Nakhichevan City
Encyclopedia
Nakhchivan City is the capital of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan
, located 450 km west of Baku
. The municipality of Nakhchivan consists of the city of Nakhchivan and the villages of Başbaşı
, Qarağalıq
, and Daşduz
. It is spread over the foothills of Zangezur chain, on the right bank of the Nakhchivan river at an altitude of almost 1000 m.
, the name "Nakhichavan" in Armenian
literally means "the place of descent", a Biblical
reference to the descent of Noah's Ark
on the adjacent Mount Ararat
. Hübschmann notes, however, that it was not known by that name in antiquity. Instead, he states the present-day name evolved to "Nakhchivan" from "Naxčavan". The prefix "Naxč" was a name and "avan" is Armenian
for "town". Nakhchivan was also mentioned in Ptolemy
's Geography and by other classical writers as Naxuana. Modern historian Suren Yeremyan
disputes this assertion, arguing that ancient Armenian
tradition placed Nakhichevan's founding to the year 3669 BC and, in ascribing its establishment to Noah, that it took its present name after the Armenian phrase "Nakhnakan Ichevan" (Նախնական Իջևան), or "first landing."
According to other versions, the name Nakhchivan derived from the Persian Naqsh-e-Jahān ("Image of the World"), a reference to the beauty of the area. The medieval Arab chronicles referred to the area as Nashava.
notes that according to legend the city of Nakhchivan was founded by Noah
, and the date of the town on the Persian sources in 1539 BC.
In the 2nd century, Nakhchivan was already known to Ptolemy
under the name Ναξουὰνα. Iranian historian and geographer of the 14th century Hamdollah Mostowfi
in his book Nuzhat al-kulub (hearts delight), believed that Sassanid Iranian military commander was the founder of Nakhchivan , who lived in the end of 6th century.
At the end of the 18th century, city became the capital of independent Nakhchivan khanate
.
, shoemaking
and hatting
. These industries have been largely replaced. The restoration enterprises and development industry, liberalization of foreign trade and the extension of the customs infrastructure
, which has been largely responsible for Nakchivan's growth
in the last two decades, are now major parts of Nakchivan's economy.
, also known as 'Atabek Gumbezi'. Momine Khatun was the wife of Eldegizid Atabek Djakhan Pakhlevan, ruler of the Atabek Eldegiz emirate. The 10-sided monument is decorated with intricate geometrical motives and Kufic script, it uses turquoise glazed bricks. It shares the neighbourhood with a statue of its architect
- Ajami Nakhchivani
- and a bust of Heydar Aliyev
. Also from the 12th century and by the same architect, is the octagonal Yusuf Ibn Kuseir tomb, known as Atababa, half abandoned near the main cemetery.
More recent (1993) is the white marble mausoleum of Hussein Javid. The Azeri writer died in the Gulag
under Joseph Stalin
. Both the mausoleum and his house museum are located east of the theatre. Although being a recent construction, Huseyn Javid's mausoleum is of great iconic importance, representing the ability of the exclave to live despite the Armenian embargo and becoming a symbol of Nakhchivan itself.
The city also has many historical museums, the literature museum of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Nakhchivan State History Museum, The Nakhchivan State Carpet Museum, and the house museums of Jamshid Nakhchivanski
and Bahruz Kangarli. There is also an archaeological museum on Istiqlal street. The city has a few interesting mosque
s, particularly the Juma mosque
, with its large dome.
Modern museums in Nakchivan include the museum under Open Air, and along the memorial museum and Heydar Aliyev museum.
semi-arid climate (Köppen
BSk) with short but cold, snowy winters and long, dry, very hot summers.
Currently, light rail line is working from Nakchivan to Ordubad
beyond to Sharur
.
are the most popular sports in Nakhchivan. The city's Araz Naxçivan
is one of the top futsal clubs in the European futsal arena and regularly participates in UEFA Futsal Cup
.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
, located 450 km west of Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
. The municipality of Nakhchivan consists of the city of Nakhchivan and the villages of Başbaşı
Basbasi
Başbaşı is a village in the municipality of Nakhchivan in Nakhchivan City, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan....
