Secondary School of Vanashen, Armenia

King of Greater Armenia Artashes I 

He was the most prominent politicians of his time. He has reigned for nearly 30 years from 189 BC to 160 BC. Artashes managed to unite almost all historical Armenian lands to form the kingdom of Greater Armenia. A contemporary of Artashes, Greek historian Polybius called Artashes “the lord of the greatest part of Armenia”. Strabo further writes: “Armenia rose thanks to the efforts of Artashes, and everyone is monolingual [i.e. everyone is speaking Armenian]”. Strabo’s accounts testify that Artashes managed to incorporate all Armenian-speaking lands into a single state. These events played a crucial role in the subsequent establishment of the Armenian statehood. A task of most importance to Artashes was the construction of a new capital of Greater Armenia since Armavir, its older capital, didn’t satisfy his demands. After Artashes had decided to found Artashat, a new capital of the kingdom, in 180 BC, the former Carthaginian commander Hannibal, who had fled his country, became his primary advisor in the construction works. After the defeat at the Battle of Magnesia, Hannibal fled to Armenia where Artashes warmly welcomed him, factually providing him with political refuge.

Diana Apcar

The first Armenian woman diplomat ​​​​​​Diana Apcar (Armenian: Դիանա Աբգար, 12 October 1859 – 8 July 1937) was a diaspora Armenian write​​​​​​​r a​​​​​​​n​​​​​​​d ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​humanitarian, who was appointed Honorary Consul to Japan of the short-lived First Republic of Armenia (1918-1920). She is the first​​​​​​​ Armenian woman diplomat and one of the first women to have ever been appointed in any diplomatic post in twentieth century. When the Republic of Armenia gained independence on 28 May 1918, Armenia was not recognized by any international state. Yet in 1920, through Apcar's efforts, Japan became one of the first nations to recognize the new republic's independence. Out of respect to her efforts, Hamo Ohanjanyan, who was then the Foreign Minister of the Republic, appointed Diana Apcar Honorary Consul to Japan. This made Diana Apcar the first Armenian woman diplomat and one the very first woman to have ever been appointed in any diplomatic post in the twentieth century. However, after the fall of the First Republic of Armenia in the same year 1920, her post was abruptly terminated.

Movses Khorenatsi 

Movses Khorenatsi (ca. 410–490s AD) was a prominent Armenian historian from the period of Late Antiquity and the author of the History of Armenia. Khorenatsi is credited with the earliest known historiographical work on the history of Armenia written in Armenian, but was also a poet, or hymn writer, and a grammarian. The History of Armenia was written at the behest of Prince Sahak of the Bagratuni dynasty and has had an enormous impact on Armenian historiography. It was used and quoted extensively by later medieval Armenian authors. Although other Armenians such as Agathangelos had previously written histories on Armenia, Movses' work holds particular significance because it contains unique material on the old oral traditions in Armenia before its conversion to Christianity and, more importantly, traces Armenian history from Movses' day back to its origins. Khorenatsi is considered to be the "father of Armenian history", and is sometimes referred to as the "Armenian Herodotus". Khorenatsi's work became the first attempt of a universal history of Armenia. Movses identified himself as a young disciple of Mesrop Mashtots, inventor of the Armenian alphabet, and is recognized by the Armenian Apostolic Church as one of the Holy Translators.

Born in 140 B.C., Tigran the Great (also known as Tigranes II) was the son of a ruler who was held hostage by a Parthian king until he was 45 years old. After granting the king “seventy valleys,” he was released and went on to tear the ancient world. Through deft alliances and sharp politicking, he accumulated power that he then used to conquer what became known as Greater Armenia. Lording over the vast landmass, stretching from the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean, Tigran gave himself the title “King of Kings” and was known to not appear in public unless he was accompanied by four subject kings. His power led to increased attention from Rome, the most powerful empire at the time. After successive battles and the drama of lengthy warfare he was ultimately defeated by the great Roman leader, Pompey. Tigran nevertheless retained the respect of his Roman contemporaries and continued to rule Armenia until his death.

During the early years of Armenia's long existence as a nation, the people were ruled by kings. But history for the most part has been silent about the women who sat on the throne as consorts to the kings. There were queens of the Armenians who were engaged in the affairs of the country and ruled the nation as well as their husbands. The wife of the first sovereign/King Aram, then Queen Margarita, who ruled with King Levon VI Lusignan until the fall of the last Armenian dynasty in 1375, Queen Parandzem, who murdered her rival for the king's affection but heroically defended her nation; the beloved Queen Katranide, who served as patroness for some of the masterpieces of medieval Armenian architecture; and young Queen Zabel, who ruled in her own right and attracted the attention of an assortment of suitors, all these women were patriots and devoted their lives to the prosperity of their country.

Shavarash Karapetyan was a 17-time world champion finswimmer in Armenia during the Soviet Union’s existence. Despite his success as an athlete, he is best known for his incredible heroism. On a September day in 1976, while training, Karapetyan heard a trolley bus skid off the road and land in frigid Lake Yerevan. As the bus sank, Karapetyan stripped off his clothes and jumped into the lake. As it hit bottom, he broke the windows of the bus and started to pull people out, one by one. In about 20 minutes, he pulled out over 30 passengers, although only 20 survived; some were already dead by the time he got to them. As a result of his selfless actions he contracted pneumonia, and when the broken glass-induced gashes on his legs became infected, he developed sepsis. He was hospitalized for weeks and was in serious condition, but eventually recovered. His doctor said the only reason he survived was because he was in such prime physical shape due to his training. Karapetyan’s injuries did not allow him to continue his career as an athlete and he had to leave sports. Years later, while walking in a neighborhood he came by a burning building and, again without hesitation, ran in and saved people inside. He was again injured and hospitalized.

Hayk Nahapet is considered to be our forefather and the name of our nation and country is considered to have originated from his name. It is connected with our famous saga according to which many tribes leave the violence of the Assyrian giant Bell and among them, there were our people too headed by his forefather Hayk. He comes to a high, cool and well-watered country and settles there. Bell sends a message to Hayk and tells him that he has gone to settle in those cold highlands in vain, and advises him to come back. Hayk gives the delegate a strict answer and makes him go back to Babylon. Getting angry from Hayk’s answer, he comes with a great army. Near Lake Van, the opponents meet each other and Hayk fights against Bell. Skillful archer Hayk rolls Bell down with a single strike and scatters his army. After that, Hayk permanently settles down in that plateau. The people were named in the name of Hayk and the country was named in the name of the people. This story has reached us due to Moses of Chorene.

Sergei Parajanov was a Soviet film director and artist of Armenian descent who made significant contributions to Soviet cinematography through Ukrainian, Georgian, and Armenian cinema. He invented his own cinematic style, which was totally out of step with the guiding principles of socialist realism (the only sanctioned art style in the USSR). This, combined with his controversial lifestyle and behaviour, led Soviet authorities to repeatedly persecute and imprison him, and suppress his films.Sergey Paradjanov was the author of several film-masterpieces which brought him world praise: "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" (1964), "The Colour of Pomegranates" or "Sayat-Nova" (1969), "The Legend of Suram Fortress" (1985) and "Ashik-Kerib" (1988). Parajanov’s contribution to the art of cinema is first and foremost his original poetic film-language, highly valued by his contemporaries. His aesthetic system also includes plastic art, based on traditions of Armenian, Eastern and European art.