Artashat is a town in Armenia, which is the administrative center of Ararat region. In the past Artashat was the capital of the Great Armenia. It is located at about 28-30 km south-east of Yerevan.
Settlement on the territory of the ancient Artashat existed even in times of Urartu. During the period from 225 to 190 BC. Armenia was conquered by the Persian empire. The major cities of Armenia at that time were Armavir, Arshamashat, Arkatiakert (Arsamosata) Kamakh, Yervandashat, Ervandakert. In 189 BC. independence from Achaemenid Persia was restored. Artashes I, the founder of the Artashesids dynasty was declared as the king of an independent Armenia. Though, it should be noted that he considered himself as a prolonged Ervandid.
Artashes king founded the town in the Ararat valley, naming it after himself. Date of foundation of the ancient Artashat (the Greeks called it Artaksit) indicates different data- somewhere between 190 to 170 BC. According to the most famous version, the city had been founded in 176 BC. The city became the capital of Armenia and has remained as such a long time, except for a brief period when the capital was Tigranakert (from 77 to 69 years BC.). After the defeat of Tigranes II at the Battle of Lucullus under Tigranakert, the capital of the country had been returned to Artashat again. The Romans believed Artashat to be Armenian Carthage, while its founder was believed to be Hannibal.
Artashat stood at a more convenient location than the former capital Armavir – at the crossroads of trade routes on the hills Gavar (County) Vostan Hayots that had allowed it to quickly become a flourishing city. Artashat lies at the foot of Mount Ararat on the left bank of the Arax River near the mouth of the river Metsamor. Citadel and central districts of the city were on nine hills, currently known as Khor Virap.
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