Urbatagirk, the first book printed in Armenian
Urbatagirk, primer libro impreso en armenio
- Date
- 1512 · confidence high
- Place
- Venice, Veneto, Italy
- Credited to
- Hakob Meghapart (Jacob the Sinner), Armenian printer
- Field
- Communication
What it is
The Urbatagirk («Book of Friday»), a devotional using movable type in Armenian characters, appeared in Venice in 1512 and is the first book printed in Armenian. Its printer, Hakob Meghapart, produced four more titles that year.
What it led to
- Armenian presses in Venice, Constantinople (1567), Amsterdam and finally Echmiadzin (1771)
- spread of Armenian culture among the diaspora
- standardisation of Armenian orthography and typography