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AGAIN ON THE PROBLEM OF THE LOCALIZATION OF AWARAYR FIELD IN ARTAZ PROVINCE
Hakobyan Aleksan( Institute of Oriental Studies, NAS RA)
The analysis of newly published large scale maps and Armenian classic sources( Ełishē, Łazar P‘ arpetsi etc.) shows that we should look for Awarayr field at Maku river’ s main upper inflow Zangemar’ s valley, near a small village named Abarabashi( cf. Abarabashi – Awarayr), which is located 4 km north-west from St. Thaddē monastery in Artaz province( gavar). In that canyon the ancient trail from south to north, from Khoy city to Artashat capital passes through two river crossings, near Abarabashi and Emamgole-Bala villages( 2 km away from each other). It also helps us to understand the nature of commander-inchief Vardan Mamikonean’ s plan about the Awarayr battle. He was planning to get Sasanian Persian’ s twice larger army on surprise while marching( between 2 river crossings) and by destroying Persian’ s rearguard( that is at the right) at their left wing( by crossing the river near Abarabashi from east to west), implement the effect of creating a panic among the remaining part of the Persian army. The idea didn’ t come to a success, because the Persians, who lost their right wing, managed to turn their strong center against Armenian army’ s left wing quickly.
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