Nairi (people)
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| Early History | |||
| Haik | |||
| Armens | |||
| Hayasa-Azzi | |||
| Metsamor Kingdom | |||
| Nairi | |||
| Kingdom of Urartu | |||
| Kingdom of Armenia | |||
| Orontid Armenia | |||
| Artaxiad Dynasty | |||
| Arsacid Dynasty | |||
| Medieval History | |||
| Marzpanate Period | |||
| Byzantine Armenia | |||
| Bagratuni Armenia | |||
| Kingdom of Vaspurakan | |||
| Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia | |||
| Foreign Rule | |||
| Persian Rule | |||
| Ottoman Rule | |||
| Russian Rule | |||
| Hamidian Massacres | |||
| Armenian Genocide | |||
| Early Independence | |||
| Democratic Republic of Armenia | |||
| Soviet Armenia | |||
| Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic | |||
| Modern Armenia | |||
| Republic of Armenia | |||
The Nairi, also called Nahri were a Late Bronze Age nation corresponding in the territory of the later Kingdom of Urartu, located around Lake Van, in what is now the East Anatolia Region (between Hakkari to Dersim), southeastern Turkey. [1]The Nairi were considered a force strong enough to tackle both the Assyrians and Hittites
This nation was mentioned first by the Assyrians in the 13th century BC as 'Nairi'. Nairi was powerful and rivaled the Assyrian Empire. They had many wars with the Assyrians. Nairi were part of the peoples that formed Urartu.
Nairi's fought against southern incursions of the Assyrians would later unite into a powerful Armenian Kingdom of Van [Biayna]. The Assyrians called the Kingdom of Van or Ararat or Urartu.
[edit] In Armenian culture
Since the late nineteenth century, Nairi has come to stand as a synonym for Armenia among Armenians, who tend to see Nairi as one of their most ancient ancestors.
In 1916, Vahan Terian published a bundle of poems entitled Land of Nairi (in Armenian: Yerkir Nairi), in which he uses Nairi in place of Armenia. Likewise in 1923, Yeghishe Charents wrote a satirical novella entitled Land of Nairi, using once again Nairi as a synonym for Armenia. Hayastan Yeghiazarian, interestingly, used Nairi Zarian as his pen-name, replacing his first name, Hayastan (which is what Armenians call Armenia in their own language since the Late Middle Ages) with Nairi.
In the course of the twentieth and twenty-first century, Nairi has become a popular first name for both girls and boys in Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora. Variations, like Naira, exist side by side variations in spelling, including Nayiri, Nayri, and Nyree.
Armenians also use the name Nairi for many products and businesses ranging from restaurants to movie theaters, magazines to publishing houses, hotels to cognac, and even computers. In the United States, especially in areas where there are large Armenian communities, many businesses, including beauty-salons, bakeries, and grocery stores bear the name Nairi.
[edit] Nairi, Hay and Armen
Nairi, Hay and Armen, all three were closely related to one another. The tribal groups living near Lake Van and, in fact, in and around the capital Touchpa (Tushpa) were called "Nairi" (indicating they had fair hair and eyes). The groups to the west in central Anatolia where known as "Armens". The tribal groups to the northeast were referred to as "Hay".
