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{{Short description|Pioneering 7th-century Armenian scientist}}{{good article}}

factoids

Shirak Province#History>Shirak, Ayrarat,{{sfn2000|p=188}} Sasanian Armenia685}} (aged around 75)| death_place = ArminiyaArmenians>Armenian| education = | notable_works = | era = Early Middle Ages| region = | school_tradition = Hellenizing School| institutions = | main_interests = Mathematics, astronomy, geography, chronology}}Anania Shirakatsi (, {{Transliteration|xcl|Anania Širakac’i}}, anglicized: Ananias of Shirak) was a 7th-century Armenian polymath and natural philosopher, author of extant works covering mathematics, astronomy, geography, chronology, and other fields. Little is known for certain of his life outside of his own writings, but he is considered the father of the exact and natural sciences in Armenia—the first Armenian mathematician, astronomer,{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=32}}{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}} and cosmographer.{{sfn|van Lint|2018|p=68}}A part of the Armenian Hellenizing School and one of the few secular scholars in medieval Armenia, Anania was educated primarily by Tychicus, in Trebizond. He composed science textbooks and the first known geographic work in classical Armenian (Ashkharhatsuyts),{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=222}} which provides detailed information about Greater Armenia, Persia and the Caucasus (Georgia and Caucasian Albania).In mathematics, his accomplishments include the earliest known table of results of the four basic operations,{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=42}} the earliest known collection of recreational math puzzles and problems,{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}} and the earliest book of math problems in Armenian.{{sfn|Greenwood|2018}} He also devised a system of mathematical notation based on the Armenian alphabet, although he was the only writer known to have used it.

Name

His name is usually anglicized as Ananias of Shirak ({{Transliteration|xcl|Širak}}).{{harvnb|Hewsen|1968|p=32}}; {{harvnb|van Lint|2018|p=68}}; {{harvnb|Redgate|2000|p=188}} Anania is the Armenian variant of the biblical name Ananias, itself the Greek version of the Hebrew Hananiah.{{sfn|Acharian|1942|p=148}} The second part of his name denotes his place of origin, the region of Shirak,{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=32}} though it may have become a sort of surname.{{sfn|Hayrapetian|1941|p=3}} In some manuscripts, he is called Shirakuni () and Shirakavants’i ().{{harvnb|Hayrapetian|1941|p=3}}; {{harvnb|Vardanyan|2013|p=9}}; {{harvnb|Broutian|2009|p=2}}; {{harvnb|Abeghian|1944|p=374}}

Life

File:Անանիա Շիրակացի, քանդակագործ` Ա. Պապոյան.jpg|thumb|A statue of Anania at the Alphabet Park near Artashavan by {{ill|Artush Papoyan|hy|Արտուշ Պապոյան}} (2005).JOURNAL, Atanesyan, Laura, Քանդակագործ Արտուշ Պապոյան [Sculptor Artush Papoyan], 2010, 13, 135–139,weblink Armenological Studies, Shirak Armenology Research Center, Armenian National Academy of SciencesArmenian National Academy of Sciences

Background

Anania{{efn|He will be referred to by this name throughout this article, as surnames were not widely used in Armenia at the time.}} Shirakatsi lived in the 7th century.{{harvnb|Hewsen|1968|p=32}}; {{harvnb|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=56}}; {{harvnb|Sarafian|1930|p=99}}; {{harvnb|Thomson|1997|p=220}} The dates of his birth and death have not been definitively established. Robert H. Hewsen noted in 1968 that Anania is widely believed to have been born between 595 and 600;{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=34}} a quarter-century later he settled on c. 610 as a birthdate and 685 as the year he died.{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|p=15}} Agop Jack Hacikyan et al. place his birth in early 600s but agree on 685.{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=56}} James R. Russell, Edward G. Mathews, and Theo van Lint also concur with 610–685,{{sfn|Russell|2004|p=293}}{{sfn|van Lint|2018|p=68}}{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}} while Greenwood suggests c. 600–670.{{sfn|Greenwood|2018}} Vardanyan places his death in the early 690s.{{sfn|Vardanyan|2013|p=17}}Anania is the only classical Armenian scholar to have written an autobiography.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=34}} It is a brief text, characterized as "somewhat self-congratulatory"{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}} and "more a statement of academic pedigree" than autobiography.{{sfn|Greenwood|2011|p=142}} It was probably written as the preface to one of his scholarly works, possibly the K’nnikon.{{sfn|van Lint|2018|p=68}} He was the son of Yovhannes and was born in the village of Anania/Aneank’ () or in the town of Shirakavan (Yerazgavors),{{harvnb|Abeghian|1944|p=374}}; {{harvnb|Acharian|1942|p=149}}; {{harvnb|Tumanian et al.|1974|p=362}} in the canton of Shirak, in the central Armenian province of Ayrarat.{{harvnb|van Lint|2018|p=68}}; {{harvnb|Greenwood|2018}}; {{harvnb|Mathews|2008a|p=70}}; {{harvnb|Hewsen|1968|p=34}} Aneank' may be connected to the later city of Ani, the Bagratid Armenian capital.{{harvnb|Greenwood|2018}}; {{harvnb|Greenwood|2011|p=144}}; {{harvnb|Hayrapetian|1941|p=4}}Anania probably came from a noble family.{{sfn|van Lint|2018|p=68}} Since his name is sometimes spelled as Shirakuni (), Hewsen argued that he may have belonged to the house of the Kamsarakan or Arsharuni princes of Shirak and Arsharunik’, respectively.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=34}} Greenwood suggests that it is more likely that Anania came from the lesser nobility in Shirak, who served the house of Kamsarakan.{{sfn|Greenwood|2011|p=145}} Broutian describes his father as a "minor Armenian nobleman."{{sfn|Broutian|2009|p=2}} Vardanyan believes he either came from the Kamsarakan family or that they were his patrons.{{sfn|Vardanyan|2013|p=9}}Anania is traditionally thought to have been buried in the village of Anavank’; however, the tradition probably originated from the name of the village.{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}}

