District of Yerevan

The Quarters of Yerevan (Armenian: թաղ or թաղամաս) are the smallest administrative division of Yerevan.

New quarters

The new quarters of Yerevan are the quarters and districts of Yerevan, were mainly built during Soviet rule.

Nor Arabkir

This quarter is one of the large and a prospering quarters of Yerevan. It located in the north-western part of the city. In 1924 between Yerevan and Kanaker was decided to establish a town with name Nor Arabkir. In October 24, 1925 the quarter of Nor Arabkir was founded. The repatriation of Armenians from Arapgir to Nor Arabkir helps to make the quarter prosperous. The name of the quarter transferred from Western Armenia. Arapgir was city in the vilayet of Kharberd. Until the Armenian Genocide Arapgir with surrounded villages had about 20 thousand Armenian population. Alike other Armenian cities of the Ottoman Empire the majority of Arapgir's Armenian population had either deported, or killed. Part of survivors had been migrated to Soviet Armenia, others migrated to another countries and establish Patriotic Unions. In 1925 north to Yerevan was established Nor Arabkir suburb and there were built many not big factories. But later Yerevan expanding to north and Arabkir became part of Yerevan.

Nor Butaniya

This name transfers from north-western part of Anatolia. It was a Greek colony was called Butania, it transferred in 1937. Butania had established by the Armenians those came from the cities of Butania (the region in the north-western part of Asia Minor) — Nicomedia (Izmit), Bursa, Adabazar, Gastemuni etc. This quarter begins from Yerevan train station to and reaches to park of Komsomol in one side, and to Nor Aresh in another side.

Nor Malatia

Malatia was called one of the suburbs of Yerevan. Malatya, historical Melitinen, was located in the south-western vilayet of Kharberd. The number of Armenians from Malatya was counted 20 thousand people. Until the Armenian Genocide Armenians had migrated to America. In 1925 Armenians migrated from Malatya establish a quarter in Shahumian district.

Cheremushka-Ajapnyak

Yerevan, expanding, cross the Hrazdan River. The first quarter to built in the right bank of the river was Ajapnyak (Armenian: Աջափնյակ). The word "Ajapnyak" means "the right bank" (in Armenian), refers to its location on the right bank of Hrazdan River. The name of Cheryomushki "transfers" from Moscow. In the wide and large area, where were growing not big trees called "черёмуха"("cheryomukha"), meaning of "Bird Cherry tree" in Russian. There were built a new quarter and called "Cheryomushki". The same happened in Yerevan. In Ajapnyak's empty area were built buildings, that were alike of Moscow's buildings.

Arajin Mas and Errord Mas

Arajin Mas and Errord Mas (Armenian: Առաջին մաս and Երրորդ մաս) in 1932 in the quarter "Kauchuk" arose building works. There were built dwelling-houses. Ther were created new quarter Arajin mas (Armenian: Առաջին մաս, First part), Erkrord mas (Armenian: Երկրորդ մաս, Second part), Errord mas (Armenian: Երրորդ մաս, Third part) and Chorord mas (Armenian: Չորորդ մաս, Fourth part). In Arajin mas were built a Rubber factory, in Errord mas dwelling-houses. The dwelling-houses in Chorod mas were the continuation of the dwelling-houses of Arajin mas. And the term "Chorord mas" never consumed again. Only Arajin mas and Errord mas consumed.

Kanaz

Kanaz is one of the newest quarters of Yerevan. The word "Kanaz" is an abbreviation. Kanaz is an abbreviation of Russian: "Канакерский аллюминовый завод" ("KANakerskiy Allyuminoviy Zavod", "KANaker Aluminum Plant"). The aluminum plant was built in 1939 in Yerevan's northern part, which located in Kanaker's administrative area and naturally was called Kanaker Aluminum Plant. Later, the name was spread on all environment , the area was connected to Yerevan, but the name as denomination of all massif stayed.

Old quarters

Panorama of Yerevan, 1672

View of Erevan in 1796 by G. Sergeevich. Courtesy of Aram Arkoun.

The old quarters of Yerevan are the historical quarters and districts of Yerevan, were mainly built during Persian and Russian rules.

