The Geography of Ananias of Širak by Anania Shirakatsi

There are 7 mobile areas between the firmament and the Earth the celestial bodies are settled on them and deprived of their own light and heat, get them from the upper sky. The Earth is situated in the centre of the Universe, and its stable balanced state is a result of combination of weight and motion power. The continuous motion and the sphericity of luminaries, the Sun, the Earth, the Moon and other celestial bodies situated under the lower visible, as well as under the firmament, are due to the motion and shape of the upper sky. The upper invisible sky is spherical it is in the state of endless motion of excessively high velocity. In his opinion the Universe is limited, it has two limits small (the Earth) and large (the upper sky). Shirakatsi investigates the elements and the qualities physically and cosmologically, with the cosmological regard to the observation he comes to the problem of the structure of the Universe. Each of them has double qualities, and the interaction of these elements is the basis of the origin and the development of the material world. In his opinion God has not created the whole variety of the world but four elements (fire, air, earth, water). Shirakatsi is a supporter of the cosmological demonstration of God’s existence. were later observed as independent works. Proper to his curriculum, Shirakatsi compiled the work “Knnikon”, separate parts of which: “Cosmology”, “Chronology”, “Map”, the textbook of arithmetic, etc. At the end of 630s he founded a natural science mathematical high school where he paid special attention to the teaching of four sciences (arithmetic, music, geometry, and astronomy), as well as teaching of geography, chronology, philosophy, and Armenian language. Returning to his home country, he developed scientific and educational activity.

Then, realizing the role of mathematical and natural science knowledge in mastering philosophy, with the purpose of being properly educated for 11 years Shirakatsi has toured and studied in various countries of the East, settled in Trabzon and for 8 years he has been an apprentice to Byzantine scientist Tukikos. He got his primary education at the local school of Dprevank. He was born in Anania village of Shirak (Aneank) or Shirakavan (Yerazgavors). Having advanced astronomical views for his epoch and having left rich astronomical heritage, Shirakatsi is by right considered to be the founder of astronomy in Armenia. He was a philosopher, mathematician, cosmologist, chronologist, the founder of exact and natural sciences in Armenia. Anania Shirakatsi is the greatest Armenian scientist of the middle Ages.

The Geography of Ananias of Širak by Anania Shirakatsi