Village in the government of Erivan, Transcaucasia, Russia, about 16 miles South-southeast from the capital of Erivan; the site of the old Armenian capital Artaxata, or Artashat; Artaxata is said to have been built for King Artaxias I. (189-159 B.C.), by Hannibal, 180 B.C. It was destroyed by Nero's army, and was restored by Artashes (85-127 of the common era), who transplanted thither captive Jews from Palestine. When the Persians destroyed the city in 370, they took away as prisoners 40,000 Armenian and 9,000 Jewish families from Artaxata. See ARMENIA