Education

Anania received his early education at the local Armenian schools, possibly at Dprevank’ monastery,{{sfn|Tumanian et al.|1974|p=362}} where he studied sacred texts and earlier Armenian authors.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=34}}{{sfn|Terian|1980|p=180}} Due to the lack of teachers and books in Armenia, he decided to travel to the Byzantine Empire to study mathematics.{{sfn|Greenwood|2018}}{{sfn|Terian|1980|p=180}} After first traveling to Theodosiopolis, then to the Byzantine-controlled province of Fourth Armenia (probably Martyropolis),{{sfn|Redgate|2000|p=188}} where he studied under the mathematician Christosatur for six months.{{sfn|Redgate|2000|p=188}} He then left to find a better teacher and learned about Tychicus,{{efn|also transliterated as Tukhikos{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}} and Tykhikos;{{sfn|Russell|2004|p=293}} , Classical Armenian: Տիւքիկոս}} who was based at the monastery (or martyrium) of Saint Eugenios in Trebizond.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=34}}{{sfn|Greenwood|2018}} Redgate placed this in the 620s.{{sfn|Redgate|2000|p=188}} Greenwood has speculated that Tychicus, not mentioned elsewhere, may actually be Stephanus of Alexandria.{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=11}}File:YSU Shirakatsi statue.jpg|thumb|A statue of Anania at Yerevan State UniversityYerevan State UniversityAnania devoted a significant part of his autobiography to Tychicus (born c. 560), with whom he spent eight years in the 620s or 630s.{{harvnb|Hewsen|1968|p=35}}; {{harvnb|Greenwood|2011|p=179}}; {{harvnb|Vasiliev|1945|p=492}} Tychicus had studied the Armenian language and its literature while serving in the Byzantine army in Armenia.{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=35}} Wounded by the Persians, he retired from the military and later studied in Alexandria, Rome, and Constantinople.{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=35}} Tychicus later returned to his native Trebizond, where he established a school c. 615.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=35}} Tychicus taught many students from Constantinople (including from the imperial court) and was renowned among Byzantine kings.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|pp=34-35}}{{sfn|Greenwood|2018}} He provided Anania special attention and taught him what Anania called a "perfect knowledge of mathematics".{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=56}} In Tychicus's vast library, Anania found "everything, exoteric and esoteric",{{sfn|Russell|2004|p=293}} including sacred and secular Greek authors, including works on the sciences, medicine, chronology, and history.{{harvnb|Greenwood|2018}}; {{harvnb|Hewsen|1968|p=35}}; {{harvnb|Terian|1980|p=181}} Russell believed his library may have included Pythagorean and alchemical books.{{sfn|Russell|2004|p=293}} Anania considered Tychicus to have been "predestined by God for the introduction of science into Armenia."{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=35}}

Educator and scientist

Anania himself established a school in Armenia upon his return.{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=56}} That school, the first in Armenia to teach quadrivium, is presumed to have been located in his native Shirak.{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=35}} He was disappointed with the laziness of his students and their departure after learning the basics.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=35}} Anania complained about Armenians' lack of interest in mathematics,{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}} writing that they "love neither learning, nor knowledge."{{sfn|Terian|1980|p=181}} Nicholas Adontz considered it an exaggeration, "if not an absolute slander, to deny the Armenian innate love of investigation."{{sfn|Adontz|1950|p=72}} The 12th-century chronicler Samuel of Ani listed five of Shirakatsi's students,{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}} who are otherwise unknown.{{sfn|Greenwood|2011|p=157}} Anania financed his research in several fields with the money he earned teaching.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=35}}

Relationship with the church

Thomson wrote that as a lay scholar, Anania was a "rarity in early Armenia."{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}} Hewsen termed him the only lay classical Armenian author besides Grigor Magistros,{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=34}} adding that he had a close relationship with the Armenian Church.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=36}} Malachia Ormanian did not list him among lay authors.{{efn|Ormanian wrote that among the fifty known writers between the 5th and 12th centuries, only Grigor Magistros and the physician Mkhitar Heratsi were laymen.BOOK, Ormanian, Malachia, Malachia Ormanian, G. Margar Gregory, The Church of Armenia, 1912, A. R. Mowbray, London, 202-203, }} Hacikyan et al. describe Anania as a "devout Christian and well versed in the Bible" who "made some attempts to reconcile science and Scripture."{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=58}} In his later years, Anania may have been a monk in the Armenian Church.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=34}} This is based on his religious discourses and attempts to date the feasts of the church.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=45}} John A. C. Greppin doubts that Anania was ever in any religious order.{{sfn|Greppin|1995|p=679}} Several scholars consider him a church ideologist akin to Cosmas Indicopleustes, whom he actually criticized.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|pp=36-37}} Hewsen noted that some of Anania's "more revolutionary ideas" were suppressed by the Armenian Church after his death.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=38}} Greppin suggested that Anania, a largely secular author, had fallen into a "bad clerical odor."{{sfn|Greppin|1995|p=679}} S. Peter Cowe disagreed with Ashot G. Abrahamian's hypothesis that his name was "censored in the Middle Ages because of ecclesiastical disapproval" and argued that it is "more applicable to Soviet practice than that of the relatively tolerant Armenian and other eastern churches."{{sfn|Cowe|1997|p=380}} Soviet historians represented him as a founder of irreligious and anti-clerical thought in Armenia, who pioneered double-truth theory.{{sfn|Tumanian et al.|1974|p=364}} Vazgen Chaloyan called him a "progressive representative of the feudal period of Armenian science."{{sfn|Chaloyan|1964|p=168}} (:hy:Ô³Ö‡Õ¸Ö€Õ£ Ô½Ö€Õ¬Õ¸ÕºÕµÕ¡Õ¶|Gevorg Khrlopian) went as far as to argue that Anania was an enemy of the Armenian Church and fought against its obscurantism.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=36}} Hewsen opposed this view, suggesting that, instead, he was an "independent thinker of sorts."{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=34}}

Philosophy

File:Buste d'Anania Shirakatsi (Anania de Shirak) au Matenadaran.JPG|thumb|A bust at the MatenadaranMatenadaranAnania is considered by modern scholars to be a representative of the Hellenizing School since many of his works were based on classical Greek sources.{{sfn|Mathews|2008b|p=365}}{{sfn|Adontz|1970|p=163}} He was the first Armenian scholar to have "imported a set of scientific notions, and examples of their applications, from the Greek-speaking schools" into Armenia.{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=9}} He was well versed in Greek literature,{{sfn|Vasiliev|1945|p=492}} and the influence of Greek syntax is evident in his works.{{sfn|Terian|1980|p=182}} Anania was also knowledgeable about native Armenian and Iranian cultural traditions;{{sfn|Greenwood|2018}} several of his works provide important information on late Sassanian Iran.{{sfn|Greenwood|2018}}James R. Russell describes him as an alchemist and a Pythagorean who "does not usually rely on mythology to explain natural phenomena."{{sfn|Russell|2004|p=295}} Anania accepted the importance of experience, observation, rational practice and theory, and was influenced by the ideas of the 5th-century Neoplatonist philosopher Davit Anhaght (the Invincible), and Greek philosophers Thales of Miletus, Hippocrates, Democritus, Plato, Aristotle, Zeno of Citium, Epicurus, Ptolemy, Pappus of Alexandria, and Cosmas Indicopleustes.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=40}} Aristotle's On the Heavens had a significant influence on Anania's thought.{{sfn|Terian|1980|p=181}} According to Gevorg Khrlopian, Anania was heavily influenced by Yeghishe's An Interpretation of Creation, the anonymous Interpretation of the Categories of Aristotle, and the works of Davit Anhaght,{{sfn|Khrlopian|1964|p=178}} who had established Neoplatonism in Armenian thought.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=40}} Anania was also the first Armenian scholar to quote Philo of Alexandria.{{sfn|Terian|1980|p=180}}Anania was the last known lay scholar in Christian Armenia until Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni in the 11th century.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=34}}{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}} He advocated rationalism in studying nature and attacked superstitious beliefs and astrology as the "babblings of the foolish."{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=57}}{{sfn|Jeu|1973|p=252}} He adopted the classical theory of four elements, which considered all matter to be composed of four elements: fire, air, water, and earth. He believed that while God directly created these elements, He did not interfere with the "natural course of the development of things." He asserted that the creation, existence, and decay of natural bodies and phenomena occurred through the union of these elements—without the interference of God.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=37}} Both living and non-living matter came into existence from a synthesis of the four elements.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=37}}Anania accepted that the Earth is round, describing it as "like an egg with a spherical yolk (the globe) surrounded by a layer of white (the atmosphere) and covered with a hard shell (the sky)."{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=36}} He accurately explained solar and lunar eclipses, the phases of the Moon, and the structure of the Milky Way,{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=57}} describing the latter as a "mass of dense but faintly luminous stars."{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=36}} Anania also correctly attributed tides to the influence of the Moon.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=38}}{{sfn|Jeu|1973|p=252}} He described the topmost sphere as the aether ({{Transliteration|xcl|arp’i}}), the source of light and heat (through the Sun).{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=37-38}}

