Located in the valley of river Goris (or Vararak), it is 254 km away from the Armenian capital Yerevan and 67 km from the provincial centre Kapan. Goris is an urban community and the 2nd largest city in Syunik province. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia (ARMSTAT) reported its population was 23,022 in 2010,[1] down from 23,261 at the 2001 census.There are different explana
tions of the name. It is supposed that the name comes from the Indo-European prelanguage words "gor"(rock), "es" (to be), i.e. Goris "Kores" means a rocky place. There was a dwelling in the ancient times in the same area of the town. The humankind settled here since the Stone Age. Goris was first mentioned in the history by the Urartian period. King Rusa I (8th century B.C.) left a cuneiform, where he mentioned that among the 23 countries conquered by him, "Goristsa" country was one of them. The scientists suppose that it is the same Goris. During the Middle Ages, the town-settlement was situated in the eastern part of the present Goris, on the left bank of Goris river. It was called old Goirs and coincided with one of the villages of Goru and Goraik mentioned by Stepanos Orbelyan (13th century). The current spelling of the name was first mentioned in 1624, in a handwriting by Barsegh Yerets. In 17-18th centuries princes Melik Husenyans ruled Goris. In the beginning of the 19th century, on 13 October 1813 according to the "Gyulistan agreement", Goris fell under the domination of Emperial Russia. In 1870, the modern-day town of Goris was founded to become the centre of Zangezour province within the Russian Empire. In 1876, the new town of Goris was founded near the Old Goris with the initiative of the head of "Starastky province" and recommendation of Prince Manuchar-Bek Melik Husenyan and the plan was designed by a German architect.[3] At the end of the 19th century the economical and cultural life of the town was rather improved. After the fall of the Democratic Republic of Armenia in 1920, the 2nd Pan-Zangezurian congress held in Tatev on 26 April 1921, announced the independence of the self-governing regions of Daralakyaz (Vayots Dzor), Zangezur, and Mountainous Artsakh, under the name of the Republic of Mountainous Armenia (Lernahaystani Hanrapetutyun), with Goris as a de facto capital city.[4]
The stone-pyramids of Old Kores located to the east of the modern town, is one of the most attractive sites in Goris. The old town is home to the 4th-century basilica of Surp Hripsimé.[5] The basilica has been renovated during the 16th century. However it was closed during the Soviet period until its major renovation in 2010. Finally, it was reopened for the public in October 2013.
