The Period of the Armenian Royal Dynasties and the Middle Ages (6th Century BC - 16th Century AD)
History:
Between the 6th-4th centuries BC, Yerevan was one of the most important political and economic centers within the Satrapy of Armenia of the Achaemenid Empire. It was a durable part of the Kingdom of Greater Armenia under the Orontid (until 201 BC), Artaxiad (189 BC-12 AD), and Arsacid (52-428 AD) Dynasties.
Yerevan survived throughout centuries despite many historic turbulences and tribulations. The city endured numerous invasions by Assyrians, Romans, Byzantines, Persians, Arabs, Mongols, and Turks.
In 658 Yerevan was conquered by the Arabs. Medieval Armenian chroniclers refer to the city as
Yerevan, and not as Erebouni, in their description of this event. In 885, after the restoration of the Kingdom of Armenia under the Bagratouni Dynasty (885-1045), Yerevan was a secure part of the independent Armenian state. In the 13th-14th centuries, Yerevan was within the dominions of the Armenian principality of Zakarids (1201-1360). In subsequent centuries the city was seized and pillaged by Turks and Mongols. Then, due to its strategic significance, Yerevan was often times fought over, and passed back and forth, between the Safavid Persian Empire and the Ottoman Empire.
Medieval Structures
After the Christianization of Armenia in 301, the buildings of early Christian architecture began to be constructed. The church of St. Peter and Paul was one of the first Christian churches in Yerevan built in the 5th century. It was demolished in 1931 by communist authorities in order to build a movie theater named Moscow. The city’s oldest surviving church is the Katoghike Tsiranavor Church of Avan (595-602). However, it was partially damaged by the earthquake of 1679.
Baptism of Armenian King Tiridates III
Saint Peter and Paul Church
Katoghike Tsiranavor Church, Avan(cc) Travis Witt