Armenia and Iran: The Birth of Two Nations in Late Antiquity

Abstract

This paper discusses the idea of Armenian and Iranian identity in 3rd century CE. It is proposed that the bordering region of the Armeno-Iranian world, such as that of the Siwnik‘ and its house saw matters very differently from that of the Armenian kingdom. The Sasanians in return had a vastly different view of Armenia and Georgia as political entities, and used their differences to the benefit of their empire.

Keywords

• siwnik‘
• sassanian empire
• ērānšahr
• ka’be-ye zardošt
• paikuli
• zarrbed