Sir Catchick Paul Chater Astvatsatryan: He gave Hong Kong its bones and its beauty
Born on 8 September 1846 in Calcutta, as recorded in the baptismal registers of the Armenian Church of Nazareth, Sir Catchick Paul Chater (originally named Hatchik Pogos Astvatsatryan) emerged from tragic beginnings to become the preeminent force behind Hong Kong's
Armenian Attire in Porcelain: Figurines as Cultural Narratives
The Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, located in New York City, serves as the United States’ national museum of design. It operates under the Smithsonian Institution and is housed in the Andrew Carnegie Mansion on Fifth Avenue. Founded in 1897
The Untold Story of Martin the Armenian, America’s First Armenian Immigrant
Martin the Armenian holds a significant place in history as the first recorded Armenian to settle in what is now the United States. Arriving in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1618, Martin was part of the early wave of settlers in the
Petros Baronyan or al-Barun al-Mukhtari: The Armenian Visionary Behind the Ottoman Qibla Indicator
Petros Baronyan, also known by his Arabic title al-Barun al-Mukhtari, was an 18th-century Armenian inventor and dragoman (interpreter) who served the Dutch embassy in Istanbul. In 1738, he created a notable Qibla indicator, known as the Qibla-numā-yi āfaqi, to assist
Armenian Feminist Voices: The Contributions of Srpouhi Dussap, Hayganush Mark, Marie Beyleryan, and Zaruhi Kalemkaryan
Srpouhi Dussap (1840–1901) stands as a pioneering figure in Armenian literature, not only for her literary contributions but also for her role in championing the cause of women’s rights and education. Born in Constantinople in the Ortakoy district, she was
The Armenian Parkapzuk Bagpipe: Tradition and Sound in a Timeless Instrument
The Armenian Parkapzuk (Պարկապզուկ), a variant of the bagpipe, boasts a rich and ancient history, with its origins tracing back to around 1300 BC in the territory of Western Armenia. This wind instrument, deeply ingrained in Armenian musical heritage, consists
Elegance Through Time: The 1881 Armenian Wedding Dress in The Met Collection
The opulent silk and gold components of this garment housed at the Metropolitan Museum of America (Accession Number: 1991.55), alongside its elegantly flowing silhouette, underscore its designation for ceremonial use within Armenian culture. This dress, generously provided by Mrs. Fimi
Ukhtasar Petroglyphs: Ancient Echoes on Armenia’s Sacred Rocks
The Ukhtasar Petroglyphs, known as the rock carvings of Mount Ukhtasar or "Pilgrim Mountain," are located near the town of Sisian in the southern region of Armenia's province of Syunik. This site encompasses over 1,000 adorned rock fragments stretching to
Zhang Heng’s Seismoscope: Ancient Precision in Earthquake Detection
In 132 AD, the polymath Zhang Heng of China devised an intricate seismoscope that garnered significant fascination for its peculiar precision. This remarkable bronze apparatus, adorned with eight dragon heads, concealed a subtle yet ingenious mechanism. Each dragon grasped a
The essential contributions of Armenians to the translation of the Bible into Chinese and Uyghur
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Jesuit missionaries made early attempts to translate portions of the Bible into Chinese. However, the credit for the first complete Chinese translation of the Bible goes to Hovhannes Ghazarian. Another Armenian, Johannes Avetaranian, is
