Aparan
| Aparan | ||
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From top left:
Aparan skyline with Mount Aragats to the right Battle of Abaran memorial • Mausoleum of Dro Kasagh Basilica • Aparan altar and Mount Ara Armenian alphabet park |
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 Aparan
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| Coordinates: 40°35′20.81″N 44°21′25.97″E / 40.5891139°N 44.3572139°ECoordinates: 40°35′20.81″N 44°21′25.97″E / 40.5891139°N 44.3572139°E | ||
| Country |
 Armenia
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| Marz | Aragatsotn | |
| First mentioned | 2nd century | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Gor Abrahamyan | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.5 km2 (1.4 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 1,880 m (6,170 ft) | |
| Population (2011 census) | ||
| • Total | 6,451 | |
| • Density | 1,800/km2 (4,800/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+4) | |
| Website | Official website | |
| Sources: Population | ||
Aparan (Armenian: Ապարան), is a town in Armenia, located in the Aragatsotn Province, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 census, the population of the town is 6,451.
It is commonly believed that the name of Aparan is derived from the Armenian word of Aparank; meaning a royal palace. However, throughout the history, the town was known with different names including Kasagh, Paraznavert, Abaran and Abaran Verin. Later, it was known as Bash Aparan (Բաշ Ապարան) until 1935, when the name was finally changed to Aparan.
The first reference to the town of Aparan was made by Ptolemy during the 2nd century. Ptolemy referred to the settlement as Casala; the Hellenized version of the Armenian name of Kasagh. The town was the centre of Nig canton of the Ayrarat province of ancient Armenia. Kasagh was under the administration of the Gntunyan Armenian noble family.
Starting from the 10th century, the settlement of Kasagh was mentioned as Aparan. The new name was originated from the village of Aparank located in the Moxoene province of the Kingdom of Armenia, when some remains from the ancient Armenian monastery of Surp Khach of Aparan were transferred to the town of Kasagh. However, the 17th-century Armenian historian Zakarya of Kanaker, used to name of Kasagh to refer to Aparan. During the 18th century, the town was known as Bash-Aparan. The town remained under the name of Bash-Aparan until 1935, when it was officially changed into Aparan.
being one of the oldest surviving churches in the Armenian highland, the famous Kasagh Basilica of the Holy Sign of Cross was built by the end of the 4th century. The church is undated and was partly restored in 1877.
During the years of the Armenian Genocide, many Armenian refuge families arrived in Aparan from the Western Armenian cities of Van, Mush, Alashkert and Karin between 1914-1918. Many other families had also arrived from the Eastern Armenian town of Khoy.
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Wikipedia