The Etymology and Origins of the Name Nakhichevan from the Historical Sources

Abstract

In the south Caucasus there are many geographical names that are very old and have survived until now. One of the very old and important geographical names is the name of ancient city in Nakhichevan. It is the regional name which is important from the point of the history. Names are part of the identity and historical originality of the peoples of the lands. The aim of this study is to examine the origin of the historical name of Nakhichevan and the various forms of this word. Among the historical sources there is information about Nakhichevan word. But these sources are very limited and most importantly are associated with myths and legends. The name of Nakhichevan with its long history has been accompanied by changes in the south Caucasus and generally in Persian history. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the different sources since ancient time until now. It also assesses the information which is among, Armenian, Greek, Jewish historians or recent researches.