, Qarağalıq
Qaragaliq
Qarağalıq is a village in the municipality of Nakhchivan in Nakhchivan City, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan....
, and Daşduz
Dasduz
Daşduz is a village in the municipality of Nakhchivan in Nakhchivan City, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan....
. It is spread over the foothills of Zangezur chain, on the right bank of the Nakhchivan river at an altitude of almost 1000 m.
Etymology
Variations of the name Nakhchivan include Nakhichevan, Naxcivan, Naxçivan, Nachidsheuan, Nakhijevan, Nakhchawan, Nakhitchevan, Nakhjavan and Nakhdjevan. According to the 19th-century language scholar, Johann Heinrich HübschmannJohann Heinrich Hübschmann
Johann Heinrich Hübschmann was a German philologist, born at Erfurt. He studied Oriental philology at Jena, Tübingen, Leipzig, and Munich; in 1876 became professor of Iranian languages at Leipzig, and in 1877 professor of comparative philology at Strassburg. He was the first to put the Armenian...
, the name "Nakhichavan" in Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
literally means "the place of descent", a Biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
reference to the descent of Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark is a vessel appearing in the Book of Genesis and the Quran . These narratives describe the construction of the ark by Noah at God's command to save himself, his family, and the world's animals from the worldwide deluge of the Great Flood.In the narrative of the ark, God sees the...
on the adjacent Mount Ararat
Mount Ararat
Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat and Lesser Ararat .The Ararat massif is about in diameter...
. Hübschmann notes, however, that it was not known by that name in antiquity. Instead, he states the present-day name evolved to "Nakhchivan" from "Naxčavan". The prefix "Naxč" was a name and "avan" is Armenian
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
for "town". Nakhchivan was also mentioned in Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
's Geography and by other classical writers as Naxuana. Modern historian Suren Yeremyan
Suren Yeremyan
Suren Tigrani Yeremyan was an Armenian historian and cartographer who specialized in the studies concerning the formation of the Armenian nation and pre-medieval Armenia and the Caucasus...
disputes this assertion, arguing that ancient Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
tradition placed Nakhichevan's founding to the year 3669 BC and, in ascribing its establishment to Noah, that it took its present name after the Armenian phrase "Nakhnakan Ichevan" (Նախնական Իջևան), or "first landing."
According to other versions, the name Nakhchivan derived from the Persian Naqsh-e-Jahān ("Image of the World"), a reference to the beauty of the area. The medieval Arab chronicles referred to the area as Nashava.
History
The Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic DictionaryBrockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary
The Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary is, in its scope and style, the Russian counterpart to the Encyclopædia Britannica. It contains 121,240 articles, 7,800 images, and 235 maps...
notes that according to legend the city of Nakhchivan was founded by Noah
Noah
Noah was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the tenth and last of the antediluvian Patriarchs. The biblical story of Noah is contained in chapters 6–9 of the book of Genesis, where he saves his family and representatives of all animals from the flood by constructing an ark...
, and the date of the town on the Persian sources in 1539 BC.
In the 2nd century, Nakhchivan was already known to Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
under the name Ναξουὰνα. Iranian historian and geographer of the 14th century Hamdollah Mostowfi
Hamdollah Mostowfi
Hamdollah Mostowfi was a Persian historian, geographer and epic poet.Mostowfi is the author of Nozhat ol-Gholub , Zafar-Nameh , and the Tarikh e Gozideh . His tomb is a structure with a blue turquoise conical dome, at Qazvin.-References and notes:...
in his book Nuzhat al-kulub (hearts delight), believed that Sassanid Iranian military commander was the founder of Nakhchivan , who lived in the end of 6th century.
At the end of the 18th century, city became the capital of independent Nakhchivan khanate
Nakhchivan khanate
The Khanate of Nakhichevan was a feudal state in the southern Caucasus, nominally subordinate to the Persian Shahs, and named after its chief settlement, the town of Nakhichevan....
.
Economy
Traditionally, Nakhchivan was home to trade industry, handicraftHandicraft
Handicraft, more precisely expressed as artisanic handicraft, sometimes also called artisanry, is a type of work where useful and decorative devices are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools. It is a traditional main sector of craft. Usually the term is applied to traditional means...
