Thread by @ChrisKhach

Maybe a statue of Saint Gregory the Illuminator or King Tigran II? Something similar to Saint George in Tbilisi’s Tavisupleba (Freedom) Square?

https://twitter.com/hovhannaz/status/1368836739482214400

Some potential examples:

Left: King Trdat I Arshakuni (53-88 AD)

Right: King Tigran II Artashesian (95-55 BC)

These are on display at the Palace of Versailles.

There’s also a statue of King Trdat I (r. 53-88 AD) erected Rome. It was in commissioned 66 AD by Emperor Nero, a personal friend of Trdat. It’s currently displayed at the Louvre in Paris.

Another example: the statue of King Argishti (r. 786–764 BC) at the foot of the Fortress of Erebuni, that laid the foundation for modern-day Yerevan.

Another example: a statue of King Ashot III or Ashot the Merciful Bagratuni (r. 953-977 AD) in Gyumri.

Another example: a Stuart of King Ashot II or Ashot the Iron Bagratuni (r. 914-929 AD) in Ijevan.

Another example: statue of Vardan Mamikonyan (393-451) in Yerevan.

Another example: a statue dedicated to the Battle of Avarayr (451) depicting Vardan Mamikonyan, Catholicos Hovsep I Hoghotsmetsi (t. 437–452), Father Ghevond Yerets, Princess Sahakanush, and Prince Artak Kamsarakan in Gyumri.

Another example: statue of the god Vahagn the Dragons-layer in Yerevan.

Another example: Hayk Nahapet (the Patriarch) the mythical founder of the Armenian nation, the great-grandson of Noah, who established his kingdom in August 11, 2492 BC (the beginning of the ancient Armenian calendar).

Other examples: the statutes of David of Sasun; left in Yerevan and right in Fresno, CA.

I thought maybe a statue dedicated to the victims of the #ArmenianGenocide but then I thought to myself, no. We shouldn’t let that dark chapter of our history define our heroic nation that passed the test of time for millennia. The heart of our capital should celebrate history.

I forgot these two examples: statues of Tigran II or Tigran the Great Artashesian (95-55 BC) in Yerevan; left is on the grounds of the Presidential Palace and right is Nor Nork District.