mozdoketsi – Author of the 19th century. He wrote a work entitled Information on Churna-Mora that describes the regions located on the coast of the Black Sea, connected with the history of Cossacks. At the end he cites a list of villages of the Touman region and the number of their population. The work was written in the city of Ekaterinodar in 1844.
Ghukas Kharberdtsi – Author of the 18th century. By the order of the patriarch Hovhannes Baghishetsi he translated from Latin nearly 20.000 various works including the geography of America and Africa.
Geography of the New America Also Called New World – It is included in three codices of the Matenadaran.
Geography of the New Africa – It is included in three codices.
The Mentioned Below is (a List) of all Countries and all Capitals with data about their altitude and depression – A list of countries and cities put in alphabetical order.
Nerses Lambronatsi – A personality of the 12th century (1153-1196), the son of Oshin II, prince of Lambron. He is famous for his literary activity. He wrote the Cities and Their Founders.
Ptolemy – A famous Greek geographer of the 2nd century whose work was twice translated into Armenian, first from French by Grigor Kesaratsi, then from Latin by Hovhannes Ankiuratsi. Grigor Kesaratsi's translation is entitled This is a Good and Useful New Geography… written by the Philosopher Ptolemy…. The translation of Hovhannes Ankiuratsi is untitled; it simply begins with “The beginning of Ptolemy's wanderings…”.
Stepanos Siunetsi – Author of the 7th century. One of his minor works is entitled Geography Written and Interpreted by the Armenian Philosopher Stepanos.
Vardan Areveltsi – Numerous manuscripts of the Matenadaran have preserved the 13th century author Vardan Areveltsi's Geography, which in later centuries was edited with various interpolations. The work here and there follows Movses Khorenatsi's Geography, but as a whole it reflects the 13th century state of Armenia and neighboring countries. Changes introduced in later centuries made Vardan's Geography a source with multiple strata, examination of which requires serious historical and geographical knowledge. Though this work describes various countries and nations, still Armenia and Transcaucasia are emphasized, in particular, the lands included in Zakarian Armenia. Vardan's Geography with its information greatly benefits the revealing of a number of vexed questions of Movses Khorenatsi's Geography, as the location of various provinces. For instance, Gargarians' location in the region of Shaki is very interesting and excludes the possibility of their location on the right bank of the Kura. Vardan's Geography has survived in numerous manuscripts.
Babylon, the Capital of the Chaldeans… – An eight line information on Babylon.
Once Again on Strangers … – Information on a number of important cities of the East with the interpretation of their names.
Britannia that is England, Africa that is the country of Berbers… – Names of a number of geographical places and their location.
The City of Cyropole Founded by Cyrus… – Untitled work that cites a number of cities with their founders' names.
Gogatsik that is Shaki… – A number neighboring regions of Armenia with the interpretation of their names.
Names of the places located on the road from Moscow to Petersburg and the distances between them.
Provinces – The geographical division of ancient Armenia
Names of the Province of Nig Called Aparank – The important settlements in the province of Nig or Aparan are cited with their old and new names.
On the Unknown Islands Located in Africa, Which were Formerly Unheard of, written by a certain Spaniard – General geography of Europe, Asia and Africa in 24 extensive chapters, without reference to the author's name.
On the Wonderful and New World Called the New World – Geography of America.
Simple Description of the Art of the Navigation Trade, Newly Developed and Defined by Latin’s – Geography of Europe without mentioning any author.
The Latest Things and People of the Land Inhabited by Brahmans – Interesting topographical information cited about India.
Geographical information on the countries and nations in contact with the tradesmen from New Julfa and India.
Blessing and Praise of the Capital Agulis – The location and the state of Agulis in the 17th century are cited.
On the Eight Parts of the World – It has survived in nine manuscripts of the Matenadaran.
Untitled Geography of Media – Short information on the Medes identified with the Kurds.
Holy Places of Constantinople – The main churches and cathedrals of Constantinople are cited.
Holy Places … of Jerusalem – The description of all the important places and cathedrals of Jerusalem and its surroundings is cited. It has survived in fourteen codices of the Matenadaran.
The 25 Apses of Saint-Hacob – Description of the Armenian Saint-James monastery of Jerusalem.
On the Holy Relics and Sanctuaries of Erzynka - Description of the monasteries and churches of Erzynka.
Geographical Lists
List of Foreign Cities with Armenian communities and of Writers made by Catholicos Simeon Erevantsi.
List of Provinces and Villages of the region of Siunik in alphabetical order – It is compiled by Ł.V. Pirghalemian on the basis of sources
Hovhannes Erzynkatsi – Author of the 13th century. He describes the most distant, uninhabited and frosty part of the world where “the daytime lasts six months in spring and summer” caused, according to the author, by the transition of the sun from one hemisphere to the other. The work is entitled On the Heavens in one codex and On the Cause of the Earth Movement in another one.
Names of the Cities Given to the Prince Ovta by Trdat and Grigor.
Hovhannes Aghtamartsi (Tutunchi) – Author of a History of Ethiopia written in the 18th century.
On the Holy Places of the Great City of Rome.
