By language the Armenians, or, as they call themselves, Haik, are entitled to rank as a very old branch of the Aryan stock. in some respects intermediate between the Aryans of Europe and the Aryan peoples of Greater Asia. Physically also they are of a primitive type, short and thickset, dark-skinned, and of exaggerated bra chycephalism, in part artificially induced. They are related on the one hand to the 'Alpine' stock in Europe, and on the other to the Galt chas, etc., of Central Asia. Their physical type is probably less pure than is assumed by Ripley (1899), but not so mixed as Deniker (1900) supposes. They inhabited in early prehistoric times a considerable portion of Asia Minor, and have contributed to, or borrowed from, Aryans of other types, Semites, Caueasie peoples. and later intruding Europeans and Turks. Their racial, social, and religious solidarity, and their position in a land that has seen so much of the beginnings of the civilizations of the white race, make them one of the most interesting peoples of Asia. The Armenians are conspicuous by their industry, intelligence. and aptitude for commercial pursuits, and in many cities of the East they are the principal merchants and money-lenders. The bulk of the Armenians
belong to the so-called Armenian Church (q.v.).
Aacir-EoLoGv. Cities abounding in superb pal aces and temples existed in Armenia from remote antiquity. Armais, grandson of Haig. the con queror of Nimrod, is said to have built the town of Armavir, long the capital of Armenia, on the banks of the Araxes. When, according to the tradition, Semiramis conquered the country, Semiramocerte. now Van, was built, where im portant excavations and discoveries have been made in recent years. Christianity, introduced by Saint Gregory, and adopted by his royal convert, Tiridates, c.312, resulted in the demolition of the pagan temples throughout the and the endowment and building of churches. Among the most interesting examples of Armenian architecture dating from this period are the remains of fortifications, the castle, cathe dral. and chapel at Ani, the ruins at Akhlat and at Talin, the troglodyte city of Vardzia, the mediteval castle of Khertvis, the church at Saba,, built by Ataheg Sargis (1306-34), and the one at Etehmiadzin, the cathedral of Saint Gregory, the monastery and the churches of Saint Gaine. Saint Ripisme, and of Shoghakath, with its finely sculptured stones.