, shoemaking
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
and hatting
Hatting
Hatting is a municipality in the district Innsbruck-Land and is located 18 km west of the city of Innsbruck. The village was mentioned around 11th century for the first time. The number of inhabitants increased within the last few years.-External links:*...
. These industries have been largely replaced. The restoration enterprises and development industry, liberalization of foreign trade and the extension of the customs infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
, which has been largely responsible for Nakchivan's growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
in the last two decades, are now major parts of Nakchivan's economy.
Cuisine
Nakchivan’s signature cuisine includes plov with gravy (made with mutton, hazelnuts, almonds and dried fruits), dastana, komba, tendir lavash and galin.Museums and galleries
The main sight in the city is the heavily restored 12th century Momine Khatun MausoleumMomine Khatun Mausoleum
The Mausoleum of Momine Khatun is located in Nakhchivan City, the capital of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in Azerbaijan...
, also known as 'Atabek Gumbezi'. Momine Khatun was the wife of Eldegizid Atabek Djakhan Pakhlevan, ruler of the Atabek Eldegiz emirate. The 10-sided monument is decorated with intricate geometrical motives and Kufic script, it uses turquoise glazed bricks. It shares the neighbourhood with a statue of its architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
- Ajami Nakhchivani
Ajami Nakhchivani
Ajami ibn Abubakr Nakhchivani - is a Muslim architect. He is also the founder of the Nakhchivan school of architecture...
- and a bust of Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...
. Also from the 12th century and by the same architect, is the octagonal Yusuf Ibn Kuseir tomb, known as Atababa, half abandoned near the main cemetery.
More recent (1993) is the white marble mausoleum of Hussein Javid. The Azeri writer died in the Gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
under Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
. Both the mausoleum and his house museum are located east of the theatre. Although being a recent construction, Huseyn Javid's mausoleum is of great iconic importance, representing the ability of the exclave to live despite the Armenian embargo and becoming a symbol of Nakhchivan itself.
The city also has many historical museums, the literature museum of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Nakhchivan State History Museum, The Nakhchivan State Carpet Museum, and the house museums of Jamshid Nakhchivanski
Jamshid Nakhichevanski
Jamshid Jafarqulu oglu Nakhichevanski , also known as Jamshid Khan Nakhichevanski, was a Russian Imperial, Azerbaijani and Soviet military commander...
and Bahruz Kangarli. There is also an archaeological museum on Istiqlal street. The city has a few interesting mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s, particularly the Juma mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
, with its large dome.
Modern museums in Nakchivan include the museum under Open Air, and along the memorial museum and Heydar Aliyev museum.
Climate
Nakhchivan has a continentalContinental climate
Continental climate is a climate characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby...
semi-arid climate (Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
BSk) with short but cold, snowy winters and long, dry, very hot summers.
Transportation
Nakhchivan Airport (NAJ), in the north of the city, serves a number of domestic and international destinations including Turkey, Iran and Russia.Currently, light rail line is working from Nakchivan to Ordubad
Ordubad
Ordubad is the second largest town and a municipality of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. It is the capital of the Ordubad rayon. It has a population of 10,372....
beyond to Sharur
Sharur
Sharur is an rayon of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.-History:Sharur formed part of the territory of the Nakhichevan Khanate until its abolition in 1828. In the Russian empire it was made a part of the Armenian Oblast. After the oblast was abolished, it became a part of...
.
Education
There are 3 professional, 6 musical, 22 secondary schools and a military cadet school in Nakchivan administered by the city council.Universities and colleges
Nakchivan is one of the Azerbaijan's main centre of education and home to numerous universities:- Nakhchivan State UniversityNakhchivan State UniversityNakhchivan State University is a public university located in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan. It has 290 faculty members and currently enrolls 3500 students....
