Tigranocerta

Tigranocerta (Greek: Τιγρανόκερτα, Tigranόkerta; Armenian: Տիգրանակերտ, Tigranakert), also called Cholimma or Chlomaron in late antiquity, was a city and the capital of the Armenian Kingdom between 77 and 69 BCE. It bore the name of Tigranes the Great (Tigranes II), who founded the city in the first century BC.There is no common agreement on the precise location of Tigranocerta; it was either near present-day Silvan, or Arzan (Arzn, in the Armenian province of Arzanene or Aghdznik), east of Diyarbakır, Turkey, or in the valley of the Garzan river as mentioned by T. A. Sinclair It was one of four cities in historic Armenia named Tigranakert; the others were in Nakhichevan, Artsakh, and Utik.

Its population has been estimated at up to 100,000, "over a quarter of a million", possibly 300,000, or even 500,000. These are partly or entirely based on Appian, who in Mithridatic War attests that Tigranes carried 300,000 people from Cappadocia to Tigranocerta. Many scholars cite the number without critical examination, while Thomas Sinclair found it exaggerated.

Foundation

Tigranes the Great, being a bearer of Hellenistic culture, founded eponymous cities during his reign. Four cities named Tigranakert and three named Tigranavan are known. Tigranes' new conquests stretched from the Caspian Sea to southern Syria. The former capital, Artashat (founded by Artashes I), had become isolated from the main trade routes and lay in the eastern corner of the vast empire. This compelled the Armenian king to build a new, more centrally located capital.

In the 70s BCE, when Greater Armenia was at its peak of power, Tigranes founded the city and named it after himself. The city was built on a strategic location along the trade routes connecting Mesopotamia, the East, and the West. The Royal Road from Susa to Sardis passed to the south, linking Tigranocerta to major commercial networks.

To populate the capital, Tigranes forcibly relocated the urban population of conquered countries to Armenia. According to Appian, 300,000 people were transferred from Cappadocia alone. Approximately 100,000 more were brought from 12 cities of Cilicia. Many scholars cite these figures without critical examination, while Thomas Sinclair considered them exaggerated. The total population relocated has been estimated at up to half a million, settled in Tigranocerta, Artashat, Armavir, Yervandashat, Van, and other cities. Strabo writes:"The Armenian king Tigranes, during his campaigns in Cappadocia, put the Jews in a difficult situation; the king expelled all the Mazakians to Mesopotamia, forming the population of Tigranocerta with them. Later, after the capture of Tigranocerta, those who were able returned to their homeland".

Structure and layout

Tigranocerta was a Hellenistic-style city, designed to impress and to serve as a commercial and cultural hub. The city was surrounded by walls 50 cubits high (approximately 25 meters). Inside these walls, warehouses, armories, and stables were built. According to Tacitus:"A city that had many defenders and strong walls. Besides, a fairly wide river, the Nikephorios, flows through part of the city's fortifications".The city had a citadel (acropolis) and eight gates. One known gate was Arzan, meaning "Gate of Burials", located in the southern part of the city. According to tradition, the names of Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena were written on the facades of all the towers and gates of the city of Maruban.

The magnificent palace of Tigranes the Great was located outside the city, amidst gardens and flower beds. The Royal Avenue leading to Artashat via Manazkert and Zarehavan began at Tigranocerta. It connected to the valley of the Aratsani River via a road through the mountainous regions of Nerdzhik and Shenik.

Unlike the sprawling slave-owning cities of the ancient East (Babylon, Nineveh), Tigranocerta occupied a relatively small area relative to its large population. This was because most inhabitants were engaged in crafts and trade, not agriculture. Lucullus was able to surround the populous city with relatively few troops, indicating its compact layout.

Population and demographics

The population of Tigranocerta has been estimated variously. Modern estimates range from 100,000 to over 250,000, possibly 300,000, or even 500,000. These figures derive largely from Appian's account of the 300,000 Cappadocians resettled there. The population was ethnically diverse, including Armenians, Cappadocians, Cilicians, Syrians, Jews, and others forcibly relocated or attracted by trade.

Economy and culture

The city's markets were filled with traders and merchants from all over the ancient world. Tigranocerta quickly became a very important commercial and cultural center of the Near East. The majority of the population was engaged in crafts and trade; agriculture was likely practiced on a small scale.

Theater of Tigranocerta

The oldest record of the existence of Armenian theater is associated with the theater of Tigranocerta. Tigranes gathered skilled specialists in crafts and arts from various countries, including actors, and built a theater building. It was a Hellenistic-type theater with a Greek-speaking troupe. The repertoire consisted of works by Greek playwrights.

Plutarch wrote that Tigranocerta was "a rich and beautiful city where every common man and every man of rank studied to adorn it". The Hellenistic culture during the Artaxiad dynasty had a strong influence, and Greek was the official language of the court.

Background and creation

Tigranes II ascended the throne of Greater Armenia around 95 BCE. Through a series of campaigns, he expanded his kingdom into a vast empire. To administer this empire, he divided Greater Armenia into four major strategic regions or viceroyalties. The new capital, Tigranocerta, was founded in the 70s BCE as the administrative and commercial heart of this empire.