The Satrapy of Armenia under the Orontid Dynasty.

History of Armenia
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Prehistory 2400 BC - 590 BC
Name of Armenia
Hayk
Hayasa-Azzi
Nairi  · Urartu
Antiquity 591 BC - 428 AD
Orontid Armenia
Kingdom of Armenia
Kingdom of Sophene
Kingdom of Commagene
Lesser Armenia
Roman Armenia
Dynasties: Orontid · Artaxiad · Arsacid Mamikonian
Middle Ages 429 - 1375
Marzpanate Period
Byzantine Armenia
Sassanid Armenia
Arab conquest of Armenia
Emirate of Armenia
Bagratid Armenia
Kingdom of Vaspurakan
Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia
Zakarid Armenia
Dynasties: Bagratid  · Rubenid  · Artsruni Hasan-Jalalyan
Foreign Rule 1376 - 1918
Seljuq · Georgian · Mongol · Turkoman
Persian · Ottoman · Russian
Principality of Khachen
Armenian Oblast
Armenian national movement
Hamidian massacres
Armenian Genocide
Contemporary 1918 - present
Democratic Republic of Armenia
Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic
Nagorno-Karabakh War
Republic of Armenia
Armenia Portal v t e

The Orontid Dynasty (also known by their native name, Yervanduni (Armenian: Երվանդունիներ, Persian: اروندی‎) was a hereditary Armenian dynasty and the rulers of the successor state to the Iron Age kingdom of Ararat.^[1][2][3] The Orontids established their supremacy over Armenia around the time of the Scythian and Median invasion in the sixth century BC.

Of probable Iranian origin,^[4] members of the dynasty ruled Armenia intermittently during the period spanning the sixth century to at least the second century BC, first as client kings or satraps of the Median and Achaemenid empires who established an independent kingdom after the collapse of the Achaemenid empire, and later as kings of Sophene and Commagene who eventually succumbed to the Roman Empire.

Historical background[link]

Orontid Armenia in 250 BC

The name Orontes is the Hellenized form of a masculine name of Iranic origin; Երուանդ Eruand in Old Armenian. The name is only attested in Greek (Gr.:Ὀρόντης). Its Avestan connection is Auruuant (brave, hero) and Middle Persian Arwand (Modern Persian اروند Arvand). Some have suggested a continuity with the Hittite name Arnuwanda. Various Greek transcriptions of the name in Classical sources are spelled as Orontes, Aruandes or Ardoates. The presence of this dynasty is attested from at least 400 BC, and it can be shown to have ruled, originally from Armavir and subsequently Yervandashat. The precise date of the foundation of the Orontid Dynasty is debated by scholars to this day but there is a consensus that it occurred after the destruction of Urartu by the Scythians and the Medes around 612 BC.

Orontids Kings and satraps of Armenia[link]

Xenophon mentions an Armenian king named Tigranes in his Cyropaedia. He was an ally of Cyrus the Great with whom he hunted. Tigranes paid tribute to Astyages. His elder son was also named Tigranes. Upon the outbreak of hostilities between Medes and Babylonians, Tigranes had renounced his treaty obligations to the Medes. As a successor of Astyages, Cyrus demanded to be paid the same tribute. Strabo collaborates this in his Geography (xi.13.5). In 521 BC, with the disturbances that occurred after the death of Cambyses and the proclamation of Smerdis as King, the Armenians revolted. Darius I of Persia sent an Armenian named Dâdarši to suffocate the revolt, later substituting him for the Persian Vaumisa who defeated the Armenians on May 20, 521 BC. Around the same time, another Armenian by the name of Arakha, son of Haldita, claimed to be the son of the last king of Babylon, Nabonidus, and renamed himself Nebuchadnezzar IV. His rebellion was short lived and was suppressed by Intaphrenes, Darius' bow carrier.

An Armenian tribute bearer carrying a metal vessel with griffin handles. Fifth century BC

These events are described in detail within the Behistun inscription. After the administrative reorganization of the Persian Empire, Armenia was converted into several satrapies. Armenian satraps regularly intermarried with the family of the King of Kings. These satraps provided contingents to Xerxes' invasion of Greece in 480 BC. Herodotus says that the Armenians in the army of Xerxes "were armed like the Phrygians." In 401 BC Xenophon marched through Armenia with a large army of Greek mercenaries. Xenophon mentions two individuals by the name Orontes, apparently both Persian. One was a nobleman and military officer of high rank, belonging to the royal family; as the commander of the citadel of Sardis, he waged war against Cyrus the Younger and he tried to betray him to Artaxerxes II Memnon shortly before the battle of Cunaxa, but was taken prisoner and sentenced to death by a court martial. Xenophon's Anabasis has a detailed description of the country, there it is also written that the region near the river Centrites was defended by the satrap of Armenia for Artaxerxes II, named Orontes son of Artasyras who had Armenian contingents as well as Alarodians. Tiribaz is mentioned as hipparchos (vice-governor) of Armenia under Orontes, who later became satrap of Lydia.