Avetis Karbetsi, author of A Journey to India.
On the Entourage
Tributes of Twelve Provinces of Siunik – Archimandrite Eremia from the village of Houlavar of Tathev. This is the Tribute of the Diocese of Tathev… The Provinces and the Villages Inhabited at Present.
On the City of Antioch (1051)
History of the Lance and other Holy Things
Cosmography of Peter Apian the German – A translation by Hovhannes Ankiuratsi.
Khachatur Tokhatetsi, History of the City of Venice – A poem in 280 lines on Venice.
Saint Ankiuratsi’s History of the City of Istanbul
Hakob Karnetsi, Topography of Upper Armenia – An important source on the administrative division and ethnic structure of the region of Karin.
Martiros Erzynkatsi, History of the Country of Franks – Author of the 15th -16th centuries. He describes his journey to Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Flanders, France and Spain. He reached the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, cites interesting information on the European cities, their population number, daily round, habits and some monuments.
Shahmurad Baghishetsi – He wrote the Description of the City of Versailles in the 17th century.
Kostandin Jughayetsi – The Textbook of Trade compiled by him has preserved important and valuable data on the goods sold in the Indian, Persian and Turkish cities, their prices, monetary units used in various countries, linear and weight measures.
History of the City of Paris
Document On the Relics Sent from Hromkla by the Deacon Vardan.
Names of Fortresses
Concise History and Geography of Caucasian Albania (first half of the 19th century).
On the Countries of Indians, Franks and Romans
On the Construction of Ten Armenian Monasteries
On the Villages of Bagavan and Vagharshapat
Poghos Petrossian, Topography of Shirak
Aristakes Baghdasarean, Names of Towns
GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS
General map of Asia
Scheme of the plan of Jerusalem
Guide-map of the four sides of the world without citing of geographical places
Round globe on parchment cut and pasted on the general background of the Universe
Map of the Universe
Bibliography
M.-J. Saint-Martin, Mémoires historiques et géographiques sur l’Arménie, v. II, Paris, 1819.
L. Inchichian, Geographical History of the Country of Armenia, v. 2, Venice, 1835 (in Armenian).
Works of our Saint Father Movses Khorenatsi, Venice, 1843 (in Armenian).
H. Kierpert, Über die Zeit der Abfassung des dem Moses von Choren zugeschriebenen geogr. Kompendiums, see: « Monatsberichte der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin », 1873.
K.P. Patkanov, Armenian Geography of the 7th century A.D., Saint Petersburg, 1877 (in Russian).
Géographie de Moïse de Corène d’après Ptolémée. Armenian Text translated in French by Mekhitarist Father P. Arsène Soukry, Venice, Armenian Print Shop, 1881.
K.P. Patkanov, The new Copy of the Geography attributed to Movses Khorénatsi, ZHNNP, 1883, Issue 226 (June) – (in Russian).
J. Markwart, Suedarmenien und die Tigrisquellen nach griechischen und arabischen Geographen, Wien, 1930.
H. Hubschmann, Names of Ancient Places, translated by H.B. Pilezichian, 1907 (in Armenian).
N. Adonts, Armenia at the Age of Justinian, Saint Petersburg, 1908 (in Russian).
A. Abrahamian, The Problem of the Author of the Geography Attributed to Movses Khorenatsi, Yerevan, 1940 (in Armenian).
S. Yeremian, Armenia According to the Geography, Yerevan, 1963 (in Armenian); Geography and Cartography, in: “Culture of Armenia at the Early Feudal Period (4th-7th centuries)”, Yerevan, 1980 (in Russian).
T. Hacobian, Observations on the Geography of the 7th century, see: “Scientific Works of the Yerevan University”, t.43, Issue 1, 1954 (in Armenian).
M. Khatchatrian, On the Geography of the 7th century, see: “Patma-banassirakan handes”, Yerevan, 1968, no.4 (in Armenian).
A. Abrahamian, The Problem of the author of the Geography, see: “Patma-banassirakan handes”, Yerevan, 1969, no.3 (in Armenian).
R. Hewsen, On the Date and Authorship of the Ashxarhacoyc, see: “Revue des Etudes Arméniennes”, NS, v. 4; Introduction to Armenian Historical Geography, see: “Revue des Etudes Arméniennes”, NS, v. 13.
G. Petrossian, The enigma of the author of the Geography, see: “Lraber” of the Academy of Sciences of the SSRA, Yerevan, 1971, no.10; On the Armenian Geography of the 7th century, see: “Patma-banassirakan handes”, Yerevan, 1979, no.2; On a New Attempt of explanation regarding the Armenian Geography of the 7th century, see: “Lraber hassarakakan guitoutiunéri” of the Academy of Sciences of the SSRA, Yerevan, 1968, no.6 (in Armenian).
Anania Shirakatsi, Works, Translated from Old Armenia, Preface and Commentaries by A. Abrahamian and G. Petrossian, Yerevan, 1979 (in Armenian).
The Geography of Anania of Shirak (Ashxarhacoyc), The Long and the Short Recensions. Introduction, Translation and Commentary by Robert H. Hewsen, Wiesbaden, 1992.
