Online exhibition |
SMYRNA DISASTER – 90
Smyrna was one of the main business and cultural centers of Asia Minor. The Armenians had settled there since ancient times and were living in Getezerk, Karap, Haynots Armenian districts.
The books and periodicals published in the publishing houses of Smyrna had a significant role in the cultural, public and political life of the Armenians. In Smyrna Mesropian School founded in 1799, Hripsimyan Girl’s School, and a number of private schools were working. There were four Armenian churches (the famous one was St. Stephanos church), a hospital and a theatre in Smyrna. The Armenian merchants of Smyrna had merchant's houses in Europe, Russia, India and Egypt.
Due to its multi-cultural and developed mode of life Smyrna was called "Little Paris of the East".
Approximately 30 000 Armenians were living in Smyrna before 1922.
In September 1922 the Kemalists forces set fire to Smyrna and massacred the Armenians and the Greeks of the city. The premeditated fire of the city had the intention of terrifying the Christian population and making them leave the city forever. The streets were 'covered' with the corpses of the Armenians and Greeks. Many of them drowned when they were trying to set great hopes on the English, Italian and American ships.
Thus, Smyrna Catastrophe became the last episode of the Armenian Genocide and the starting point of the Kemalists' "Turkey for Turks" state-building policy.
Nowadays, Smyrna is famous by the Turkish name of Izmir and the majority of the inhabitants are Turks.
On September 2012 the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute is organizing International Conference and a temporary exhibition dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Smyrna Disaster displaying Smyrna Fire in the unique photographs and movies.
Armenian Mesropyan Boys College in Smyrna
"Our Smyrna and Outlying cities", New York, 1960
St. Stephanos Armenian Church in Smyrna, 16th century, a postcard
The collection of Orlando Calumeno
Facade of St. Stephanos Church
″Our Smyrna and Outlying cities″, New York, 1960
The altar of St. Stephanos Church in Smyrna, a postcard
AGMI collection
Hripsimyats Girls College
″Our Smyrna and Outlying cities″, New York, 1960
The students of Mesropyan College, 1909
"Our Smyrna and Outlying cities", New York, 1960
Students of Garatash Vardanyan Athletic Club, 1912
"Our Smyrna and Outlying cities", New York, 1960
A group of Armenian scouts of Smyrna, circa 1919 - 1920
"Our Smyrna and Outlying cities", New York, 1960
The football team of the "Armenian Hunter's Club" winner of the cup of Smyrna, 1912
"Our Smyrna and Outlying cities", New York, 1960
Students of Hripsimyats Girls College, fourth class, 1909
"Our Smyrna and Outlying cities", New York, 1960
The first group of graduates of Hripsimyats Girls College, 1909
"Our Smyrna and Outlying cities", New York, 1960
The football team of Garatash Vardanyan Club, 1912
"Our Smyrna and Outlying cities", New York, 1960
The athletic group of Mesropyan College, 1908
"Our Smyrna and Outlying cities", New York, 1960
The building of Sport Club in Smyrna, a postcard
AGMI collection
The port of Smyrna, a postcard
AGMI collection
The port of Smyrna, a postcard
AGMI collection
The port of Smyrna, a postcard
AGMI collection
Seaside Street of Smyrna, a postcard
AGMI collection
Seaside Street of Smyrna, a postcard
AGMI collection
The central part of Smyrna, the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, a postcard
The collection of Orlando Calumeno
The Armenian quarter of Smyrna, early 20th centuary, a postcard
AGMI collection
The port of Smyrna, a postcard
AGMI collection
The port of Smyrna, a postcard
AGMI collection
Port in Smyrna, the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, a postcard
AGMI collection
Qaratash Armenian quarter in Smyrna, the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, a postcard
AGMI collection
The march of Smyrna Armenian Community in Basma-Hane quarter, a postcard
The collection of Orlando Calumeno
Armenian and Greek men arrested and commented to exile, Smyrna, September, 1922
AGMI collection
The refugees of Smyrna, September, 1922
The photo has been taken by an American sailor
AGMI collection
The gathering of refugees in Smyrna Port, September, 1922
AGMI collection
The burnt port of Smyrna full of refugees in panic
AGMI collection
The refugees rescued from the Turkish massacres in the U.S. Shiping Board, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Huge crowd of Smyrna refugees gathered in the port, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Burning Smyrna, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Burning Smyrna in smoke, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Burning Smyrna in smoke, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Burning Smyrna in smoke, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Fire scene of waterside buildings, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Passport Office of Smyrna destroyed by fire, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Passport Office of Smyrna destroyed by fire, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Coastal buildings of Smyrna in smoke, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Coastal buildings of Smyrna in smoke, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Smyrna on the fire, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Burning Smyrna in the flames, night scene, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Christians of Smyrna rescued from Kamalist atrocities on the board of ship, September, 1922
AGMI collection
A victim of Smyrna massacres, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Christians fell victim to the Turkish brutalities, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Victims of Smyrna massacres, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Christians fell victim to the Turkish brutalities, September, 1922
AGMI collection
Victims of Smyrna massacres, September, 1922
AGMI collection
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VIRTUAL MUSEUM |
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INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE |
Armenian Genocide:
Challenges on the Eve of Centenary
Ani plaza, Ani hall
Yerevan, March 22-23
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TEMPORARY EXHIBITION |
On April 23, 2012, AGMI presents a temporary exhibition titled “Book as a witness of the Genocide” dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the Armenian printing and proclamation of Yerevan as 2012 World Book Capital City by UNESCO. The temporary exhibition comprises more than 300 rare first editions and other sources on the subject of the Armenian Genocide.
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SMYRNA DISASTER – 90 |
In September 2012 AGMI presents a temporary exhibition dedicated to the 90th anniversary of “Smyrna disaster” – destruction of the Christian population of Smyrna, one of the major sea ports of the Asia Minor. The fire of Smyrna becomes one of the dramatic episodes of the Armenian genocide carried out this time by Kemalist forces in September 1922.
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE STUDIES |
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REMEMBER |
Aghababyan Levon was born in 1887 in Baghesh and graduated from the Sanasaryan College. From 1908 to 1914 he was first a teacher then a headmaster at the national colleges of Akshehir and Kutahya. He was a teacher of mathematics, opened a private school in Kutahya which worked for only three years and also was an editor of “Azatamart”. He was a victim of the Armenian Genocide.
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LEMKIN SCHOLARSHIP |
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EVENTS OF AGMI |
April 9, 2013 The Russian delegation headed by the Chief of Staff of the RF Presidential Administration Sergei Ivanov, which is in Armenia on the occasion of the inauguration of the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and put flowers at the Memorial of the Armenian Genocide victims ...
December 18, 2012 The world known French actor Alain Delon visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex ...
November 24, 2012 The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Bashkiria Raphayil Zinurov Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex ...
November 24, 2012 The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Bashkiria Raphayil Zinurov Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex ...
September 25, 2012 Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. Cardinal Kurt Koch put flowers at the Eternal Fire and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls...
June 15, 2012 The delegation of the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies (RISS), Moscow, headed by the director Leonid Reshetnikov and accompanied by Ruben Safrastyan...
May 1, 2012 Christos Malikkidas, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Cyprus, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex and put flowers at the Eternal...
April 24, 2012 Stephen W. Clark, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary and Elizabeth Morrison, Acting Senior Curator of...
April 21, 2012 Minister of culture of Romania, Mr. Hunor Kelemen visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex...
April 17, 2012 A group of Turkish participants of USAID supported program on Turkish-Armenian dialogue...
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