Silver Rhyton, Yerznka, Armenia, Fifth Century BCE.

In 401 BC Artaxerxes gave him his daughter Rhodogoune in marriage. In two inscriptions of king Antiochus I of Commagene on his monument at Nemrut an Orontes, called Aroandes (son of Artasouras and husband of Artaxerxes's daughter Rhodogoune), is reckoned, among others, as an ancestor of the Orontids ruling over Commagene, who traced back their family to Darius I. Diodorus Siculus mentions another Orontes, possibly the same, that in 362 BC was satrap of Mysia and was the leaders of the revolting satraps of Asia Minor for which position he was best fitting because of his noble birth and his hatred of the king. Misled by his love of power and fraud, he betrayed his fellow satraps to the king. But he revolted a second time, probably owing to his dissatisfaction with the king's rewards, and launched several attacks, which were continued in the reign of the new king Artaxerxes III Ochus. During that time he also conquered and occupied the town of Pergamum, but finally he must have become reconciled with the king. In 349 he was honored by a decree of the Athenians with the civic rights and a golden wreath. Many coins were struck by him during the Satraps' Revolt in Clazomenae, Phocaea, and Lampsacus. All subsequent Orontids are his descendants. Darius III was the satrap of Armenia following Orontes, from 344 to 336 BC. An Armenian contingent was present at the Battle of Gaugamela under the command of Orontes and a certain Mithraustes. Diodorus mentions that Orontes was a friend of the Macedonian general Peucestas. Armenia formally passed to the Macedonian Empire, as its rulers submitted to Alexander the Great. Alexander appointed an Orontid named Mithranes to govern Armenia following the defeat of Orontes II. With the agreement at Babylon after Alexander's death (323 BC) Armenia was assigned to Neoptolemus, and kept it till his death in battle in 321 BC. Around 302 BC the capital was transferred from Armavir to Yervandashat by Orontes.

Starting from 301 BC Armenia is included within the sphere of influence of the Seleucid Empire, but it maintained a considerable degree of autonomy, retaining its native rulers. According to Polyaenus, in 227 BC the Seleucid rebel king Antiochus Hierax took refuge in Armenian territory governed by King Arsames, founder of the city Arsamosata. Towards the end 212 BC the country is divided between two kings both vassals of the Seleucids: Greater Armenia and Armenia Sophene including Commagene or Armenia Minor. Antiochus III the Great, decided to suppress the local dynasties, he besieged Arsamosata. Xerxes surrendered and implored the clemency of the king, whom he accepted as his sovereign. Antiochus gave his sister Antiochis as a wife to Xerxes, who later murdered Xerxes. Greater Armenia was ruled by an Orontid descendant of Hydarnes, the last Orontid ruler of Greater Armenia (Strabo xi.14.15); he was apparently subdued by Antiochus III the Great, who then divided the land between his generals Artaxias (Artashes) and Zariadres (Zareh), both of whom would claim descent from the Orontid family.

Orontids of Commagene[link]

In Nemrut Dagi, opposite the statues of Gods there are a long row of pedestals, on which stood the steles of the Greek ancestors of Antiochos. At a right angle to this row stood another row of steles, depicting his Orontid and Achaemenid ancestors. From these steles the ones of Darius and Xerxes are well preserved. In front of each stele is a small altar. Inscriptions have been found on two of those altars. Much attention was given by Antiochos that everyone would be aware that he was related to the dynasty of the King of Kings, Darius I, by the marriage of princess Rhodogune to his ancestor Orontes. The father of Rhodogune was the Persian king, Artaxerxes. In 401 BC he defeated his younger brother, who tried to throw him from his throne. Because of the help Artaxerxes received from his military commander and satrap of Armenia, Orontes, he gave his daughter in marriage to him. Their descendant, Orontid Mithradates I Kallinikos married Seleucid Princess Laodike Thea Philadelphos.

