Mother Armenia Monument and Military Museum

Why is it significant?

Conclude your ascent at the foot of the monumental Mother Armenia—Mayr Hayastan—the towering guardian of the nation looking out over Yerevan.

Key Facts

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Conclude your ascent at the foot of the monumental Mother Armenia—Mayr Hayastan—the towering guardian of the nation looking out over Yerevan. Rising fifty-four meters in total height, this colossal monument features a twenty-two-meter hammered-copper statue of a female warrior created by acclaimed sculptor Ara Harutyunyan in 1967. She sheathes her mighty broadsword, symbolizing unyielding determination to defend the motherland paired with an enduring yearning for peace. A defensive shield rests at her feet.

Equally remarkable is the massive thirty-two-meter pedestal of black polished basalt, designed in 1950 by master architect Rafayel Israyelyan. While appearing from outside as an impregnable fortress redoubt, Israyelyan drew inspiration from the sacred architecture of seventh-century Armenian churches like Saint Hripsime. Inside the hollow basalt pedestal is an imposing three-aisled stone basilica housing the Military Museum of the Ministry of Defense, displaying thousands of historic artifacts, weapons, and medals.

Few realize that until 1962, this pedestal supported a monumental statue of Joseph Stalin by sculptor Sergey Merkurov. During the de-Stalinization thaw, Stalin's statue was taken down, and five years later Mother Armenia took her rightful place upon the granite rampart. Fronting the monument on a broad granite terrace burns the Eternal Flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, ringed by commemorative stone stelae bearing the names of fallen heroes.

From the wide observation parapet at the base of the statue, all of Yerevan stretches out in majestic panorama below. Facing southward toward biblical Mount Ararat, Mother Armenia stands perpetual watch over the capital. The colossal bronze-like figure and its basalt fortress pedestal project an aura of calm resilience and eternal dignity, visible from almost every rooftop and public square across the sunlit city. Mother Armenia remains the steadfast guardian of the capital, embodying the courage, sacrifice, and enduring hope of the Armenian people.

Tour the historic exhibitions inside the pedestal museum or relax beside the tranquil waters of Lake Arevik in the park.