Works

Anania was a polymath and natural philosopher.{{harvnb|Pambakian|2018|p=11}}; {{harvnb|Greenwood|2018}}; {{harvnb|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=56}} About 40 works in various disciplines have been attributed to Anania, but only half are extant. They include studies and translations in mathematics, astronomy, cosmology, geography, chronology, and meteorology.{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}} Many of his works are believed to have been part of the K’nnikon (, from "(:wikt:canon#Noun#2|canon)", Greek: Kanonikon), completed circa 666,{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|p=14}} and used as the standard science textbook in medieval Armenia.{{sfn|van Lint|2018|p=68}}{{sfn|Broutian|2009|p=4}} (:hy:Արտաշես Մաթևոսյան (հայագետ)|Artashes Matevosyan) termed it the first secular Armenian science textbook,BOOK, Matevosyan, Artashes, :hy:Արտաշես Մաթևոսյան (հայագետ), Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia Vol. 12, 1986, 469-470, hy, «Քննիկոն», հայ աշխարհիկ առաջին գիտ․ դասագիրքը, while Valentina Calzolari described it as a "monumental encyclopedic work."BOOK, Calzolari, Valentina, Armenian Philology in the Modern Era, 2014, Brill, 978-90-04-27096-1, 349–376,weblink Philosophical Literature in Ancient and Medieval Armenia, Greenwood argued that the K’nnikon was a "fluid compilation, whose contents fluctuated over time, reflecting the interests and resources of different teachers and practitioners."{{sfn|Greenwood|2011|p=136}}Modern scholars have praised Anania's writing as concise, simple, and to the point, retaining the reader's attention and citing examples to illustrate his point.{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=57}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=40}}

Mathematical

(File:Shirakatsi manuscript.JPG|thumb|An arithmetic book by Shirakatsi)Anania was primarily devoted to mathematics,{{sfn|van Lint|2018|p=68}} which he considered the "mother of all knowledge."{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=34}} His mathematical books were used as textbooks in Armenia.{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}}Of Anania's several mathematical works, the most important is the book of arithmetic (Hamaroghut’iun, ; or T’vabanut’iun, ),{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=13}} a comprehensive collection of tables on the four basic operations.{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=57}} It is the earliest extant known work of its kind.{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=70}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=42}} The operations reach up to a total of 80 million, which is the highest number.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=42}} A possible theoretical part is believed lost.{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=57}}Problems and Solutions (alternatively translated as On Questions and Answers), a collection of 24 arithmetical problems and their solutions, is based on the application of fractions;{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=57}}{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}} it is the earliest such work in Armenian. Many of its problems allude to real-world situations: six connect to the princely house of Shirak, the Kamsarakans,{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=42}} and at least three to Iran.{{sfn|Greenwood|2018}} Greenwood calls the problems "a rich source for seventh-century history whose value has not been sufficiently recognized."{{sfn|Greenwood|2011|p=177}}The third work, probably an appendix of the book of arithmetic, is titled {{Transliteration|xcl|Xraxč̣anakank’}} (), literally "things for festive occasions". It has been translated into English as Mathematical Pastimes,{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=13}} Fun with Arithmetic or Problems for Amusement. It also contains 24 problems "intended for mathematical entertainment in social gatherings."{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=57}} According to Mathews this may be the oldest extant text of its kind.{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}}

Numerical notation

For his mathematical works, Anania developed a unique numerical notation based on 12 letters of the Armenian alphabet. For the units, he used the first nine letters of the Armenian script (, , , , , , , , ), similar to the standard traditional Armenian numerical system. The letters used for 10, 100, and 1000 were also identical to the traditional Armenian system (, , ), but all other numbers up to 10,000 were written using these 12 letters. For instance, 50 would be written (5×10) and not as in the standard system. Thus, the notation is multiplicative-additive as opposed to the ciphered-additive standard system and requires knowing 12 letters, instead of 36, to write numbers less than 10,000. Numbers greater than that could be written using multiplicative combinations of just 2 or 3 signs, but using all 36 letters.{{sfn|Chrisomalis|2010|pp=175-176}}Stephen Chrisomalis believes this system was created by Anania since it only occurs in his works and is not found in Greek, Syriac, Hebrew, or any other alphabetic numeral system.{{sfn|Chrisomalis|2010|p=177}} Allen Shaw has argued it was just a variant of the Armenian numerals designed specifically for the representation of large numbers.{{sfn|Shaw|1939}} No other writer used it.{{sfn|Chrisomalis|2010|p=177}}

Astronomical

(File:Shirakatsi, 1283.jpg|thumb|A manuscript of Anania's Cosmology.)One of Anania's most significant works is the Cosmology (, Tiezeragitut’iun).{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=10}} Abrahamian's version is composed of ten chapters, with an introduction titled "In the Fulfillment of a Promise", implying a patron.{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=14}} It covers the sun, the moon, celestial spheres, constellations, the Milky Way, and meteorological changes.{{harvnb|Greenwood|2018}}; {{harvnb|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=57}}; {{harvnb|Pambakian|2018|p=15}}Works used for the parts of the Cosmology include the Bible (mostly the Pentateuch and Psalms) and works by the Church Fathers. Anania cites the work of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory the Illuminator, and Amphiolocus (perhaps, of Iconium).{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=16}} Some chapters of the work, such as "On Clouds" (also called "On the Sky" or "Concerning the Skies"), are largely based on Basil's Hexameron.{{harvnb|Mathews|2008a|p=70}}; {{harvnb|Thomson|1997|p=221}}; {{harvnb|Pambakian|2018|p=16}} Anania also repeats the classical Greek notions in the fields of astronomy, physics or meteorology.{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=17}} Pambakian wrote about the significance of the Cosmology: s originality may be sought in the way in which pagan and Christian traditions are combined (and often intrinsically intertwined), and much may be learned about the ‘making of science’ in the context of the seventh-century. Within the specific context of Armenian literature, this text deals with many aspects of natural philosophy in unprecedented depth.{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=22}} }}Another of Anania's astronomical works, Tables of the Motions of the Moon (, {{transliteration|xcl|Xorank’ ënt’ac’ik’ lusoy}}),{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=13}} is based on the works of Meton of Athens and his own observations.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=41}}

Perpetual calendar

In 667 Anania was invited by Catholicos Anastas I of Akori (r. 661/2–667) to the Armenian Church's central seat at Dvin to establish a fixed calendar of the movable and immovable feasts of the Armenian Church.{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|pp=35-36}} The result was a perpetual calendar based on a 532-year cycle (),{{sfn|van Lint|2018|p=68}} combining the solar cycle and the lunar cycle since they coincide every 532 years. It was first proposed by Victorius of Aquitaine in 457 and adopted by the Church of Alexandria.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=36}} Anania's calendar was never implemented by the Armenian Church;{{sfn|van Lint|2018|p=68}}{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}} Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi believes that Anastas's death prevented a church council from ratifying it.{{sfn|Greenwood|2011|p=131}}

