Culture

Armenians have cherished their artistic customs in ancient times, which reflect the unique culture and landscape. The aspects of everyday life are expressed in every artistic form: knitting, engraving and design.

One of the most interesting forms of art is architecture in Armenia, such as the frescoes of churches and the artistic illustration in the spring sculptures. Architecture is omnipresent in every town and village in Armenia.

Armenians love music and have been writing and composing their own, very profound, melodious and pleasant lyrics and melodies for over a thousand years. Armenian hymns are traditional church songs that are experiencing a rebirth today. Characteristic musical instruments are used. The most important musicians and composers of the Armenian people are Sayat-Nova, Komitas and Aram Khachaturian. Contemporary music is performed in the guise of jazz and pop. The Komitas Conservatory supports Armenian musicians to perfect the future generation. The frequent concerts in the Philharmonic Hall, the Chamber Music Hall, the Opera House and the Ballet Theater make for wonderful cultural evenings in Yerevan.

Literature has always played an important role in Armenia's cultural and national identity. Until the creation of the Armenian alphabet in the 5th century, Armenian tales were transmitted orally or through texts written in foreign languages. The Armenian manuscripts are decorated with beautiful miniature pictures and combine with literary and illustrated customs of Armenia and are unique in their form.

Christian culture and the Armenian language are expressed through the millennia-old Armenian writing invention of Mesrop Mashtoz, which is not subject to significant change. To see this literary and artistic history, there is no better place than the Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts in Yerevan, where a total of 14,000 collections of manuscripts, excerpts and extraordinary miniature paintings are kept.

The theater of Armenia has more than 2000 years of history. The Matenadaran Institute houses numerous manuscripts relating to Armenian theater history. The Greek historian Plutarkos testified that in 53 BC the play by Evripides “Bacchus” was staged in the Armenian city of Artashat and that the Armenian king Artavazd was passionate about writing tragedies.

In the 5th century, valuable information about Armenian theater was recorded by the chronicler Hovhan Mandakuni and Davit Kertyol, and later by Tovma Artsruni (9th-10th century) and others, as a result of which classical Armenian theater has remained immortal throughout the centuries until today. Today, the traditions of Armenian theater are carried on with great enthusiasm and responsibility.

Armenian painting flourished in the 19th century. The artists and portrait painters of this period were Hakob Hovnatanyan and Hovhannes/Ivan Aivazovski, who still enjoy international recognition today. In the 20th century, Martiros Saryan brought a new light to the essence of landscape and Arshile Gorky had a great influence on the young generation of American artists in New York, while Garzun and Jansem achieved great fame and prestige in France. A visit to Saryan Park will introduce you to contemporary artists.

The Caucasus region and the Republic of Armenia in particular is considered by scholars to be the place where carpet weaving originated. In Armenia, this tradition continues to this day. Carpet weaving is not only an art, it is used for example for clothing, bags and for the preparation of home furniture․

At weekends, artisans present and offer their handmade art goods, which are pleasing to the eye with attractive colors and patterns, at open-air exhibitions and fairs. In the same fair you will see the abundance of handmade attractive works and it will be difficult not to make purchases. Visitors to Armenia can find handmade works, Armenian gold, precious and semi-precious stones. The obsidian stone is used for making jewelry, desk accessories and decorative items.

Armenia is famous for its cross stones, which are scattered all over the country and each of them is unique.

Armenia is often referred to as an open-air museum by tourists. They can find about 4000 historical monuments all over the territory of Armenia, covering the world history of different periods, from prehistoric to Hellenistic times and from early Christian times to the Middle Ages. There are more than 40 art museums and galleries in Yerevan alone.