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Travel Blog

04.03.2019
Why pomegranate symbol is so famous in Armenia?

If you ask Armenians what are some of the country’s famous symbols, pomegranate will definitely be on the list. It has been involved in Armenia’s history line for so many aspects: mythology, art, food, drinks and so much more. 

So, what is it that makes pomegranate so special for Armenia? 

Mythology

Besides being delicious just by itself (we’ll get to the food and drink part later), pomegranate represents fertility and prosperity. Historically, the newlyweds were given a scattered pomegranate to have many children during their lives together. 

The fruit is also famous in other aspects of Armenian mythology. It is said that the pomegranate contains 365-366 seeds which are equivalent to the days of the year. Hence, the fruit is celebrated  as a symbol of life. Because of its health benefits, it is also believed that pomegranate keeps us out from the evil spirits. 

Art 

Perhaps the most famous movie with the pomegranate is Sergey Parajanov’s masterpiece “The Color of Pomegranate”, displaying Armenia’s undefeatable soul. 

The fruit can be seen in countless paintings of famous Armenian artists. It is a muse for many until this day. One famous work is by a beloved artist Martiros Saryan who showed this symbolic fruit in his famous painting “Under Pomegranate Tree”.

Armenian Manuscripts dating back to sixth or seventh century contained pomegranate in their illustrations for religious connotations of Christianity and the blood of Christ. 
To this day, pomegranates can be found anywhere in Armenian markets in any form: necklace, painting, house souvenir, ceramics, and so much more. Even the official logo of the State Tourism Committee in Armenia contains pomegranate in it – so the fruit is basically our symbol for promoting tourism of the country. 

Food and Wine

In the sense of the actual usage of the fruit, Armenians love to use it in different recipes, cut and eat it just by itself, or make wine out of it! 

It is believed to have many advantages for health so it is very common to see pomegranate on the table in Armenian households. It is a long and time consuming process to cut the fruit and separate the seeds but it is something the whole family gets excited about, especially children. The fruit is used in many salads and main dishes both as a decoration and an ingredient. The shells don’t go to waste either - they are considered to be great remedy when mixed with other ingredients. 

And finally, besides eating the fruit, Armenians have also found the way to make wine out of it. Semi Sweet pomegranate wine is a hit in Armenia, so be sure to give it a try when you are around. 

This wonderful fruit along with many known health benefits, in Armenian culture, shows strength, life and prosperity. Being a muse for so many Armenian artists to this day, pomegranate can be found in any artform in Sunday markets, if you are looking for the perfect Armenian souvenir. Discover the many stories of this famous symbol of the country with Caucasus Holidays!