Noah flood and Nakhchivan

Nakhchivan is one of the oldest cities in Azerbaijan and the world. Primitive people have lived in this area since the Stone Age. Traces of stone age culture in Nakhchivan remain in Gazma, Kilid, Dashgala, Armammad caves, Batabat plateau and Kultapa. In Azerbaijan the main centers of Eneolithic (V millennium BC), Kur-Araz (IV-III millennia BC) and painted pottery (XIII-VII centuries BC) culture are in Nakhchivan. They prove that people have lived a consistent and intensive life in Nakhchivan for thousands of years.
	There are a number of written sources about the formation of the city of Nakhchivan. According to ancient Greek, Latin, Arabic, Iranian historians, geographers and travelers, Nakhchivan appeared in the first half of the third millennium BC. The first information about Nakhchivan belongs to the historian Josephus Flavius (1st century BC) and the Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy (2nd century AD). Ptolemy used the name of Nakhchivan together with the 7 major cities of the world. The first medieval Albanian historian Moisey Khorensky (5th century) showed that the city of Nakhchivan existed in the 6th century BC. But some sources state that the city of Nakhchivan was founded in the 15th century BC. Medieval historian Stefan Orbelyani reported that the city of Nakhchivan was founded in 1539 BC.
After the restoration of the state independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the attention to our history and historical researches increased significantly, and two international archeological expeditions started research in the territory of Nakhchivan with the participation of local specialists. The research works are mainly conducted in Oglangala, Ovchulartepe, Maiden Tower, I Kultepe, Duzdag, Nakhchivantepe and other places. The obtained results confirm that the formation of the first urban culture in Nakhchivan is more than five thousand years. 
Nakhchivan has existed as a city name since ancient times. In Claudius Ptolemy's “Geography” the name of the city is “Nakhsuana” (Nakhuana). Fifth century author Moisey Khorensky mentions the name of the city in the form of "Nakhchivan".
There is information about the prophet Noah in the Qurani-Karim. In the suras "Al-Araf", "Hud", "Al-Furqan", "Shuawa", "Al-Qamar", "Noah" are discussed from Noah sent a prophet to his tribes, prophet Noah's knowledge of the World flood, to build an Ark to save some of the creatures, the drowning of unbelievers in God, those who accepted Noah's thoughts and believed and boarded the Ark and were saved.  Some scholars still view Noah as a myth about the world’s flood. Let's not forget that the Qurani-Karim does not include legends. This is a historical fact.
IX-XIII century Arab authors (al-Balazuri, Ibn al-Faqih, Ibn Khordadbeh, Ibn Rushta, etc.) mention the name "Nakhchivan" everywhere as Nashava . After the XI-XII centuries the name Nashava (or Nasheva) disappeared and the name Nakhchivan replaced it. The 13th century author Yagut al-Hamawi writes: “Nashawa is a city in Azerbaijan, or, as some say, located in Arran. It is popularly known as among the people Nakhchivan or Nakhchıvan  The Arabic word "Nashava" means "the place where the sun rises", "the place where the light shines". We also know from historical and mythological sources that the belief of the people living in this land in the sun, fire and light dates back to ancient times. Today, this belief manifests itself on March 21, that is, "Nuhruz", the day when Noah’s followers came ashore (dated as Novruz).  Because these lands are ancient Turkic lands, and the people living here have preserved their past beliefs, traditions and national affiliations to this day.
The city was named Naqshi-Jahan in the 14th century Azerbaijani historian Muhammad ibn Hindushah Nakhchivani's “Dastur al-katib fi ta'alin al-maratib” and Iranian historian Hamdullah Qazvini's “Nuzhat al-gulub”. They wrote in their works: "The city is beautiful and it is called Naqshi-Jahan" 
The famous Turkish traveler Evliya Chalabi (XVII century) writes in his “Travelogue”: “Qalayi Nakhishvan” - Naqshi-Jahan is really the most beautiful city of the world ”.
Some researchers associate the name of Nakhchivan with the name of the prophet Noah. The word "Nakhchivan" is explained in connection with Nuhchikhan, that is, the place where Noah's followers landed.
