Cilicia Museum of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia Antelias-Lebanon

The official opening took place on March 30, 1998. The last massive structure on the premises, it also houses the library of the Catholicosate. Most of the precious relics and samples of religious arts are the rescued treasures of the Catholicosate. In the summer of 1915 they made an Odyssean journey from Sis to Aleppo, and in 1930 they were brought to Antelias, the new premises of the Holy Se of Cilicia. In addition to these treasures, and through donations and purchases the Museum now has very significant collections.

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Coins

Armenians have a rich and varied numismatic tradition extending from ancient times. The collection includes over a thousand examples of coins and banknotes from all periods, as well as many coins of neighboring lands. The earliest Armenian coins were struck by the kings of Sophene and Commagene (circa 260 BC-34 BC) situated in western Armenia. The most commonly known ancient Armenian coins, however, were struck during the Artaxiad (or Artašēsian) dynasty (189 BC – 6 AD). The collection has numerous Artaxiad (Artašēsian) bronze coins, notably those belonging to Tigranes II the Great (or Tigran Mec) 95-56 BC). Tigranes created an empire that stretched from the Caucasus Mountains to the Mediterranean coast of present day Syria and Lebanon, and left a formidable numismatic legacy. During the Middle Ages, coins with legends in Armenian characters were struck in greater Armenia and particularly Armenian Cilicia.

The Museum is well endowed with a representative collection of Cilician silver and copper coins struck by the barons and kings. More than one hundred different coin types have been classified, and virtually no two Cilician coins, even those struck from the same pair of dies, are identical in every respect. The script is Armenian and they all carry Christian iconography. Every coin depicts the cross of Jesus Christ on one or both faces and many also mention God (the word Astucoy or variations thereof) in the legend. The strategic location of Cilicia and its ports provided the merchants with excellent facilities for conducting vigorous trade with the East. Coinage was part of political as well as economic status and developments and the coins reflect circumstances.King Lewon I (1198-1219) struck large numbers of coins with Armenian legends and overtly Christian iconography. The silver dram (or tram, borrowed from Arabic dirham), measuring about 21 mm in diameter and weighing about 2.9 grams of 93% silver, was the engine of Armenia’s economy. It became an internationally accepted currency and supported vigorous commercial activity that characterized and sustained the Kingdom. The largest silver coin attributed to King Lewon I is the silver double dram. There are abbreviated legends along the edge of the coin that read clockwise Lewon T‘agawor Hayoc‘ (Lewon King of All Armenians) on the obverse, and Karołut‘ambn Astucoy (by the empowerment of God). The political implication of the term “All Armenians” is not clear. There are luxurious coins of Queen Zapēl and King Het‘um (1226 to 1269), King Smbat (1296-1298), Kostandin I (1298-1299), Ošin (1308-1320), Lewon IV (1320-1342). The last coins however reflected the decline of the kingdom.

Archeological artifacts

Some archeological pieces are also on display on the second floor. They come from two private collections. Ancient Armenian civilization and arts are represented in the first collection. It includes human and animal figurines from the Neolithic Age. From the Bronze Age, there are bracelets, earrings, buckles, nails and axes.

Urartian civilization is in turn represented by bronze arrows, bracelets, armbands, and a large clay pot from the ninth century BC decorated by geometric and animal motifs. The second collection seems to represent the entire Lebanese coast from the Stone Age to the Byzantine period. Among many artifacts, there is also a beautiful and intact Phoenician blue glass cup.