Orontid Kings in Armenian tradition[link]

• Orontes I Sakavakyats (570-560 BC)
• Tigranes Orontid (560-535 BC)
• Vahagn (530-515 BC)
• Hidarnes I (late 6th century BC)
• Hidarnes II (early 5th century BC)
• Hidarnes III (middle of 5th century BC)
• Ardashir (2nd half of 5th century BC)

Kings and Satraps[link]

• Orontes (401-344 BC)
• Darius Codomannus (344-336 BC)

Orontid Dynasty[link]

• Orontes II (336-331 BC)
• Mithranes (331-323 BC)
• Perdiccas (non-dynastic) (323 BC)
• Neoptolemus (non-dynastic) (323-321 BC)
• Eumenes (non-dynastic) (321 BC)
• Mihran (321-317 BC)
• Orontes III (317-260 BC)
• Sames of Sophene (Armenia and Sophene circa 260 BC, unknown previous tenure as Satrap of Sophene)
• Arsames I (260 BC-228 BC) (Armenia, Sophene, and Commagene)
• Charaspes (doubtful)
• Arsames II (Sophene ca. 230 BC, possibly same person as Arsames I)
• Xerxes (228-212 BC) (Sophene and Commagene)
• Abdissares (212-200 BC) (Sophene and Commagene)
• Orontes IV (228–200 BC) (Armenia)
• Ptolemaeus (201 BC-163 BC) (Commagene)
• Seleucid rule (200-189 BC)
• Artaxiad rule (189-163 BC)

Orontid Kings of Commagene[link]

• Ptolemaeus 163 BC-130 BC
• Sames II Theosebes Dikaios 130 BC-109 BC
• Mithridates I Callinicus 109 BC-70 BC
• Antiochus I Theos 70 BC-38 BC
• Mithridates II 38 BC-20 BC
• Antiochus II 20 BC-20 BC
• Mithridates III 20 BC-12 BC
• Antiochus III 12 BC-17
• Ruled by Rome 17-38
• Antiochus IV 38-72 and wife, Iotapa

See also[link]

• Artaxiad Dynasty
• Commagene
• List of rulers of Commagene

Notes[link]

Additional reading[link]

• Cyril Toumanoff. "A Note on the Orontids." Le Museon. 72 (1959), pp. 1–36 and 73 (1960), pp. 73–106.
• (Armenian) Hakop Manandyan. Քննական Տեսություն Հայ Ժողովրդի Պատմության (A Critical Study of the History of the Armenian People). vol. i. Yerevan: Haypethrat, 1944.

External links[link]

• The Yervanduni Dynasty-A. Richard Diebold Center for Indo-European Language and Culture

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Ara Gevorgyan (Armenian: Արա Գևորգյան, born April 19, 1960, Yerevan) is an Armenian musician, composer and musical producer. In 2004 he was awarded the Honorary Artist of the Republic of Armenia title by the President Robert Kocharyan.^[1]

Biography[link]

Gevorgian is the son of Armenian folk-singer Valya Samvelyan. He studied at School #31 of Yerevan and at the A. Tigranyan Musical School at the same time. During the two years he studied at Yerevan #8 college of Fine Arts. From 1983 to 1987 he studied at Armenian State Pedagogical University at the faculty of woodwind instruments and pop music department. In 1987-1989 Gevorgian taught conducting at the same Institute, then he worked at Armenian Television ("3 Alik" TV program).

In 1983 he founded the "Rally" Armenian pop-rock band, the participant of "Song-85" festival.

He participated in the Opening Ceremony of the Cultural Year of Armenia in Russia hosted at the Moscow Kremlin Music Hall and honored by the presence of the presidents of Armenia and Russia Robert Kocharyan and Vladimir Putin respectively and the famous singer Charles Aznavour.

Ara Gevorgian co-operates with Jivan Gasparyan, Ian Gillan, Demis Roussos, Pedro Eustache, Daniel Decker and others. Among his most popular songs are "Adana", "Artsakh", "Ov Hayots Ashkharh" and "Ovkyanosits ayn koghm". Gevorgyan also composed the music for Russian prima ballerina Anastasia Volochkova's "Golden cage" ballet dedicated to the Bolshoi Theater.^[2][3]

He is married, has a daughter and a son.

He has been awarded by the "Mikhail Lomonosov" Russian medal and the gold medal of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia.