It is clear from the information provided by the oral folklore materials (myths, legends, fable, etc.) still living among the local population in Nakhchivan that the territory of Nakhchivan was flooded 7,500 years ago during the World flood, and the Ark on which Noah and his followers sailed mainly in these areas, touched Mount Agri, Hachadaga (Ilanli Mountain), Kamki Mountain, and finally landed on Gamigaya in the territory of Ordubad region. Noah, his sons and followers first set foot on land here and settled there. Noah lived here, laid the foundations of the city of Nakhchivan, was taughted in salt mining, viticulture and other fields. Prophet Noah, who lived for 950 years, died in Nakhchivan and was buried in the south of the city.
This tomb, on which a magnificent tomb was erected during the Middle Ages, which existed until the beginning of the XX century, and whose remains have survived to the present day, has always been known by the people as Noah's tomb, and is still known today.
After the Order of the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic “On the restoration of the tomb of the Prophet Noah in Nakhchivan” dated June 28, 2006, the tomb was restored and turned into a place of pilgrimage.
K.A. Nikit, an educator who worked as a teacher and supervisor in Nakhchivan schools in the 80s of the XIX century, gave interesting information about the tomb of Prophet Noah and the connection of Noah's flood and Prophet Noah with Nakhchivan in his work "Nakhchivan city and Nakhchivan district". K.A. Nikitin saw Noah's tomb in Nakhchivan and described it as follows: “Noah's tomb is located on the south side of the city, near the remains of an ancient fortress. The current appearance of the tomb was restored in the VIII century. In its present form, it resembles a small tomb rising from the ground ... The interior of the temple, which requires descending the stairs, resembles a round, hard-to-pass cave, reinforced with stone floors in the middle. Under that pole is the body of the great Noah ”.
Some sources that have survived to the present day provide information about the tomb of the prophet Noah and its connection with Nakhchivan. Iosif Flavi, who lived in the first century BC, and medieval authors Guillem de Rubruck, Jurden de Severak, Ivan Schiltberger, Ambrodjo Contari, and others talked about this issue in their works, Al-Sharifi, an Arab geographer who lived in the XVI century, noted that Noah's ark and tomb were in Nakhchivan. While visiting Nakhchivan, French traveler and merchant Jan Batist Tavernye saw the remains of a large mosque there, talking about one of the best and most beautiful mosques in Asia and its construction as a memorial to Noah's tomb ... Nakhchivan is one of the oldest cities in the world. This city was built on the 3rd side of the mountain where Noah's ark was. Nakhchivan was a very big city. However, the Ottoman Sultan Murad destroyed it”. 
Another French traveler, Jan Sharde, who visited Nakhchivan in 1673, also wrote about Noah's connection with Nakhchivan in his “Travelogue”. He shows that Nakhchivan was an ancient city, Noah started to build it and settled there after the flood.
Authors of the XIX-XX centuries V.Grigoryev, Duba de Montperier, I.Shopin, K.Nikitin, V.Sysoyev, K.Smirnov and others also gave interesting information about the tomb and tombstone sepulcher of the Prophet Noah in Nakhchivan, the connection of the Prophet Noah and Nakhchivan. The first professional artist of Azerbaijan, Bahruz Kangarli, painted the tomb of the Prophet Noah six times in 1916-1921. It should be noted that those paintings by Bahruz Kangarli helped to determine the location of the destroyed tomb of the Prophet Noah.
Giving detailed information about the connection of Noah's flood with Nakhchivan, K.A. Nikitin wrote: “According to the legend, after the legendary flood, Mount Agri was received together with the ark of the Prophet Noah ... After that, Noah lived in Nakhchivan and was buried here. They still show the location of his tomb and sepulcher here ... Even the activity of the Prophet Noah in the salt quarries in Nakhchivan is preserved in the legends circulating among the people. He was one of the first employees here. According to legend, Kamki is the first mountain where the legendary Ark stopped. From here, Noah set out for Mount Agri (or rather, the waves carried the ark in that direction - I.H.). On the way, the ark touched Mount Ilanli and hit the top of the mountain, which split.
