Armageddon

the great battlefield of the Old Testament, where the chief conflicts took place between the Israeli tes and. their enemies — the tableland of Esdraelon in Galilee and Samaria, in the center of which stood the town Megiddo, on the site of the modern Lejjun; used figuratively in the a to signify the place of ‘the battle of the great day of God.” Armenia, 2 mountainous country of Western Asia, not now politically existing, but of great historical interest. It varied in extent at different epochs, but it may be regarded as lying between was sometimes subdivided into First, Second, -and Third Armenia, to which a Fourth was afterward added; but the division by which it was almost universally known was into Armenia Major and Armenia Minor, or the Greater and the Le Armenia. It would seem to have stretched from the Caspian Sea and the Persian province of Azerbijan on the BE. to Asia Minor on the W., and from the Kur or Cyrus river on the N. to Kurdistan and Me so pot am i a on the S. Armenia. Major comprised the larger and LE. portion of this area, extending W. as far as the Euphrates and the Anti-Taurus, and having an area of about 84,000 ’ square miles. Armenia Minor extended from the Euphrates to Asia Minor, and its area may be stated at about 53,000 square miles. The Euphrates thus intersects Armenia almost centrally, and forms the natural boundary between the two divisions now described. ‘The territory of this kingdom is now partitioned among Turkey, Persia, and Ru ia, Turkey po e ing the largest share. The inhabitants are chiefly of the genuine Armenian stock; but besides them, in consequence of the repeated subjugation of the country, various other races have obtained a footing. Of these the principal are the Turcomans, whi still maintain their nomadic habits, and from whom_ the country has received the name of Turcomania. In the 8. portion are the predatory Kurds and the Turks; on the Tchorak, Georgians; and throughout the whole country, Greeks, Jews, and Gypsies. The total number of Armenians has been estimated at 2,- 000,000, of whom probably one-half are in Armenia, The remainder, like the Jews, are scattered over various countries, and being strongly addicted to commerce, play an important part as merchants. They are found over all Western Asia; about 200,000 are in Constantinople and its vicinity; numbers are in Ru ia, Hungary, and Italy; some in Africa and America; and a large number in India, chiefly in the great marts, Bombay, Madras, and Calcutta. Everywhere they are engaged in banking and trading. Their eyes and hair are black, their look lively, noses aquiline, and their complexion somewhat swarthy. The women are remarkable for the delicacy and regularity of their features. The Armenians received Christianity as early as the 3d century.. During the Monopbysitic disputes, being di atisfied with the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon (451), they separated from the Greek Church in the year 536. The Popes have at different times attempted to gain them over to the Roman Catholie faith, but have not been able to unite them permanently and generally with the Roman Church. There are, however, small numbers here and there of United Armenians, who acknowledge the spiritual supremacy of the Pope, agree in their doctrines with the Catholics, but retain their peculiar ceremonies and discipline. At different times force has been used to make them conform to the religion of Mohammed; but the far greater part are yet Monophysites, and have remained faithful to their old religion and worship.. They have suffered the usual fate of Christ i on populations subject to Turkey, and the ma acres of Armenians in 1895 and 1896 excited the horror of the civilized world. Many have emigrated to the United States. The Armenian language belongs to the great Indo-European family of languages, and is most closely connected with the Iranic group.