Discography[link]

CDs[link]

• 1995 «Օվկիանոսից այն կողմ» (Over the ocean)
• 1997 «Կարոտ» (Nostalgie)
• 1999 «Անի (Ani) (a prize winner of Armenian Music Awards in the US)
• 2001 «Խոր Վիրապ» (Khor Virap) (a prize winner of Armenian Music Awards in the US).
• 2005 «Ադանա» (Adana)
• 2009 «Վաղարշապատ» (Vagharshapat) (a prize winner of Armenian Music Awards in the US).
• 2010 "The Best of Ara Geovrgyan"

DVDs[link]

• 1999 "Live in Alex Theater", Los Angeles, EYE Records
• 2002 "My Sardarapat", live in Armenia
• 2003 "Ov Hayots Ashkhar"
• 2007 "Live in Kremlin", Moscow, Russia
• 2009 "Live in Citadel", Aleppo, Syria
• 2009 "The Best of Ara Gevorgyan

External links[link]

• Ara Gevorgian's Official site
• Ara Gevorgyan-My Sardarabad
• Gevorgyan at MTV.AM
• Armenian Music Center
• Ara Gevorgian's Concert Video - My Sardarapad

References[link]

Eva Rivas
Eva Rivas in Oslo, 23 May 2010
Background information
Birth name	Valeriya Reshetnikova-Tsaturyan
Born	(1987-07-13) 13 July 1987 (age 24) Rostov-on-Don, Russian SFSR, USSR (now Russia)
Origin	Armenia
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1994–present
Associated acts	Ruben Matevosyan, Armenia Production
Website	Official website

Eva Rivas (Armenian: Եվա Ռիվաս, Russian: Ева Ривас; born Valeria Alexandrovna Reshetnikova-Tsaturyan, Russian: Валерия Александровна Решетникова-Цатурян on 13 July 1987) is a Russian-Armenian singer.

Early life[link]

Rivas was born and raised in Rostov-on-Don to an Armenian mother and a father of Russian and Greek descent. She took the stage name Eva Rivas from her Greek great-grandmother.^[1] Growing up in Rostov, she sang in the Armenian "Arevik" ensemble. Rivas is 6 foot 4.

Eurovision Song Contest 2010[link]

On 14 February 2010, Rivas won the Armenian National Final and went on to represent Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song "Apricot Stone".^[2] She placed 6th in the semi final and advanced to the final where she performed 21st in the line-up and placed 7th with a total of 141 points.^[3]

Rivas will continue traveling around Europe, promoting her song. She wished to represent Armenia again in the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.^[4] but Armenia didn't qualify.

See also[link]

• Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Eva Rivas

• Official Website
• Blog Live Journal

v t e Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest   Participation 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013   Artists 2000s André Hayko Sirusho Inga and Anush 2010s Eva Rivas Emmy   Songs 2000s "Without Your Love" "Anytime You Need" "Qélé, Qélé" "Jan Jan" 2010s "Apricot Stone" "Boom Boom" (Note: Entries scored out are when Armenia did not compete)

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Nune Yesayan (Armenian: Նունե Եսայան) (born August 5, 1969 in Yerevan, Armenia) commonly known as Nune or Nouné is a popular Armenian pop singer who began singing with an Armenian jazz band in the early 1990s before becoming a lounge singer at resorts in the Middle East. While performing in Damascus, she observed that young Syrians knew the words to old folk songs performed by contemporary singers, which was not true of young Armenians.

Biography[link]

Even before studying music in college, Yesayan made a name for herself at her high school for being a gifted vocalist and talented performer. She graduated from high school in 1986 and was accepted to the Polytechnic University of Yerevan to study engineering.

During her first year in college, Nune excelled in her engineering studies and received high marks in both mathematics and physics. She spent her time away from school performing Armenian folk music with an amateur band. The group, which included long-time friend and collaborator Arthur Hagopian, appeared at small venues and a few concerts.

After successfully completing her first year of course work at the Polytechnic University in 1987, Nune decided to change her major and focus on her passion for music. She applied for admission and was accepted to the Jazz and Pop College of Yerevan, where she began her studies in the Fall of 1988.

Nune's teachers and vocal coaches at the Jazz and Pop College included famed Armenian jazz performer Datevig Hovanissian and Yerevan's most prolific pop producer, composer Arthur Grigorian. In addition to her intense rehearsal and study schedule at the College, Nune performed regularly at Grigorian's Yerevan jazz club, "Azad Jamantz".

Following graduation from the Jazz and Pop College in 1990, Nune auditioned and was accepted into the Armenian National Jazz Orchestra. Under the direction of famed composer and conductor Constantine Orbelian, Nune performed with the Orchestra in Armenia and throughout the former Soviet Union, singing Armenian folk songs and jazz standards.

Nune's first television appearance as a solo act was on the "Ayo" television program, a show similar to "Pop Idol". Nune won the highest possible scores from a panel of judges, retained the title of "top female vocalist" for the entire length of the television season and quickly became a household name in Armenia.