Geographical

File:Armenia According to the Ashkharhatsuyts.jpg|thumb|Armenia according to Anania's Geography (Ashkharhatsuyts), based on Suren Eremian ]]The Ashkharhatsuyts{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}} (Classical Armenian: , {{transliteration|xcl|Ašxarhac’oyc’}}, lit. "showing the world") is an anonymously published world map, believed to have been written sometime between 610 and 636.{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|p=13}} It lacks a drawn map, but contains "earliest surviving detailed description of Armenian lands."BOOK, Evans, Helen C., Helen C. Evans, Armenia: Art, Religion, and Trade in the Middle Ages, 2018, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University Press, 9781588396600, 1028910888,weblink Maps including Armenia, 300, According to Elizabeth Redgate, it was written "probably shortly before AD 636".{{sfn|Redgate|2000|p=6}} Its authorship has been disputed in the modern period; formerly believed to have been the work of Movses Khorenatsi, most scholars now attribute it to Anania.{{harvnb|van Lint|2018|p=68}}; {{harvnb|Greppin|1995|p=679}}; {{harvnb|Mathews|2008a|p=71}}; {{harvnb|Hewsen|1992|}}; {{harvnb|Pambakian|2018|p=12}} Hewsen calls it "one of the most valuable works to come down to us from Armenian antiquity."{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|p=1}}The Armenian Geography—as it is alternatively known—has been especially important for research into the history and geography of Greater Armenia, the Caucasus (Georgia and Caucasian Albania) and the Sasanian Empire,{{sfn|Greenwood|2018}} which are all described in detail.{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=58}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|p=1}} The territories are described before the Arab invasions and conquests.{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|p=15}} The information on Armenia is not found elsewhere in historical sources,{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}} as it is the only known Armenian geographical work prior to the 13th century.{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=222}} Cowe described it as "the only one of its kind in Armenia until the introduction of modern cartography in the seventeenth century."{{sfn|Cowe|1997|p=379}}The Ashkharhatsuyts has survived in long and short recensions.{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|p=1}} According to the scholarly consensus, the long recension was the original.{{sfn|Greppin|1995|pp=679-680}} For the description of Europe, North Africa and Asia (all the known world from Spain to China),{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}} it largely uses Greek sources, namely the now lost geography of Pappus of Alexandria (4th century), which in turn, is based on the Geography of Ptolemy (2nd century).{{sfn|van Lint|2018|p=68}}{{sfn|Greenwood|2018}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|p=1}} According to Hewsen, it is the "last work based on ancient geographical knowledge written before the Renaissance."{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=36}} Edmond Schütz called it an "outstanding work of medieval sciences, a rich post-Ptolemaid heredity."JOURNAL, Schütz, Edmond, Review of The Geography of Ananias of Shirak. (Ašxarhačoyč). (Geisteswissen-schaften), No. 77, Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 1998, 51, 1/2, 248–251, 43391701,weblink 0001-6446, It was one of the earliest secular Armenian works to be published (in 1668 by Voskan Yerevantsi).{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|p=4}} It has been translated into four languages: English, Latin (both 1736), French (1819), and Russian (1877).{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|pp=4-5}} In 1877, Kerovbe Patkanian first attributed it to Anania as the most probable author.{{sfn|Hewsen|1992|p=8}}Another geographical work of Anania, The Itinerary (, Mghonach’ap’k’), may have been a part of the Ashkharhatsuyts. It presents six routes from Dvin, Armenia's capital at that time, to the major settlements in different directions, with distances in miles (մղոն, mghon), referring to the Arabic mile of {{convert|1,917.6|m}}, according to Hakob Manandian.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=44}}

Chronology

Anania's major chronological work, the Chronicle, listed important events in order of their occurrence.{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=221}} Written between 686 and 690, it is composed of two parts: a universal chronicle, utilizing the lost works of Annianus of Alexandria and the lost Roman imperial sequence from Eusebius's Chronographia, and an ecclesiastical history from a miaphysite perspective, which records the six ecumenical councils.{{sfn|Greenwood|2008|p=197}}Another chronological work, known as the Calendar (Tomar), included texts and tables about the calendars of 15 peoples: Armenians, Hebrews, Arabs, Macedonians, Romans, Syrians, Greeks, Egyptians, Ethiopians, Athenians, Bythanians, Cappadocians, Georgians, Caucasian Albanians, and Persians.{{sfn|Broutian|2009|p=5}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|pp=44-45}} The calendars of the Armenians, Romans, Hebrews, Syrians, Greeks, and Egyptians contain texts, while those of other peoples only have the names of months and their length.{{sfn|Broutian|2009|pp=8-9}}

Other

Anania wrote several books on weights and measures. He extensively used the work of Epiphanius of Salamis to present the system of weights used by the Greeks, Jews, and Syrians, and his own knowledge as well as other sources for those of the Armenians and Persians.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|pp=43-44}}{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}}Anania wrote several works on precious stones,{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=45}} music, and the known languages of the world.{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}}Anania's discourses on Christmas/Epiphany and Easter are discussions on the dates of the two feasts. In the first, he uses a lost work he ascribes to Polycarp of Smyrna and insists that the Armenian custom of celebrating Christmas and the Epiphany on the same date is truer to the holidays' intent than celebrating them separately as is common elsewhere in the Christian world.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=45}}{{sfn|Pambakian|2018|p=13}}

Traditions and legends

Anania also wrote on herbal medicine, though none of his medical writings have survived. He is traditionally credited with the discovery of the miraculous flower called {{transliteration|xcl|hamasp’iwṙ}} or hamasp’iur ().{{sfn|Russell|2004|p=293}} One 16th century (:hy:Ժողովածու (549)|manuscript) mentions that he dealt with its therapeutic properties. It has been identified by modern scholars as Silene latifolia (white campion). He is credited with discovering the plant in Dzoghakert (near modern Taşburun, Iğdır, Turkey)BOOK, Hakobian, T. Kh., Melik-Bakhshian, St. T., Barseghian, H. Kh., Tadevos Hakobyan, :hy:Ստեփան Մելիք-Բախշյան, :hy:Հովհաննես Բարսեղյան, Հայաստանի և հարակից շրջանների տեղանունների բառարան [Dictionary of Toponyms of Armenia and Surrounding Regions] Volume III, 1991, Yerevan University Press, 481, hy, Ձող(ա)կերտ [Dzogh(a)kert], and using it medically.BOOK, Vardanian, Stella, Greppin, John A. C., Savage-Smith, Emilie, Gueriguian, John L., John A. C. Greppin, The Diffusion of Greco-Roman Medicine into the Middle East and the Caucasus, 1999, Caravan Books, Delmar, New York, 0-88206-096-1, 188-189, Medicine in Armenia, BOOK, S. A., Vardanian, Հայ ժողովրդի պատմություն [History of the Armenian People] Volume II, 1984, Armenian National Academy of Sciences, Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences Press, Yerevan, 558, hy, Բժշկություն [Medicine], JOURNAL, Avdalbekyan, S., "Պատմութիւն համասփիւռ ծաղկին" [History of the hamaspyur flower], Patma-Banasirakan Handes, 1976, 3, 258–259,weblinkweblink 2022-11-21, hy, The authorship of the "Book of the Six Thousand" (Vec‘ hazareak), which Russell describes as the "most important Armenian magical text of the Middle Ages", has traditionally been attributed to Anania.{{sfn|Russell|2004|p=293}}JOURNAL, Russell, James R., James R. Russell, Magic Mountains, Milky Seas, Dragon Slayers, and Other Zoroastrian Archetypes, Bulletin of the Asia Institute, 2008, 22, 72, 24049235,weblink 0890-4464, According to a later legend, he taught alchemy to the king of Venice.{{sfn|Russell|2004|p=293}}

