In the first quarter of the 6th century BC, the territories of the collapsed Van Kingdom were united into the pan-Armenian state of the Orontids. In 550 BC, Armenia came under the rule of Achaemenid Persia.
The culture of Armenia in the 6th-4th centuries BC represents a rich layering of both local traditions and the influences of Achaemenid culture. It was a period of cultural achievement, religious transformation and the formation of an Armenian identity that has been the basis for the survival of the Armenian people to this day.
The exhibition presents:
- A rich selection of pottery from the 6th-4th centuries BC. A bull-shaped clay rhyton, striking for its beauty and delicacy, found in Armavir. Various bowls, pitchers and goblets found at Lori Berd, Oshakan and other centres.
- Unique examples of jewellery and artistic metalwork, reflecting the cult and aesthetic features of the period.
- Exclusive examples of glasswork, presented in the form of flasks, jewellery and decorative accessories.