Armenians of the Ottoman Empire

Day 4,944, 07:34 • Published in Turkey Armenia • by Clark.Kent

The Armenian presence within the geographical area of the Ottoman Empire is a very ancient one. In reality the area that eventually became the Ottoman Empire contained the lands of ancient Armenian royal dynasties, from antiquity to the Middle Ages. These regions are mostly included in present-day Turkey’s eastern provinces – and today’s Republic of Armenia – where a dense population of Armenians lived. For this reason the Ottoman government, for a long time, in its turn gave these areas the unofficial name of Ermenistan, used until at least the 18th century.

Erzurum: a group of Armenian girls in their traditional dress (Source: H.F.B. Lynch, Armenia. Travels and Studies, Vol. II, London, 1901)

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Erzurum 1912: A picture of a group of Armenians. The photograph was taken by the Voskeritchian Studio, owned by (most probably Diran) Voskeritchian and his brothers (Source: Taline Voskeritchian collection)

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Adana, April 1911. Wedding photogaraph of Stepan Parikian and Vanuhi Bedelian.


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One of the entrances to St Sophia cathedral, Sis/Kozan (Source: Alfred Boissier, En Cappadoce, notes de voyage, Genève, 1897)

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Adana, 1914. Sirvart Parikian, born 1911. Photograph by Arabian brothers, Adana (Source: Bedo Eghiayian collection)

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Adana, The Bedelian and Parikian families (Source: Bedo Eghiayan collection)


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Adana, 1905: an Armenian kindergarten class. Standing, 2nd from left – Lutfig Yeghiayian (Source: Bedo Eghiayan collection)

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Adana, ca 1900: on the left – Bedros Yeghiayian, right – Levon Yeghiayian (Bedros’ cousin). They are photographed with their imported German ‘Hercules’ bicycles (Source: Bedo Eghiayan collection)

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Adana, 1903: an Armenian kindergarten class. On the teacher’s left, standing – Arshaluis Yeghiayian. Photograph taken by S. M. Arabian, Adana (Source: Bedo Eghiayan collection)

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