Influence in the Middle Ages

File:«Անանիա Շիրակացի» հուշարձան, բազալտ, 2009, Գյումրու Անանիա Շիրակացի փողոց.jpg|thumb|2009 statue of Anania in GyumriGyumriAnania laid the foundations of the exact sciences in Armenia and greatly influenced many Armenian scholars who came after him.{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=58}}{{efn|These include Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi (d. 925),{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=58}} (:hy:Անանիա Նարեկացի|Anania of Narek) (d. 980s),{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}} Grigor Magistros (d. 1058),{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}} Stepanos Asoghik (11th century),{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=58}} (:hy:Հովհաննես Կոզեռն|Hovhannes Kozern) (11th century),{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}} Hovhannes Imastaser (Sarkavag) (d. 1129),{{harvnb|Abrahamian|Petrosian|1979|p=23}}; {{harvnb|Hewsen|1968|p=40}}; {{harvnb|Mathews|2008a|p=71}}; {{harvnb|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=58}} Nerses Shnorhali (d. 1173),{{sfn|Abrahamian|Petrosian|1979|p=23}} Samuel Anetsi (12th century),{{harvnb|Abrahamian|Petrosian|1979|p=23}}; {{harvnb|Mathews|2008a|p=71}} (:hy:Վանական Վարդապետ|Vanakan) (d. 1250),{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=40}} Kirakos Gandzaketsi (d. 1271),{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=58}} Hovhannes Erznkatsi (d. 1293),{{harvnb|Abrahamian|Petrosian|1979|p=23}}; {{harvnb|Mathews|2008a|p=71}}; {{harvnb|Chaloyan|1964|p=169}} Grigor Tatevatsi (d. 1410),{{sfn|Mathews|2008a|p=71}} and (:hy:Հակոբ Ղրիմեցի|Hakob Ghrimetsi) (d. 1426).{{sfn|Abrahamian|Petrosian|1979|p=23}} }} Hovhannes Imastaser (Sarkavag) and other medieval scholars extensively cited and incorporated Anania's works.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=40}} In a 1037 letter, Grigor Magistros, a scholar from the Pahlavuni noble family, asked Catholicos Petros Getadardz for Anania's manuscripts of his K’nnikon, which were locked up at the catholicosate for centuries.{{sfn|Matevosian|1994|pp=17-18}}{{sfn|Greenwood|2011|p=133}} Grigor used these as a textbook at his school at the Sanahin Monastery.{{sfn|Matevosian|1994|p=21}} Anania may had also influenced Byzantine Armenian scholars, such as the 9th century philosopher Leo the Mathematician{{sfn|Adontz|1950|p=73}} and the 14th century mathematician and grammarian Nicholas Artabasdos Rhabdas.{{sfn|Chaloyan|1964|p=169}}

Reemergence in the modern period

In the printed age, passing references to Anania were made as early as 1742 by Paghtasar Dpir, but it was not until the latter half of the 19th century that Anania and his work became a subject of scholarly study.{{sfn|Gyulumyan|2012|pp=6, 9}} In 1877 Kerovbe Patkanian published a collection of Anania's works in the original classical Armenian at St Petersburg University.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=33}} Titled Sundry Studies (, Mnats’ordk’ banits’),{{sfn|Patkanian|1877}} it is the first-ever print publication of his works.{{sfn|Hacikyan et al.|2002|p=58}} (:hy:Գալուստ Տեր-Մկրտչյան|Galust Ter-Mkrtchian) published a number of Anania's works in 1896.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=33}} The Russian Academy of Sciences published Joseph Orbeli's Russian translation of Anania's Problems and Solutions in 1918.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=33}}Вопросы и решения: Вардапета Анании Ширакца, армянского математика VII века / Изд. и пер. И. А. Орбели. - Пг. : Тип. Рос. акад. тип., 1918.Systematic study and publication of his works began in the Soviet period.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=33}} Ashot G. Abrahamian, who began his research at the Matenadaran in the 1930s, first published one of Anania's arithmetical texts in 1939,{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=33}} followed by a complete compilation of Anania's work in 1944. {{sfn|Abrahamian|1944}} Abrahamian's work was not received with universal acclaim. One critic objected to his 1944 compilation for attributing disputed works to Anania.{{sfn|Simyonov|1947|pp=97-100}} Abrahamian and (:hy:Գարեգին Պետրոսյան|Garegin Petrosian) published an updated edition in 1979.{{sfn|Abrahamian|Petrosian|1979}} Some criticism persisted: (:hy:Վարագ Առաքելյան|Varag Arakelian) noted a number of errors in translations from classical Armenian and concluded that a new translation of his works was needed.{{sfn|Arakelian|1981|p=300}} Another Soviet scholar, Suren T. Eremian, studied the Geography. He insisted on Anania's authorship and published his research in 1963.{{sfn|Eremian|1963}}The first translation of Anania's work into a European language was done by the British Orientalist Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare, who translated into English Anania's On Christmas, in 1896, and On Easter and Anania's autobiography, in 1897.{{sfn|Conybeare|1897}}{{sfn|Hewsen|1968|p=33}} Lemerle noted that Conybeare translated Anania's autobiography from a Russian translation, and it contains numerous serious errors.{{sfn|Lemerle|2017|p=90}} Renewed interest in Anania's work emerged in the West in the 1960s. A French translation of his autobiography appeared in 1964 by Haïg Berbérian.{{sfn|Berbérian|1964}} Robert H. Hewsen authored an introductory article on Anania's life and scholarship in 1968.{{sfn|Hewsen|1968}} Hewsen dedicated his 2001 book Armenia: A Historical Atlas to Anania, whom he called "Armenia's First Scientist."{{sfn|Hewsen|2001|loc=dedication page}}(File:Anania Shirakatsi stamp.jpg|thumb|2005 Armenian postage stamp depicting Shirakatsi)