Yerevan had three main parts (mahlans), those were

• Kond (Tapabashi),
• The Main City (Shahar),
• Qarahanq (Demir-Bulagh).

The market was separate, between Kond and the Main City.

Kond

Kond (Armenian: Կոնդ), the name received thanks of its high position. During Persian rule it was called Tapabashi, which means "long hill" in Persian. Kond was connected with the fortress, which was the seat of Yerevan's Khan (sirdar or sardar). On the site of the fortress the "Ararat" wine factory was later built.

Shahar (The Main City)

The Main City (Bun qaghaq), was later called "Shahar" (Persian: شهر , IPA: [šahr]) in French meaning of city. The quarter was located in the place of cinema "Moskva" ("Moscow"). Shahar didn't become the city's business center.

Qarahanq or Demir-Bulagh

The word Qarahanq means "the ore of rock" in Armenian. This quarter was located in the city's north-eastern part, andwas later called Demir-Bulagh (Template:Lang-tr), which means "iron source" in Turkish, (there was a lot of rock ore here). The quarter had many gardens:

• Garden of Kond,
• Garden of Dalma, and
• Garden of Demir-Bulagh.

Dava-Yatagh

The word Dava-Yatagh means "sleeping-place of camels" in Turkish (Template:Lang-tr). It was in the place of today's Yerevan's "Saritagh" quarter. Caravans of camels once passed through this quarter, which connected Iran to Transcaucasia.

Painting Old Yerevan, 1928 by Saryan on Soviet stamp of 1980

Shilachi

Shilachi was the quarter of craftsmen. There were different craftsmen of different occupation (potters, curriers, and painters). They had their workshops and in honor of red painters the quarter was called Shilachi.

Ghantar

The word Ghantar means "the big scale of the market" in Arabic. The quarter was the active and business center of old Yerevan. Ghantar belonged to the City Administration. Later, instead of Ghanatar, was built the close market and called Ghantar. In 1938 in the place of Ghantar was built a children's park (during Soviet period was called children's park after Kirov)

Bulvar

Bulvar was a huge and long boulevard (alley). The quarter was the favorite resting place for the residents of Yerevan. Cinema "Fantasia" was in the City Administration, which was in Bulvar. In the top of the building stands the City Clock. Bulvar was in the place between modern Yerevan's Republic Square and Stepan Shahumyan's memorial.

Avan

Avan (Armenian: Ավան) the word "avan" means village, settlement in Armenian. Avan wasn't fenced and differentiate from all of the parts of the city with that. Avan, in ancient times, was a famous settlement, even a seat of Catholics. The church of Avan coming from 6th century is famous, too. The church was built by Hovhan Syunakan.

Gallery

• 
  Yerevan in 1796
• 
  Yerevan's Russian Orthodox Church
• 
  Minaret of the Urban Mosque of Yerevan
• 
  The Khan's Mosque in Yerevan.

The City of Yerevan, 1827

See also

• History of Yerevan
• Yerevan
• Erebuni Fortress
• Armenian Oblast
• Erivan Governorate
• Khanate of Erevan
• History of Armenia

References

• Albert Parsadanyan. Intelligence Warehouse-2. Yerevan, VMV-Print, 2005, p. 150-152.
• Template:Hy icon Կամսար Ավետիսյան. ՀԱՅՐԵՆԱԳԻՏԱԿԱՆ ԷՏՅՈՒԴՆԵՐ - ԵՐԵՎԱՆԻ ՄԻԿՐՈՏՈՊՈՆԻՄԻԿԱՆ. Երևան, «Սովետական գրող» հրատարակչություն, 1979
• Template:Hy icon Կամսար Ավետիսյան. ՀԱՅՐԵՆԱԳԻՏԱԿԱՆ ԷՏՅՈՒԴՆԵՐ - ՀԱՅՐԵՆԻՔՈԻՄ ՎԵՐԱՀԱՍՏԱՏՎԱԾ ՏԵՂԱՆՈՒՆՆԵՐ. Երևան, «Սովետական գրող» հրատարակչություն, 1979