After that, Noah settled in the place where the city of Nakhchivan is now located. He decided here with his family and laid the foundation of the future city. The name of the city, which means the first place of settlement, also came from here. Prophet Noah and his family lived in Nakhchivan for a long time. According to legend, the human generation spread here. Himself of prophet Noah, his sister and other members of the family died in Nakhchivan and were buried here ”.
Prophet Noah is the savior of mankind. Because all living things were destroyed during the flood, except for those in Noah's ark. Revelation to prophet Noah came from GOD. He also built a large ark to save mankind from human extinction, and prevented the future tragedy by taking 76 people, food seeds and a part of the animal world.
Not all of Noah's family members were in the ark. They who landed in Nuhchikhan with the prophet Noah and lived here K.A.Nikitin notes that the prophet Noah and his sister were buried in Nakhchivan. The son of the Prophet Noah, the Turk, was also born in this land, died here and was buried in the holy land. He states that the tomb of Noah's wife, Nohamzar (Nuhamgar), was in the city of Marand. V.Sysoyev gives brief information about the structure and dimensions of the sepulcher.
Abulfazl Husseini wrote in his article "Statue of Self of Our People" that according to modern science, the legendary Noah's flood is already a reality. It took place in this area 7,500 years ago, in the 6th millennium BC. On the same date, strong volcanic eruptions took place in Algarag and Agridag, the Euphrates and Tigris rivers flowing in the southern part of the region overflowed, as well as heavy rains. As a result, a major flood occurred in these areas ”.
M.M Phillipis, a professor at Norwest University in the United States, in his article "The Land of God Nakhchivan" he writes that "Noah's ark stopped in Nakhchivan, life after the flood began here, and this is a holy place considered the land of God" ["Sharg gapisi", May 28, 2008].
There are scientific works of Azerbaijani researchers based on scientific facts about the Noah's flood, its coverage of Nakhchivan territory, the monument to Gamigaya, the Prophet Noah and his followers landed in Nakhchivan, lived here, and many of his graves were in Nakhchivan. In the meantime especially attracts attention researches of I.Habibbeyli, R.Sultanov, G.Gadirzade, F.Safarli, I.Hajiyev, V.Aliyev, A.Bagirov, V.Bakhshaliyev, Y.Safarov, A.Farzali, T.Agazade and others.
Due to the connection of the Prophet Noah with Nakhchivan, nowhere on the world maps are the name of Noah as much as in Azerbaijan, especially in Nakhchivan. Images of Gamigaya in Ordubad region of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and belonging to IV-I millennium BC, such as Noah's land, Nakhchivan, Nehram, Nahajir, Nuhdaban, Nuhgadik, Peygamberayagi, Hacha mountain, Gapijig, Garangush plateau, Nabi land, Kamki mountain, Noah's grave, Nurgut and Nursu the existence of place names and settlements are another visual proof of Noah's life in this land.
Numerous place names and geographical names in the territory of Nakhchivan increase the probability that the story of the legendary ark took place in Nakhchivan. Also, in the folklore materials and toponyms of Nakhchivan, not only the landing of the ark, but the whole process before the settlement of the people on the ark was reflected. Myths and legends about the Prophet Noah and the World Flood also cover issues related to the Noah Flood and Nakhchivan. Nabi's homeland is mentioned in toponyms and legends - means the land of the prophet, that is, the land of the prophet Noah. Many of Gamigaya's rock paintings are in the territory of Nabi's homeland.
The lexical structure of some toponyms in the territory of Nakhchivan is connected with the name of the prophet Noah. This connection is confirmed by the fact that Noah landed in Nakhchivan for the first time during the "World Storm", the remains of the ark were in this area, Noah was buried in the area called "Old Castle", the name Nakhchivan was interpreted as Nuhchikhan, the area was considered Noah's homeland. As well as, the fact that professional artist Bahruz Kangarli painted his works "Noah's Tomb" in nature, the richness of place names associated with Noah in the area confirms this idea.  