Modern assessment

Anania is considered by modern scholars as the "father of the exact sciences in Armenia."{{harvnb|Terian|1980|p=180}}; {{harvnb|Mathews|2008a|p=70}}; {{harvnb|Hewsen|1968|p=32}}; {{harvnb|Lemerle|2017|p=90}} Modern historians consider him as the greatest scientist of medieval Armenia{{harvnb|Hewsen|1968|p=32}}; {{harvnb|Broutian|2009|p=2}} and, possibly, all Armenian history, up to the 20th century astrophysicist Viktor Ambartsumian.NEWS, Avagyan, Sona, Ոչ ոք չէր նկատել, որ Շիրակացու 1400-ամյակն է,weblink Hetq, 5 October 2010,weblink 6 December 2019, hy, {{sfn|Danielyan|2008|p=256}} He is widely regarded as the founder of the natural sciences in the country.{{sfn|Tumanian et al.|1974|p=364}} He was the first classical Armenian scholar to study mathematics and several scientific subjects, such as cosmography and chronology.{{sfn|Thomson|1997|p=220}}{{sfn|Lemerle|2017|p=90}} Nicholas Adontz argued that Anania "occupied the same position in Armenian education as Leo [the Mathematician] did in Byzantine education. He was the first to sow the seeds of science among the Armenians."{{sfn|Adontz|1950|pp=70-71}} Hacikyan et al. wrote in The Heritage of Armenian Literature:}}In the Soviet Union, Anania was often regarded the earliest astronomer among its peoples,Mikhailov, A. A. (e.d.), Астрономия в СССР за сорок лет, 1917-1957: сборник статей, 1960, p. 367. "В связи с этим уместно упомянуть, что за последние годы удалось выявить много астрономических рукописей, раскрывающих высокое развитие астрономии в Грузии и в Армении еще в конце первого тысячелетия н.э. Специальное внимание было уделено армянскому ученому VII в. Ананию Ширакаци..."(:ru:Мустель,_Эвальд_Рудольфович|Ė. R. Mustelʹ), N. P. Erpylev. Большая советская энциклопедия (Great Soviet Encyclopedia), Vol. 24.2 (1977). "СССР. Естественные науки. Астрономия" [USSR: Natural sciences: Astronomy]. p. 293. "Уже в 7 в. получил распространение трактат по космографии армянского учёного Анании Ширакаци, содержавший астрономические сведения того времени." and he was listed alongside Islamic Golden Age scholars Al-Khwarizmi, al-Biruni, Omar Khayyam, Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, and Ulugh Beg.(:ru:Куликовский, Пётр Григорьевич|Kulikovsky, Pyotr), М.В. Ломоносов - астроном и астрофизик [M. V. Lermontov: Astronomer and Astrophysicist], Gosudarstvennoye izdatelstvo tekhnicheskoy i teoreticheskoy literatury, 1950, p. 9 "Особую главу в истории астрономии вписали народы, жившие на нынешней территории СССР на Кавказе и в Средней Азии. Имена Анания Ширакаци, Аль-Хорезми, Бируни, Омара Хайяма, Насирэддина ат-Туси, Улуг-бека вошли в великую сокровищницу мировой науки как имена крупнейших учёных."Greenwood argues that studying Anania and his works "resonated with twentieth-century political beliefs and offered a suitable subject for academic research in ways that works on medieval theology or Biblical exegesis did not. Anania came to be projected as a national hero from the distant Armenian past, linking and affirming past and present identities."{{sfn|Greenwood|2011|p=134}}

Tributes

• Yervand Kochar created a gypsum sculpture of Anania in 1952,WEB, Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացի [Anania Shirakatsi],weblink kochar.am, Ervand Kochar Museum,weblink 12 August 2022, hy, and Ara Sargsyan a plaquette of him in 1957.JOURNAL, Sargsian, Henrikh, Ара Сарксян-медальер [Ara Sargsian as a medal-maker], Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri, 1983, 5, 5,weblink ru, 0320-8117,
• Anania was one of six medieval scholars whose (:hy:Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացու Õ°Õ¸Ö‚Õ·Õ¡Ö€Õ±Õ¡Õ¶ (ÔµÖ€Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶, Õ„Õ¡Õ¿Õ¥Õ¶Õ¡Õ¤Õ¡Ö€Õ¡Õ¶)|statue) was erected in front of the Matenadaran, the museum-institute of Armenian manuscripts in Yerevan, in the 1960s.{{sfn|Greenwood|2011|p=135}} Sculpted by (:hy:Ô³Ö€Õ«Õ£Õ¸Ö€ Ô²Õ¡Õ¤Õ¡Õ¬ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ (Ö„Õ¡Õ¶Õ¤Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ£Õ¸Ö€Õ®)|Grigor Badalyan) in basalt, it was erected in 1963.WEB, Government of the Republic of Armenia, Õ€Õ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ« Õ€Õ¡Õ¶Ö€Õ¡ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ ÔµÖ€Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶ Ö„Õ¡Õ²Õ¡Ö„Õ« ÕºÕ¡Õ¿Õ´Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Ö‡ Õ´Õ·Õ¡Õ¯Õ¸Ö‚ÕµÕ©Õ« Õ¡Õ¶Õ·Õ¡Ö€Õª Õ°Õ¸Ö‚Õ·Õ¡Ö€Õ±Õ¡Õ¶Õ¶Õ¥Ö€Õ« ÕºÕ¥Õ¿Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ ցուցակ [List of historical and cultural monuments of Yerevan],weblink arlis.am, Armenian Legal Information System,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160805184927weblink">weblink 5 August 2016, hy, 2 November 2004, Another (:hy:Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացու Õ°Õ¸Ö‚Õ·Õ¡Ö€Õ±Õ¡Õ¶ (ÔµÖ€Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶, ÔµÕŠÕ€)|statue), sculpted by (:hy:Ô±Ö€Õ¡Õ´ Õ‚Õ¡Ö€Õ«Õ¢ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ (Õ¶Õ¯Õ¡Ö€Õ«Õ¹)|Aram Gharibyan), was erected in the front yard of Yerevan State University in 1999.WEB, Õ€Õ¸Ö‚Õ·Õ¡Ö€Õ±Õ¡Õ¶Õ¶Õ¥Ö€ [Statues],weblink yerevan.am, Yerevan Municipality,weblink 23 January 2024, hy, Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացի Քանդակագործ՝ Ô±. Õ‚Õ¡Ö€Õ«Õ¢ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Ô²Õ¡Õ¦Õ¡Õ¬Õ¿, 1999Õ©.,
• A crater on the Moon was named after Shirakatsi in 1979.BOOK, Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature 1994, 1995, U.S. Geological Survey, 78,weblink
• The (:hy:Շիրակացու Õ³Õ¥Õ´Õ¡Ö€Õ¡Õ¶|Anania Shirakatsy Lyceum), an International Baccalaureate school in Yerevan, was established in 1990.WEB, "Shirakatsy Lyceum" International Scientific and Educational,weblink ysu.am, Yerevan State University,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20231120102535weblink">weblink 20 November 2023, WEB, Shirakatsy Lyceum International Scientific-Educational Complex CJSC,weblink ibo.org, International Baccalaureate Organization,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180403172740weblink">weblink 3 April 2018,
• In 1993 the Medal of Anania Shirakatsi, a state award, was established, given for "significant activities, inventions, and discoveries in the spheres of economy, engineering, architecture, science, and technology."WEB, The Medal of Anania Shirakatsi,weblink president.am, The Office to the President of the Republic of Armenia, In 2005 the Central Bank of Armenia issued a commemorative coin, while HayPost issued a stamp dedicated to him.WEB, Collector Coins: 2005 – Anania Shirakatsi,weblink cba.am, Central Bank of Armenia, WEB, 2005 – Armenian Stamps,weblink armenianstamps.org, 20 September 2017,

