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
The rich tradition of Armenian coppersmithing teeters on the brink of extinction
In previous times, domestic cookware primarily consisted of copper and clay vessels. Copper containers were typically coated with tin, a process known as "tinning," to prevent rusting and maintain their usability. The individuals skilled in this trade were referred to
Two Armenian astrolabes as evidence of Armenian voyages and the cosmopolitan nature of Armenian intellectuals
During the Middle Ages, astrolabes were utilized as compact instruments in Europe and the Middle Eastern world. Their principal functions encompassed measuring the altitude of celestial objects above the horizon, determining precise time and date, and establishing geographical position on
Welcome to the studio museum of the Armenian artist Giotto (Gevorg Grigorian)
The Giotto Studio Museum, located at 45a Mashtots Ave, is a dedicated space honoring the esteemed artist Gevorg Grigoryan, also known as Giotto. Established in Yerevan in 1977 by a group of artists and Diana Ukleba, the artist's widow, it
Exploring the account of the Japanese vessel that rescued Armenians amidst the genocide
Upon the release of her latest publication, Dr. Anna Vardanyan, an accomplished author with a Ph.D. in Economics specializing in International Relations and Japanology, sheds new light on the historical ties between the Armenian and Japanese communities. Her work focuses
Gagik Avetisyan’s legacy as a basement to the activation process of Sino-Armenian cultural exchanges
Gagik Avetisyan, a distinguished Armenian artist, theorist, and artisan (1957-2021) and a member of the Artists’ Union of Armenia left an indelible mark in fostering cultural exchange between China and Armenia. His pivotal role in bridging the artistic communities of
Vehik Ter-Grigoryan: creating perpetual female characters
Vehik Ter-Grigoryan, a Soviet-Armenian artist, was born on April 29, 1903, in Akhaltsikhe, Georgia. She received her education at the Tbilisi State Academy of Arts and later moved to Yerevan in 1945, where she continued her artistic pursuits until her
Armenian “bride’s doll” and its symbolism
The significance of dolls in Armenian culture is highlighted through their ritual roles, which include protection, punishment, fortune-telling, and serving as an "interlocutor." Within Armenian households, a variety of dolls crafted from materials like cloth, thread, dough, clay, wood, metal,
The inscription on the lintel of the 5th-century basilica – the earliest example of Armenian script in use
The Basilica of Saint Sarkis, also known as the Tekor Basilica, was a prominent 5th-century church situated in historical Armenia. It was located on a slope overlooking the village of Digor, previously known as Tekor, and was distinguished by its
