- Bagaran
Infobox Settlement
official_name =Bagaran Բագարան
native_name =
pushpin_
mapsize =150px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =Armenia
subdivision_type1 = Marz (Province)
subdivision_name1 =Armavir
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_title =
established_date =
area_total_km2 =
area_footnotes =
population_as_of =2001
population_total =652
population_density_km2 =
timezone =UTC
utc_offset = +4
timezone_DST =DST
utc_offset_DST = +5
latd=40|latm=08 |lats=58 |latNS=N
longd=43|longm=41 |longs=34 |longEW=E
elevation_m =
area_code =
website =Bagaran (Lang-hy|Բագարան; formerly Haji-Bayramli) is a town and former fortress in the Armavir Province of
Armenia , located 5 kilometers west of the right bank of theAkhurian River , and formerly a capital of Armenia.Bagaran, literally meaning "God's Place", was founded at the end of the 3rd century BCE by the Armenian King
Orontes IV (212 BCE - 200 BCE) to house the images of the gods and royal ancestors brought from the earlier holy city of Armavir. Orontes established his brotherEruaz there as high priest of the Armenian pantheon [Moses of Khorene, 2.40] During his reign, Bagaran became the religious center and holy city ofOrontid Armenia. In the time ofArtaxias I (190 BCE - 160 BCE) the idols of Bagaran were transferred to the new capital ofArtaxata . [Moses of Khorene, 2.49] Nevertheless, Bagaran remained an important religious center of Armenia until its conversion toChristianity in301 . [http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v3f4/v3f4a067.html Article in Iranica.com] ]When the Bagratids took control of the region in the
9th century , Bagaran was briefly their first capital. After the consecration ofAni as the new capital of Armenia, the town flourished as a stop on the transit trade route from there to the West.Bagaran was noted for the fine church of St. Theodore (built
624 -631 ). The old city was destroyed in the Mongol period but its remains were still visible in the early 20th century. Since, a new town has arisen on the site.References
*GEOnet2|32FA8852C00F3774E0440003BA962ED3
*ArmenianCensus|130
*RediscoveringArmenia|39
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