38 Facts About Anania Shirakatsi

Anania Shirakatsi was a 7th-century Armenian polymath and natural philosopher, author of extant works covering mathematics, astronomy, geography, chronology, and other fields.

Anania Shirakatsi composed science textbooks and the first known geographic work in classical Armenian, which provides detailed information about Greater Armenia, Persia and the Caucasus.

Anania Shirakatsi devised a system of mathematical notation based on the Armenian alphabet, although he was the only writer known to have used it.

Anania Shirakatsi's name is usually anglicized as Ananias of Shirak.

Robert H Hewsen noted in 1968 that Anania is widely believed to have been born between 595 and 600; a quarter-century later he settled on c 610 as a birthdate and 685 as the year he died.

Anania Shirakatsi is the only classical Armenian scholar to have written an autobiography.

Greenwood suggests that it is more likely that Anania Shirakatsi came from the lesser nobility in Shirak, who served the house of Kamsarakan.

Anania Shirakatsi is traditionally thought to have been buried in the village of Anavank'; however, the tradition probably originated from the name of the village.

Anania Shirakatsi received his early education at the local Armenian schools, possibly at Dprevank' monastery, where he studied sacred texts and earlier Armenian authors.

Anania Shirakatsi then left to find a better teacher and learned about Tychicus, who was based at the monastery of Saint Eugenios in Trebizond.

Anania Shirakatsi provided Anania special attention and taught him what Anania called a "perfect knowledge of mathematics".

In Tychicus's vast library, Anania Shirakatsi found "everything, exoteric and esoteric", including sacred and secular Greek authors, including works on the sciences, medicine, chronology, and history.

Anania Shirakatsi himself established a school in Armenia upon his return.

Anania Shirakatsi was disappointed with the laziness of his students and their departure after learning the basics.

Anania Shirakatsi financed his research in several fields with the money he earned teaching.

Greppin doubts that Anania Shirakatsi was ever in any religious order.

Anania Shirakatsi is considered by modern scholars to be a representative of the Hellenizing School since many of his works were based on classical Greek sources.

Anania Shirakatsi was the first Armenian scholar to have "imported a set of scientific notions, and examples of their applications, from the Greek-speaking schools" into Armenia.

Anania Shirakatsi was well versed in Greek literature, and the influence of Greek syntax is evident in his works.

Anania Shirakatsi was knowledgeable about native Armenian and Iranian cultural traditions; several of his works provide important information on late Sassanian Iran.

Anania Shirakatsi was the first Armenian scholar to quote Philo of Alexandria.

Anania Shirakatsi was the last known lay scholar in Christian Armenia until Grigor Magistros Pahlavuni in the 11th century.

Anania Shirakatsi described the topmost sphere as the aether, the source of light and heat.

Anania Shirakatsi cites the work of Basil of Caesarea, Gregory the Illuminator, and Amphilochius.

Anania Shirakatsi's calendar was never implemented by the Armenian Church; Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi believes that Anastas's death prevented a church council from ratifying it.

Anania Shirakatsi extensively used the work of Epiphanius of Salamis to present the system of weights used by the Greeks, Jews, and Syrians, and his own knowledge as well as other sources for those of the Armenians and Persians.

Anania Shirakatsi wrote several works on precious stones, music, and the known languages of the world.

Anania Shirakatsi wrote on herbal medicine, though none of his medical writings have survived.

Anania Shirakatsi is traditionally credited with the discovery of the miraculous flower called or hamasp'iur.

Anania Shirakatsi is credited with discovering the plant in Dzoghakert and using it medically.

Anania Shirakatsi laid the foundations of the exact sciences in Armenia and greatly influenced many Armenian scholars who came after him.

Anania Shirakatsi insisted on Anania's authorship and published his research in 1963.

Anania Shirakatsi is widely regarded as the founder of the natural sciences in the country.

Anania Shirakatsi was the first classical Armenian scholar to study mathematics and several scientific subjects, such as cosmography and chronology.

Anania Shirakatsi was the first to sow the seeds of science among the Armenians.

Anania Shirakatsi was often in the forefront of scientific thinking, but at other times he repeated the accepted theories of his time.

In Soviet reference books, Anania Shirakatsi was often mentioned as the earliest astronomer among its peoples.

Anania Shirakatsi came to be projected as a national hero from the distant Armenian past, linking and affirming past and present identities.