Cosmological Views of Anania Shirakatsi

Since the ancient times the usage of cosmological ideas in mythology and poetry has contributed to the formation and development of human’s philosophical thought. It is believed that before the M. Mashtots’salphabet, ancient Armenians have expressed their astronomical knowledge through stone structures and rock art. In the Armenian reality, the cosmological views, the idea of the spherical shape of the Earth and information of other celestial bodies more vividly were manifested in the works of Movses Khorenatsi, David Anhaght (5th century) and Anania Shirakatsi (7th century). Anania Shirakatsi is an Armenian Astronomer, Mathematician, Philosopher, Geographer and Alchemist. The importance of his work is also noted by foreign authors and he was called 7th century Cosmologist, First Scientist of Armenia and Middival Astronomer.Shirakatsi’s works are united in his comprehensive knowledge, his insight of the mind, the ability of combining and analyzing facts and his literature talent. His works have simultaneous historical, cosmic, geographical, religious, literary and mystical significance. In the present study we will show Anania Shirakatsi’s cosmological ideas and observations.