The sayings, proverbs and issues related to the Prophet Noah in Nakhchivan did not appear by chance. These sayings contain expressions about the antiquity of the time in which Noah lived and his prophecy: Noah informs of the Prophet, Noah is from that time, Noah saw the Nabi on the throne, Suleyman in a diaper, the time of Noah, such a Noah is shed, the sky will be whole with the world. Noah says the prophet does not say and so on.
In the Nakhchivan region, the names of person associated with the Prophet Noah are also found: Noah, Nuhbaba, Nuhiddin, Nuhin, Nuhizar, Nuhmammad, Nuhu, Nuhzad, Nuhali, Nuhvali and others.
Researcher I.M Dyakonov linked Gamigaya's rock paintings and the connection of Nakhchivan with Noah to a Sumerian legend. The Sumerians called themselves kangaroos. Therefore, a number of researchers equate the ancient Sumerian people with the turks and the kengar people. The Sumerians lived in between two rivers - Mesopotamia. Since the Kangaroos also live in this area, they are sometimes considered to be the same people, which is not true. Although the Kangaroos lived in this area, they later left Sumer and moved to other areas.
A number of European travelers and researchers have also provided information in their travelogues, road records and works that Prophet Noah, the World Flood, which covered the territory of Nakhchivan, the landing of the Prophet Noah and his followers in the territory of Nakhchivan, living and working here, their death and the presence of their graves in this region and the surrounding area, the presence of the tomb of the Prophet Noah in the city of Nakhchivan and the tomb above on it. “Near the above-mentioned city (Nakhchivan – I.H.), there is a mountain where Noah's ark is said to have stopped” (Flemish traveler Guillaume de Rubruck, 1254), “There is a  house on the mountain, which is said to have been erected by Prophet Noah himself after he left his ark. It is also said that  there is a vineyard planted by Noah” (French monarch Jurden de Severak, 1310), “ There is another city called Nakhchivan at the foot of the mountain where the ark of Noah stopped” (Bavarian soldier Johann Schiltberger, 1402-1427), “People call this mountain Mount Ark, because Noah's ark rested on this mountain”. According to the locals, Nakhchivan, the oldest city in the world, was built 3 miles from the mountain where Noah's ark rested and got its name from Noah. This city (Nakhchivan - I.H.) is very old. The locals say that Noah came here to live after he got off the ark. His burial place is also here…” (John Bartifta Tavernye, XVII century), “Persian historians date the foundation of Nakhchivan to the most ancient times. The people associated it with Noah, who chose this place as the first human settlement after the flood. Not only do they say that the city of Nakhchivan was founded by Noah, but they also confirm that he was buried here” (N.E. Engelgardt, 1851), “ If we believe the folk etymology, Nakhchivan is the oldest city in the world. The locals try to convince that after Noah left the ark, he came to the place where he got the name Nakhchivan” (I. Chopin,1852) and so on.
Russian researcher K.N.Smirnov said that Noah's grave was in Nakhchivan and indicated its location.
In conclusion, we can say that Noah's ark was stuck in the Gamigaya, and they landed there. They lived in Nakhchivan and died here as well. The tomb of Noah is in Nakhchivan, near the Old Fortress. Historical sources also confirm this. There are convincing versions confirming that the graves of the prophet Noah's sister Tuba, Yaphes, Turk and Alinja from this genealogy are also in this land.  The graves of Noah's wife Naamzar and his mother are in Marand, South Azerbaijan. According to researcher A.Gadimova, the mosque in the city of Marand was built where the wife and mother of the Prophet Noah were buried. Noah's sons Ham, Shem, Yaphes, and Kanan also visited this area, and later some of them spread to the surrounding areas. The basis of Turkism is connected with Yaphes. At the Russian Academy of Sciences, there was the “Yaphaschilik” Institute, which was named after Yaphes, and was headed by Academician Marr. It is believed that the Darakand tomb was later built on the tomb of Yaphes. 
Thus, historical sources, myths, legends, rumors and historical truths show that the "universial" flood also covered Nakhchivan. It was in this area that Noah's followers landed and lived. The graves of some of them were in Nakhchivan. A tomb was built over the gaves of Noah and Yaphes.

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