References

Notes

{{notelist}}

Citations

{{Reflist|3}}

Bibliography

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

Books on Anania

• BOOK, Patkanian, Kerovbe, Kerovbe Patkanian, Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ÕµÕ« Õ‡Õ«Ö€Õ¡Õ¯Õ¸Ö‚Õ¶Ö‚Õ¸Õµ Մնացորդք բանից [Sundry Studies of Anania Shirakatsi], 1877, Saint Petersburg University,weblink hy,
• BOOK, Abrahamian, Ashot G., Ashot G. Abrahamian, Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացու Õ´Õ¡Õ¿Õ¥Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Ö€Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ¶Õ¨, 1944, Armenian SSR Matenadaran Press, Yerevan,weblink hy,
• BOOK, Abrahamian, Ashot G., Petrosian, Garegin B., Ashot G. Abrahamian, hy:Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացի․ Õ„Õ¡Õ¿Õ¥Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Ö€Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ¶, Anania Shirakatsi: Writings, 1979, Sovetakan grogh, Yerevan,weblink hy, online
• BOOK, Eremian, Suren, Suren Yeremian, Õ€Õ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ½Õ¿Õ¡Õ¶Õ¨ Õ¨Õ½Õ¿ "Աշխարհացոյց"-Õ«, 1963, Armenian Academy of Sciences Press, Yerevan,weblink hy,
• BOOK, Gyulumyan, O., Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացի: Ô¿Õ¥Õ¶Õ½Õ¡Õ´Õ¡Õ¿Õ¥Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Õ«Õ¿Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ¶ [Anania Shirakatsi: Bibliography], 2012, National Library of Armenia, Yerevan, 978-99930-65-86-9,weblink hy, PDF (weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190214191942weblink">archived)
• BOOK, Hewsen, Robert H., Robert H. Hewsen, The Geography of Ananias of Å irak, 1992, Ludwig Reichert Verlag, Wiesbaden,weblink
• BOOK, Khrlopian, Gevorg T., Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացու աշխարհայացքը, Anania Shirakatsi's worldview, 1964, 37519113, Yerevan State University, Yerevan,

General books

• BOOK, Adontz, Nicholas, Nicholas Adontz, Armenia in the Period of Justinian, 1970, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, Nina Garsoïan,
• BOOK, Lemerle, Paul, Paul Lemerle, Le premier humanisme byzantin [Byzantine Humanism: The First Phase], 2017, 1971, Brill, Leiden, 9789004344594, Lindsay Helen, Ann Moffatt (trans.), 90–94,
• BOOK, Hewsen, Robert H., Robert H. Hewsen, Armenia: A Historical Atlas, University of Chicago Press, 2001, 0-226-33228-4,
• BOOK, Sarafian, Kevork A., History of Education in Armenia, 1930, Press of the La Verne Leader,weblink
• BOOK, Acharian, Hrachia, Hrachia Acharian, hy:Հայոց Õ¡Õ¶Õ±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö‚Õ¶Õ¶Õ¥Ö€Õ« Õ¢Õ¡Õ¼Õ¡Ö€Õ¡Õ¶, Dictionary of Personal Names, 1, 1942, Yerevan State University, 148-149, hy,
• BOOK, Redgate, A. E., The Armenians, 2000, Wiley-Blackwell, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 9780631220374, Elizabeth Redgate,

Book chapters on Anania

• BOOK, Abeghian, Manuk, Manuk Abeghian, Հայոց Õ€Õ«Õ¶ Ô³Ö€Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ ÕŠÕ¡Õ¿Õ´Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ¶ [History of Ancient Armenian Literature], 1944, Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացի [Anania Shirakatsi], 373-387, hy,
• BOOK, Chrisomalis, Stephen, Numerical Notation: A Comparative History, 2010, Cambridge University Press, 9780521878180, 175-177, Shirakatsi's Notation,
• BOOK, Hacikyan, Agop Jack, Agop Jack Hacikyan, Basmajian, Gabriel, Franchuk, Edward S., Ouzounian, Nourhan, The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the sixth to the eighteenth century, 2002, Wayne State University Press, Detroit, 9780814330234, Anania Shirakatsi (Anania of Shirak), 56-80, {{harvid, Hacikyan et al., 2002, }}
• BOOK, Mathews, Edward G. Jr., Keyser, Paul T., Irby-Massie, Georgia L., Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists: The Greek Tradition and its Many Heirs, 2008a, Routledge, 9781134298020, 70-71, Anania of Shirak,
• BOOK, Mathews, Edward G. Jr., Keyser, Paul T., Irby-Massie, Georgia L., Encyclopedia of Ancient Natural Scientists: The Greek Tradition and its Many Heirs, 2008b, Routledge, 9781134298020, Hellenizing School (Arm. Yunaban Drpoc; ca 570 – ca 730),
• BOOK, Terian, Abraham, East of Byzantium: Syria and Armenia in the Formative Period, Nina Garsoïan, Nina Garsoïan, Thomas F. Mathews, Robert W. Thomson, Robert W. Thomson, 1980, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C., 175-186, The Hellenizing School: Its Time, Place, and Scope of Activities Reconsidered,
• BOOK, Thomson, Robert W., Robert W. Thomson, Hovannisian, Richard G., Richard G. Hovannisian, The Armenian People from Ancient to Modern Times: Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century,weblink registration, 1997, St. Martin's Press, New York, 199–240, Armenian Literary Culture Through the Eleventh Century,
• BOOK, van Lint, Theo, Theo van Lint, Nicholson, Oliver, The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity, 2018, Oxford University Press, 978-0-19-881624-9, 68, Ananias of Shirak (Anania Shirakats'i),

Encyclopedia articles

• BOOK, Greenwood, Timothy William, Encyclopædia Iranica, 9 April 2018, Ananias of Shirak (Anania Å irakac'i), Encyclopædia Iranica, online
• BOOK, Tumanian, B., Matevosian, A., Chaloyan, V., Abrahamian, A., Tahmizian, N., :hy:ÕŽÕ¡Õ¦Õ£Õ¥Õ¶ Õ‰Õ¡Õ¬Õ¸ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, :hy:Ô±Õ·Õ¸Õ¿ Ô±Õ¢Ö€Õ¡Õ°Õ¡Õ´ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ (ÕºÕ¡Õ¿Õ´Õ¡Õ¢Õ¡Õ¶), Nikoghos Tahmizian, Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia Volume I, 1974, 362-364, hy, Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացի [Anania Shirakatsi], {{harvid, Tumanian et al., 1974, |title-link=Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia }}

