UNIQUE PLACES

MATENADARAN - MESROP MASHTOTS RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS

1957

State index: 1.6.81

Architect: Mark Grigoryan

Artist-designer: Vanik Khachatryan (Van Khachatur)

It is located at 53th Mesrop Mashtots Avenue, at the end of the avenue, at the foot of the Kanaker Upland. The main building was built according to the project of Mark Grigoryan (1900-1978), an honored architect of the ASSR, the chief architect of Yerevan during 1937-1951. The artist Vanik Khachatryan (Van Khachatur, 1926-2019) is the author of the interior illustrations (mosaics, murals).

The Matenadaran is a unique repository of exceptional and valuable manuscripts, a treasury of the intellectual heritage of the Armenian people, as a museum and a scientific research institute it has a universal value. In 1997 it was registered in UNESCO’s world memory list and is considered one of the most important places for the preservation and development of Armenian national memory. About 20,000 manuscripts kept here (in Armenian and other languages: Greek, Arabic, Persian, Assyrian, Latin, Ethiopian, Georgian, Hebrew, etc.) cover almost all areas of ancient and medieval Armenian science and culture: history, geography, grammar, philosophy, law, medicine, mathematics, cosmology, notarial science, translation and national literature, miniature painting, music and theater.

Due to the Armenian translations made in the Middle Ages, many original texts that were not preserved in their native languages were saved from loss.

The Matenadaran, as the first scientific research institution in the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR), was established in 1921 on the basis of the Etchmiadzin Manuscript Library. It was previously called the Cultural-Historical Institute. In 1939, it was moved from Etchmiadzin to Yerevan and operated in the Public Library building. The design of the main building began in the years of the Great Patriotic War, and the construction was completed in 1957. Matenadaran was moved to that building in 1959. By the decision of the ASSR government on March 3 of the same year, it was transformed into the Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts. In 1962, it was named after Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet. In 1978 repositories for the manuscripts and books were built into the northern hillside.

The main building is a four-story monumental building with basement floor, built by gray basalt, with a “midis” layout. The height to the cornice is 22.4 m. The façades are solved in a strict and laconic style. The interior is formed by the constructive and stylistic principles of the Armenian medieval civil structures (vestibule, library). It is divided into arched areas by columns and arches. Iron concrete structures were used in the construction.

In the lobby of the main building is installed mosaic of the “Battle of Avarayr” (1960, artist Van Khachatur), a fresco “History of Armenian Culture” consisted of triple parts (1959, artist Van Khachatur) is visible from the main stairs going up to the second floor. In 1961, the interior with 40 pottery works was designed by Armenian ceramist, painter, folk artist of the ASSR Hmayak Bdeyan. In 1977, his “Scribe” and “Miniaturist” sculptures were also placed here. Near the main façade of the building, the statues of prominent figures of medieval Armenian culture Anania Shirakatsi (1963, sculptor: Grigor Badalyan), Movses Khorenatsi (1964, sculptor: Yerem Vardanyan), Mkhitar Gosh (1967, sculptor: Ghukas Chubaryan), Toros Roslin (1967, sculptor: Arsham Shahinyan), Frick (1967, sculptor: Suren Nazaryan) and Grigor Tatevatsi (1967, sculptor: Arsham Grigoryan) are placed on separate pedestals.

Along the main axis of the building, near the retaining wall, there is a group of statues of Mesrop Mashtots, the creator of the Armenian alphabet, and his famous pupil Koryun (1962, sculptor: Ghukas Chubaryan). The first Armenian sentence is engraved on the retaining wall. “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding.” An open-air museum is organized in the arched low halls in vicinity to the building, where highly estimated monuments brought from different places of Armenia are exhibited: dragon stone (II-I millennia BC), “Door” monument (brought from the Red Hill, VII century BC), khachkars (1294, 1545, 1596, 1604), tombstone with inscription (XVII century) and others.

In 1987-1988, a new building was designed in the prospect of the expansion of the activities of Matenadaran and the growth of the manuscript collection (architect: Artur Meschyan). The construction started in 1988, but was interrupted after the devastating Spitak Earthquake (07.12.1988). The groundbreaking ceremony of the new building was held on May 14 in 2009 in the back part of the main building. The new building was constructed during 2009-2011. It is likesome to the main building in terms of its dimension and space solutions, even though it exceeds the main building in size 4 times. The main building was renovated and turned into a museum building, quadrupling the exhibition surfaces. The construction of the Matenadaran building is also important from the perspective of urban planning. In its dimension, it organizes the end of Mashtots Avenue and that part of the city in general.

The Matenadaran is internationally recognized institution having high prestige, which has become one of the symbols of Yerevan.

“Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNCO

Yerevan Municipality

VISITOR INFORMATION

For group visits (more than 5 people) it is necessary to agree in advance (phone: +37410 562 578).

For groups of more than 15 people the radio guides are provided free of charge.

On the last Saturday of each month, the entrance to the Matenadaran is free only for the citizens of the Republic of Armenia. The tour is paid according to the price list.

At the Matenadaran Museum Complex, visitors and guests are given explanations in 8 languages: Armenian, Russian, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Persian.

COST

Entrance

Adults - 1500 AMD

Pupils - 200 AMD

Students (with a student ticket) - 300 AMD

Tours

The Armenian tours - 3000 AMD

The explanation for 1-10 visitors in foreign languages - 5000 AMD

The explanation for 11 and more visitors in foreign languages - 7000 AMD

WORKING HOURS

Tuesday to Saturday

Museum: 10:00-17:00