Matenadaran

Fun Facts

• • A massive, vibrant mosaic in the entrance hall depicts the pivotal Battle of Avarayr, a defining moment in Armenian history.
• • During the 1170 Seljuk Turk invasion, an estimated 10,000 Armenian manuscripts were burned at Baghaberd, a devastating loss for historical records.
• • In 1997, UNESCO included the Matenadaran’s vast collection in its Memory of the World Register, acknowledging its global cultural significance.
• • It holds the Vehamor Gospel, which dates to the 7th century and serves as the book upon which all Presidents of Armenia take their oath of office.
• • It holds translations of works written in other languages where the original copies have been lost to history, effectively saving them for the world.
• • It houses over 23,000 manuscripts and scrolls, including fragments, forming the largest collection of Armenian manuscripts globally.
• • Several manuscripts are so revered that they are allowed to leave the building annually for blessings at specific churches like Oshakan and Mughni.
• • The collection contains rare medieval maps, including the very first map ever printed in the Armenian language, which appeared in Amsterdam in 1695.
• • The exterior features a grand arched entrance directly inspired by the 12th century southern narthex of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Ani.
• • The institution is named after Mesrop Mashtots, the legendary inventor of the Armenian alphabet, whose statue guards the entrance.
• • The institution maintains a state of the art laboratory dedicated specifically to the restoration and preservation of these delicate, ancient materials.
• • The main building was designed by Mark Grigorian, who famously incorporated medieval Armenian architectural motifs despite facing political pressure in the Soviet era.
• • The name is a compound word derived from Middle Persian, with matean meaning book or parchment and daran meaning repository.