Artashat

Artashat, Hellenized as Artaxata and Artaxiasata, was a major city and commercial center of ancient Armenia that served as the capital of the Kingdom of Armenia from its founding in 176 BC to 120 AD, with some interruptions [1]. The remains of the great walls of the city and some of its buildings are still visible today [1]. King Artaxias I founded Artaxata as his new capital in 176 BC in the Ostan Hayotsʻ canton of the province of Ayrarat, on a peninsula of nine hills at the confluence of the Araks and Metsamor rivers [1]. Artaxias I built Artaxata's citadel on the height later called Khor Virap and added other fortifications, including a moat [1]. Strabo and Plutarch describe Artaxata as a large and beautiful city and call it the "Armenian Carthage." Excavations have revealed that Artaxata was a major urban center with paved streets, numerous bathhouses, markets, workshops and administrative buildings [1]. The archaeological site is 8 kilometres south of the modern city of Artashat, near the monastery of Khor Virap [1].