Armenians facts for kids

Mesrob Mashtots, the man who made the Armenian alphabet

The Armenians are a group of people who come from the Caucasus region. Their home country is Armenia. Armenian culture is very old and has a rich history.

Armenia was the first country in the world to officially become Christian. This happened when King Tiridates III adopted Christianity, guided by Saint Gregory the Illuminator. Because of this, most Armenians today are Christians.

History of the Armenian People

The Armenian people have a very long history. Ancient texts mention them even thousands of years ago.

Early Mentions

One of the earliest mentions of Armenians is from around 2300 BC. A text from the Akkadian Empire talks about a land called Armani. Many believe this refers to the ancestors of today's Armenians. Even today, some people, like the Assyrians, still call Armenians Armani.

Later, around 1446 BC, an Egyptian pharaoh named Thutmose III wrote about a people called Ermenen. He said their land was so high that "heaven rests upon its four pillars." This likely referred to the Armenian Highlands. Today, some Kurds and Turks still call Armenians Ermeni.

Where the Name "Armenian" Comes From

The name "Armenian" that is used around the world comes from common Armenian names like Arman and Armen.

However, Armenians call themselves Hay (pronounced Hye). This name is traditionally linked to a legendary hero named Haik. He is believed to be the founder of the Armenian nation.

Some experts also think that the name Hay comes from "Haya," a regional god of the Armenian Highlands. This idea is based on ancient Akkadian writings from the 28th and 27th centuries BC.

Related pages

• List of Armenian scientists

Images for kids

• 

  Hayk, the legendary founder of the Armenian nation. Painting by Mkrtum Hovnatanian (1779–1846)

• 

  The Kingdom of Armenia at its greatest extent under Tigranes the Great (95–55 BCE)

• 

  Persis, Parthia, Armenia. Rest Fenner, published in 1835.

• 

  Armenia, Mesopotamia, Babylonia and Assyria with Adjacent Regions, Karl von Spruner, published in 1865.

• 

  The Cathedral of Ani, completed in 1001

• 

  An Armenian woman from Artvin in national costume, photographed by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky between 1909 and 1912.

• 

  1. FBEC5D
• 

  Church service, Yerevan.

• 

  The Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, was established in 301 AD.

• 

  Ancient Tatev Monastery.

• 

  A 14th-century Armenian illuminated manuscript

• 

  The famous Khachkar at Goshavank, carved in 1291 by the artist Poghos.

• 

  Armenian children at the UN Cup Chess Tournament in 2005.

• 

  Armenian girls, weaving carpets in Van, 1907, Ottoman Empire

• 

  Khorovats is a favorite Armenian dish

See also

In Spanish: Armenios para niños