- Nakhchivan Private University
- Nakhchivan Teachers Institute
Sports
Football and FutsalFutsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
are the most popular sports in Nakhchivan. The city's Araz Naxçivan
Araz Naxçivan
Araz Naxçivan is a futsal club based in Nakhchivan City, Azerbaijan. The club is very dominant in Azeri futsal, winning Premier League six times in a row.-History:...
is one of the top futsal clubs in the European futsal arena and regularly participates in UEFA Futsal Cup
UEFA Futsal Cup
The UEFA Futsal Cup is an annual futsal competition for European club teams. It was founded in 2001–02, replacing the Futsal European Clubs Championship, a former competition never recognized as official, despite their 15 editions. The final of the 1st edition was disputed as a single game in...
.
Notable natives
- Afiyaddin Dzhalilov — Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Nakhchivan ASSR (1989–1990), Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Nakhchivan ASSR (1990), Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (1990–1991).
- Ajami NakhchivaniAjami NakhchivaniAjami ibn Abubakr Nakhchivani - is a Muslim architect. He is also the founder of the Nakhchivan school of architecture...
— architect. He is also the founder of the Nakhchivan school of architecture. - Amiraslan Aliyev — National Hero of Azerbaijan.
- Aziz Sharif — specialist in literature, translator, Honored Worker of Science of Azerbaijan SSR (1963).
- Bahruz Kangarli — painter, graphic artist and painter. Was one of the founders of Azerbaijani realist easel painting.
- Dzhafarkuli Khan Nakhchivanski — general Governor proclaimed in 1918 the Republic of AraksRepublic of AraksThe Republic of Aras was a short-lived and unrecognized state in the South Caucasus, roughly corresponding with the territory that is now the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan...
. - Qamgyusar — poet.
- Jalil MammadguluzadehJalil MammadguluzadehJalil Huseyngulu oglu Mammadguluzadeh was an Azerbaijani satirist and writer.-Life:Mammadguluzadeh was born in Nakhchivan into an Iranian Azeri merchant family from Khoy...
— writer. - Jamshid NakhichevanskiJamshid NakhichevanskiJamshid Jafarqulu oglu Nakhichevanski , also known as Jamshid Khan Nakhichevanski, was a Russian Imperial, Azerbaijani and Soviet military commander...
— Russian Imperial, Azerbaijani and Soviet military commander. He rose to the rank of CombrigCombrigCombrig was a military rank used in the Red Army for commanders of brigades between 1935 and 1940 . Kombrigs were senior to polkovniks and junior to comdivs...
in the Soviet army. - Heydar AliyevHeydar AliyevHeydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...
— First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan SSR (1969–1982), president of Azerbaijan (1993–2003). - Heyran Khanum — poetess.
- Huseyn JavidHuseyn JavidHuseyn Javid , born Huseyn Abdulla oglu Rasizadeh , other spellings "," was a prominent Azerbaijani poet and playwright of the early 20th century...
— poet and playwright, founder of the progressive romanticism in Azerbaijani literature. - Hussein Khan NakhichevanskiHussein Khan NakhichevanskiHuseyn Khan Nakhchivanski, francised spelling: Hussein Nahitchevansky , was a Russian Cavalry General of Azerbaijani origin. He was the only Muslim to serve as General-Adjutant of the H. I. M...
— Russian Imperial Cavalry General and General-AdjutantAdjutant generalAn Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of the EmperorEmperorAn emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. He was the only Muslim to serve as General-Adjutant of the Russian Emperor. - Kelbali Khan Nakhichevanski — Russian, Azerbaijani and Iranian military commander, General.
- Nicholas Zolotarevski — Hero of Socialist LaborHero of Socialist LaborHero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
. - Rza TahmasibRza TahmasibRza Abbasgulu oglu Tahmasib was an Azerbaijani film director and actor.-Early life:Tahmasib was born Rza Tahmasibbeyov to a wealthy merchant family. He received his primary education at Maktab-i Tarbiyya school in Nakhchivan, where he learned Russian, Persian and Arabic languages. He continued his...
— film director and actor, People's Artist of Azerbaijan SSR (1964). - Sakina Aliyeva — Minister of Education of Nakhchivan ASSR (1961–1963), Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Nakhchivan ASSR (1964–1990).
External links
- Nakhchivan Guide
- Nakhchivan Portal
- World Gazetteer: Azerbaijan – World-Gazetteer.com