Journal articles

• JOURNAL, Adontz, Nicholas, Nicholas Adontz, Role of the Armenians in Byzantine Science, The Armenian Review, 1950, 3, 55–73,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170801123028weblink">weblink 2017-08-01, J. G. M.,
• JOURNAL, Conybeare, F. E., Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare, Ananias of Shirak (A. D. 600—650 c.)., Byzantinische Zeitschrift, 1897, 6, 3, 572–584, 10.1515/byzs.1897.6.3.572, 194109254,
• JOURNAL, Cowe, S. Peter, S. Peter Cowe, Review of The Geography of Ananias of Å irak (AÅ XARHAÊ¿COYÊ¿C), the Long and the Short Recensions: Introduction, Translation and Commentary, Journal of the American Oriental Society, 1997, 117, 2, 379–380, 10.2307/605516, 605516,weblink 0003-0279,
• JOURNAL, Hewsen, Robert H., Robert H. Hewsen, Science in Seventh-Century Armenia: Ananias of Å irak, Isis (journal), Isis, 1968, 59, 1, 32–45, 10.1086/350333, 227850, History of Science Society, 145014073,
• JOURNAL, Vasiliev, Alexander, Alexander Vasiliev (historian), Reviewed Work: Armenia and the Byzantine Empire. A Brief Study of Armenian Art and Civilization by Sirapie Der Nersessian, Speculum (journal), Speculum, 1945, 20, 4, 492, 10.2307/2856749, 2856749,
• JOURNAL, Simyonov, L., ÕŠÖ€Õ¸Ö†. Õ¤Õ¸Õ¯Õ¿Õ¸Ö€ Ô±. Ô±Õ¢Ö€Õ¡Õ°Õ¡Õ´ÕµÕ¡Õ¶. – "Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացու Õ´Õ¡Õ¿Õ¥Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Ö€Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ¶Õ¨"Ö‰ ÔµÖ€Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶, Õ€Õ¡ÕµÕºÕ¥Õ¿Õ°Ö€Õ¡Õ¿, 1944 Õ©., (Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri, Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR: Social Sciences), 1947, 3, 97–100,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20190330170212weblink">weblink 2019-03-30, hy,
• JOURNAL, Arakelian, V. D., :hy:ÕŽÕ¡Ö€Õ¡Õ£ Ô±Õ¼Õ¡Ö„Õ¥Õ¬ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացի, Õ„Õ¡Õ¿Õ¥Õ¶Õ¡Õ£Ö€Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ¶, Õ©Õ¡Ö€Õ£Õ´Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ¶Õ¨, Õ¡Õ¸Õ¡Õ»Õ¡Õ¢Õ¡Õ¶Õ¨ Ö‡ Õ®Õ¡Õ¶Õ¸Õ©Õ¡Õ£Ö€Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ¶Õ¶Õ¥Ö€Õ¨ Ô±. Ô³. Ô±Õ¢Ö€Õ¡Õ°Õ¡Õ´ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ« Ö‡ Ô³. Ô². ÕŠÕ¥Õ¿Ö€Õ¸Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Õ«, ÔµÖ€Ö‡Õ¡Õ¶, 1979 [Ananya Shirakatsi: Selected Works, transl. by A. G. Abrahamian and G. B. Petrossian], Patma-Banasirakan Handes, 1981, 4, 295–300,weblink hy,
• JOURNAL, Berbérian, Haïg, Autobiographie d'Anania Sirakac'i, Revue des Études Arméniennes, 1964, 1, 189–194, fr,
• JOURNAL, Shaw, Allen A., An Overlooked Numeral System of Antiquity, National Mathematics Magazine, 1939, 13, 8, 368–372, 10.2307/3028489, Mathematical Association of America, 3028489,
• JOURNAL, Jeu, Bernard, A Note on Some Armenian Philosophers, Studies in Soviet Thought, 1973, 13, 3/4, 251–264, Springer Science+Business Media, Springer, 20098573, 10.1007/BF01043876, 143364705,
• JOURNAL, Pambakian, Stephanie, Tradition and Innovation in the Cosmology of Anania Å irakac'i, Eurasiatica, 11, 2018, 10.30687/978-88-6969-279-6/001,weblink 9–24, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Edizioni Ca’ Foscari, 978-88-6969-280-2, 2019-03-30,weblink 2019-04-12, bot: unknown, free,
• JOURNAL, Matevosian, Artashes, :hy:Ô±Ö€Õ¿Õ¡Õ·Õ¥Õ½ Õ„Õ¡Õ©Ö‡Õ¸Õ½ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ (Õ°Õ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ£Õ¥Õ¿), Ô³Ö€Õ«Õ£Õ¸Ö€ Õ„Õ¡Õ£Õ«Õ½Õ¿Ö€Õ¸Õ½Õ¨ Ö‡ Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացու "Õ”Õ¶Õ¶Õ«Õ¯Õ¸Õ¶Õ¨", Banber Matenadarani, 1994, 16, 16–30,weblink Matenadaran, hy,
• JOURNAL, Greenwood, Tim, A Reassessment of the Life and Mathematical Problems of Anania Å irakac'i, Revue des Études Arméniennes, 2011, 33, 131–186,weblink
• JOURNAL, Greppin, John A. C., John A. C. Greppin, Comments on Early Armenian Knowledge of Botany as Revealed in the Geography of Ananias of Shirak, Journal of the American Oriental Society, 1995, 115, 4, 679–684, 604736, 10.2307/604736,
• JOURNAL, Hayrapetian, S., Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացու Õ¯ÕµÕ¡Õ¶Ö„Õ¶ Õ¸Ö‚ Õ£Õ¸Ö€Õ®Õ¸Ö‚Õ¶Õ¥Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¸Ö‚Õ¶Õ¨ [Life and career of Anania Shirakatsi], Banber Matenadarani, 1941, 1,weblink Matenadaran, hy,
• JOURNAL, Vardanyan, Vahram, Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացին' հայոց Õ°Õ¸Õ£Ö‡Õ¸Ö€ Ö‡ Ö„Õ¡Õ²Õ¡Ö„Õ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ Õ«Õ¶Ö„Õ¶Õ¸Ö‚Ö€Õ¸Ö‚ÕµÕ¶Õ¸Ö‚Õ©ÕµÕ¡Õ¶ Õ»Õ¡Õ°Õ¡Õ¯Õ«Ö€ [Anania Shirakatsi: An Armenian Torchbearer of Spiritual and Political Autonomy], Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri, 2013, 3, 9–19,weblink hy,
• JOURNAL, Greenwood, Tim, "New Light from the East": Chronography and Ecclesiastical History through a Late Seventh-Century Armenian Source, Journal of Early Christian Studies, 2008, 16, 2, 197–254, 10.1353/earl.0.0018, 170843259,
• JOURNAL, Broutian, Grigor, Persian and Arabic Calendars as Presented by Anania Shirkatsi, Tarikh-e Elm, 2009, 7, 1, 1–17,weblink University of Tehran,
• JOURNAL, Danielyan, Eduard L., :hy:Ô·Õ¤Õ¸Ö‚Õ¡Ö€Õ¤ Ô´Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¥Õ¬ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, The Contribution of Academician Victor Hambartsumyan to the History of Armenian and World Cosmological Thought and Astronomy, Lraber Hasarakakan Gitutyunneri, 2008, 256–259, 3,weblink
• JOURNAL, Chaloyan, Vazgen K., :hy:ÕŽÕ¡Õ¦Õ£Õ¥Õ¶ Õ‰Õ¡Õ¬Õ¸ÕµÕ¡Õ¶, Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ¶Õ«Õ¡ Շիրակացու Õ¢Õ¶Õ¡ÖƒÕ«Õ¬Õ«Õ½Õ¸ÖƒÕ¡ÕµÕ¡Õ¯Õ¡Õ¶ հայացքները [The natural-philosophical views of Anania Shirakatsi], Natural Sciences and History of Technology in Armenia, 1964, 3, 142–171,weblink Armenian Academy of Sciences, hy,
• BOOK, Russell, James R., James R. Russell, Armenian and Iranian Studies, 2004, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, The Dream Vision of Anania Å irakac‘i, ; originally published in Revue des Études Arméniennes 21, 1988–89, pp. 159–170

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Further reading

• JOURNAL, Tee, Garry J., Two Armenian Savants, Prudentia, 1972, 4, 2,weblink University of Auckland,
• JOURNAL, Mahé, Jean-Pierre, Jean-Pierre Mahé, Quadrivium et cursus d'études au VIIe siècle en Arménie et dans le monde byzantin d'après le "K'nnikon" d'Anania Å irakac'i, Travaux et Mémoires, 1987, 10, 159–206, Centre de recherche d'Histoire et Civilisation de Byzance, fr,

External links

• {{commons category-inline|Anania Shirakatsi}}

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