𐎠𐎼𐎷𐎡𐎴

Etymology

Old Persian Armina is the first unambiguous application of the name Armenia as the ethnonym of the Armenians and is first attested in 6th century BC Behistun inscription by Achaemenid king Darius I of Persia. Like most place names in West Asia the Persians borrowed it from Aramaeans, whom the Achaemenids employed in their chancelleries. According to Diakonoff the word is formed with long Aramaic ending -ā from Urartian *armini (“inhabitant of Arme; Arme-ian (country)”). Arme/Urme was a country inhabited by Proto-Armenians in the mountains of Sassoun; of the territories inhabited by Proto-Armenians it was the closest to Aramaeans (who lived in Amida). See also Old Armenian հայ (hay) and Georgian სომეხი (somexi).

Proper noun

(Armina) m^[1]

1. Armenia
   • late 6th century BCE, Darius the Great, Behistun Inscription, Column 1, lines 13-17

     […] θātiy Dārayavauš xšāyaθiya imā dahyāva tyā manā patiyāiša vašnā Auramazdāha adamšām xšāyaθiya āham Pārsa Ûvja Bābiruš Ahurā Arabāya Mudrāya tyaiy drayahyā Sparda Yauna Māda Armina Katpatuka Parθava Zraka Haraiva Uvārazmîy Bāxtriš Suguda Gadāra Saka Θataguš Harauvatiš Maka fraharavam dahyāva XXIII...

     […] King Darius says: These are the countries which are subject unto me, and by the grace of Ahuramazda I became king of them: Persia, Elam, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, the countries by the Sea, Lydia, the Greeks, Media, Armenia, Cappadocia, Parthia, Drangiana, Aria, Chorasmia, Bactria, Sogdia, Gandara, Scythia, Sattagydia, Arachosia and Maka; twenty-three lands in all.

   • late 6th century BCE, Darius the Great, Behistun Inscription, Column 2, lines 29-31

     […] θātiy Dārayavauš xšāyaθiya Dādaršiš nāma Arminiya manā badaka avam adam frāišayam Arminam avaθāšaiy aθaham paraidiy kāra hya hamiçiva manā naiy gaubataiy avam jadiy...

     […] King Darius says: An Armenian named Dādarši, my servant, I sent into Armenia, and I said unto him: 'Go, smite that host which is in revolt and does not acknowledge me.'

References

• Дьяконов И.М. Предыстория армянского народа. История Армянского нагорья с 1500 по 500 г. до н.э. Хурриты, лувийцы, протоармяне / Еремян С.Т. — Ереван: Издательство АН Армянской ССР, 1968, стр. 234