Sisian
Encyclopedia
Sisian formerly also known as Sisakan, Sisavan and later Garakilse, is a city in the southern province of Syunik
, Armenia
. Located on both banks of Vorotan River, 6 km south of the Yerevan
-Meghri
highway, at a distance of 217 km from Yerevan
and 115 km from Kapan
. Sisian forms an urban community (municipality). The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
(ARMSTAT) reported its population was 16,735 in 2010, down from 16,843 at the 2001 census.
, the name of Sisakan -and subsequently Sisian- was derived from Sisak
, a legendary ancestor of the Armenian princely house of Syuni.
became the residence of the princes and the religious leaders of Syunik
. It remained the spiritual and the political centre of the region until the end of the 10th century, when the fortified town of Kapan
in Baghk canton was selected as capital of the newly established Kingdom of Siwnik.
Syunik
Syunik is the southernmost province of Armenia. It borders the Vayots Dzor marz to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave to the west, Karabakh to the east, and Iran to the south. Its capital is Kapan. Other important cities and towns include Goris, Sisian, Meghri, Agarak, and Dastakert...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. Located on both banks of Vorotan River, 6 km south of the Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
-Meghri
Meghri
Meghri is a city in southern Armenia, located in the Syunik province, near the border with Iran. The city's economy is based on the food industry, and contains a bread-baking factory, canneries and a winery. Meghri has a significantly milder climate than the rest of the cities in Armenia, and...
highway, at a distance of 217 km from Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
and 115 km from Kapan
Kapan
-Notable landmarks:*Vahanavank monastery*Baghaberd and Halidzor Fortresses.*Tatev Monastery - This monastery, situated northwest of Kapan was founded in the ninth century in the place of an ancient tabernacle well-known in ancient times...
. Sisian forms an urban community (municipality). The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
National Statistical Service of Republic of Armenia is the national statistical agency of Armenia.The statistical institution started its main activity from January 7, 1922 and was called Statistical Department of Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia...
(ARMSTAT) reported its population was 16,735 in 2010, down from 16,843 at the 2001 census.
Etymology
The area of modern-day Sisian was also called Sisakan during ancient historical periods. According to Movses KhorenatsiMovses Khorenatsi
Moses of Chorene, also Moses of Khoren, Moses Chorenensis, or Movses Khorenatsi , or a 7th to 9th century date) was an Armenian historian, and author of the History of Armenia....
, the name of Sisakan -and subsequently Sisian- was derived from Sisak
Sisak (eponym)
Sisak was the legendary ancestor of the Armenian princely house of Syuni, also called Siunids, Syunid and Syuni. The Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi states that Sisak was the brother of Harmar who was known as Arma, son of Gegham and a descendant of the legendary patriarch of the Armenians,...
, a legendary ancestor of the Armenian princely house of Syuni.
History
Historically, the territory of modern Sisian was part of Tseghuk canton (Armenian: Ծղուկք գաւառ Tsghukk gavar), at the heart of the ancient province of Syunik, within Armenia Major. During the 4th century, the nearby historic settlement of ShaghatShaghat
Shaghat is a village and rural community in the Syunik Province of Armenia. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia reported its population was 1,219 in 2010, up from 1,049 at the 2001 census....
became the residence of the princes and the religious leaders of Syunik
Syunik
Syunik is the southernmost province of Armenia. It borders the Vayots Dzor marz to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave to the west, Karabakh to the east, and Iran to the south. Its capital is Kapan. Other important cities and towns include Goris, Sisian, Meghri, Agarak, and Dastakert...
. It remained the spiritual and the political centre of the region until the end of the 10th century, when the fortified town of Kapan
Kapan
-Notable landmarks:*Vahanavank monastery*Baghaberd and Halidzor Fortresses.*Tatev Monastery - This monastery, situated northwest of Kapan was founded in the ninth century in the place of an ancient tabernacle well-known in ancient times...
in Baghk canton was selected as capital of the newly established Kingdom of Siwnik.
Notable people from Sisian
- Nicholas AdontzNicholas AdontzNicholas Adontz was a prominent Armenian historian, specialist of Byzantine and Armenian studies, and philologist. Adontz was the author of the Armenia in the Period of Justinian, a highly influential work and landmark study on the social and political structures of early Medieval Armenia.-Early...
(1871-1942), Armenian historian - Israel OriIsrael OriIsrael Ori was a prominent figure of the Armenian national liberation movement and a diplomat that sought the liberation of Armenia from Persia and the Ottoman Empire.-Early life:...
(1658-1711), Armenian diplomat