Similar successes followed in 1990 and 1991, when Nune participated in two more nationally televised talent competition shows. Nune was named "Miss Soul" in 1990 and "Best Female Vocalist" at the Asoop (Comet) Award Show in 1991. Accolades and honors from domestic and international awards shows including the "Armenian Music Awards" in Los Angeles have continued and included honors for best album, best music video, best concert and best female vocalist.

Nune recorded her first album of traditional Armenian songs in 1991. It was produced by Garbis Titizian and Prime Entertainment. Arthur Hagopian, who was part of Nune's first amateur band, arranged the album using modern instruments and contemporary arrangements. The music video for her rendition of the folks song "Kele Lao" was an immediate hit in the Armenia Diaspora and a regular staple of the US-based Armenian television station, Horizon (TV).

In an interview, Nune said "I was jealous" in English in an interview before her concert here, occasionally turning to an interpreter for assistance. "That's when I decided to do something the young people will sing and remember the words. I wanted to work with Armenian folk songs, rearrange them and make them appealing to young people".

In 1991 and 1992, Nune was invited by her former teacher, Arthur Grigorian, to perform in shows he produced. Her appearances on television with Grigorian's group were a hit, and the group's concerts were always sold out.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, harsh economic conditions in Armenia forced Nune to seek employment opportunities abroad. Her ability to sing in many languages and in various styles won her contracts at 5 Star hotels in the Middle East. During her concerts and small-venue shows, Nune sang contemporary hits, pop and jazz standards and songs in English, Arabic, French and Armenian.

Upon her return to Armenia in 1997, Nune partnered again with Prime Entertainment in an effort to distribute her CDs internationally. Executive Producer Garbis Titizian arranged for the release of Nune's first CD and the recording and distribution of her second album, World.

In 1998, Nune formed her own band, which continues to work with her today. Together with her musicians, Nune took her band on the road throughout Armenia, performing benefit concerts for the Armenia Fund, an organization which fund the development of Armenia's infrastructure.

Nune's North American debut took place at the Pasadena Civic Center Auditorium in Southern California. Because of her hit music videos and popular CDs, Nune sold out her first concert in the US and enjoyed unexpected and unprecedented attention during her appearances at Armenian schools and record stores.

Since the release of Kavare Mer and Who Knows in 1998 and 1999, Nune has released one new album each year including World in 2000, Nune in 2001, Love in 2002, Sayat Nova in 2003, Me in 2004 and her International Album of Nune in 2005. Her musical range has expanded from singing traditional Armenian folk songs to include singing new songs written specially for her.

Every one of Nune's concerts in the United States, Canada, England, France, Syria, Lebanon, Greece, Argentina, Australia, Russia and Armenia have sold out weeks in advance. Her concert in honor of those who lost their lives during the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, was attended by nearly eight thousand people and mentioned on the CNN "World Report" and the Mir and Associated Press television news services.

Nune's most notable concert venues have included the Hamaleer Sport Complex in Armenia, the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and the Lincoln Center in New York City. She has also appeared in concert with famed Armenian-Persian singer Andy and French idol Patrick Fiori. Her largest audiences to date was at a charity concert she performed at the Cascade in Yerevan. The open-air concert attracted more than 35,000 fans.

In addition to her charity concerts, Nune has continued to dedicate her time and efforts to helping her homeland and her people. She has appeared as a host and guest of the globally telecast Armenia Fund Telethon in 2000 and 2004 and continues to enjoy press coverage in Armenia, Russia and in Armenian publications throughout the Diaspora.

Even mainstream American media, including the New York Times and Boston Globe, have taken note of her fame and written about her phenomenal fame and status among her people and her impact on the world of Armenian music.

Discography[link]

• 1991:
• 1998: Kavare Mer
• 1999: Who Knows
• 2000: World
• 2001: Nune
• 2002: Love
• 2003: Sayat Nova (King Of Songs)
• 2004: Me
• 2005: Nune: International Album
• 2006: Dle Yaman

Music videos[link]

"Who Knows"

• Khkhcha
• Mi Bala

"World"

• Ari Yar
• Inchu Es Kez Sireci

"Me"

• Hognel Em
• Konn Em

"Nune"

• Vooy Nare
• Nune
• Gheseye Eshgh
• Prosto Eto Ya (I'm easy)

"Love"

• Romance

"Agha Jan"

• Agha Jan

"Dle Yaman"

• Miayn Es Ev Du
• Nairyan Dalar Bardi
• Hasarak Mard

External links[link]

• Official Website
• Nune Yesayan Music Videos