Armenia in the 3rd millennium BC :Armi, Arman(um), Aram

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• published: 22 Jul 2011
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The names Aram, Armen and Arman, feminine Arminé, are common given names by Armenians. The period of passing from Primitive age to civilization and the period of early state formations in Armenian highland took place in early Bronze Age (from the middle of 4th millennium BC up to 24th century BC). The whole Armenian highland was united in one cultural zone in that period. This states the affinity of the inhabitants of the highland. In Armenian Highland from ancient places of early Bronze Age maces were found made of semiprecious stones, which were probably the symbols of power. The Metsamor observatory is one of the achievements of science, from where the starry sky was observed in 2800-2600 BC. The conclusions of European astronomer-historians at the end of the 19th century prove the fact, according to which to the zodiacal constellations were given names in the Armenian Highland in the 28th century BC. Early Bronze Age ceramics of Armenia were rich of symbols and ideograms, which became the base of Armenian hieroglyphs. In 26-23 centuries BC in the territory of Syria rose state Ebla, which had trade relations with neighboring countries. Ebla's manuscripts mention more than twenty residences in the Armenian highland and in its surrounding areas. One of them is Armi, which was the capital of the kingdom of the same name. In the manuscripts of 24-23 centuries "Sons of Haya" (Hayordiner) were mentioned who were the inhabitants of Armi and who established relations with Ebla. In the second half of the 26th century Semitic tribes, who came to Mesopotamia from Arabian Peninsula at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC, formed the first tyranny known in history. The founder of the state Sargon, who was settled in the center of Mesopota­mia in city of Akkad, formed the first permanent army and during 10 years' wars he formed the great power. His army in north came to southern parts of the Armenian highland, but didn't have success. An inscription reached to us, which introduces the geography of the state of Sargon of Akkad, in which Arman(um) toponym was introduced (the previous form of the name Armenia). The fourth king of Akkad Naram-Suen (Naram-Sin, 23rd century BC) undertook many military invasions up to the streams of Euphrates and Tigris. He mentioned land Aram in the territory between lakes Van and Urmia. That territory was again mentioned in the period of Kingdom of Van in the same way (Aramali, Armarili). According to Movses Khorenatsi (Moses of Chorene) the names armen and Armenia are based on Aram. Naram-Suen carried out some invasions to the upper stream of Euphrates. One of his largest inscriptions tells about it, where Arman(um) is presented as a land, which "hasn't been conquered by any king after creation of mankind". He left a monument with his figurative relief and inscription in the region of Diyarbakir (Digranakert), which prompts us that land Arman(um) was in the territory of Aghdznik. Then an alliance of the Armenian highland and neighboring 17 state formations were formed against Naram-Suen headed by land Arman(um). Afterwards the control of the alliance of seventeen lands from Arman(um) passed to Kordvats ashkharh (land of Kordvats), which ceased totalitarian power of Naram-Suen.