Pulpulak

A '''pulpulak''' ({{langx|hy|պուլպուլակ}}, {{IPA|hy|pulpuˈlɑk}}) is a public water fountain common in Armenia and in the former Armenian-populated Republic of Artsakh.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hayrapetyan|first=Varsine|title=Ջուրը կյանքի աղբյուր է... ''[Water is the source of life]''|url=http://www.artsakhtoday.com/?p=25174|publisher=ArtsakhToday|accessdate=24 October 2012|date=21 September 2012|language=hy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714151957/http://www.artsakhtoday.com/?p=25174|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Pulpulaks are a significant part of Armenian culture,<ref name=sovmonsc>{{cite book|title=Советская монументальная скульптура, 1960-1980 ''(Soviet Monumental sculpture, 1960-1980)''|author=Nikita Voronov|publisher=Iskustvo ("Искусство")|year=1984|pages=221|language=ru}}</ref> and first appeared on the streets of Yerevan in the 1920s before becoming extremely popular. Pulpulaks were, and still are, often used by people to appoint meetings and by couples as dating locations.<ref name="Sarukhanyan"/>

== Name == The word pulpulak is colloquial and derives from the sound of the murmuring of water "pul-pul", suffixed with "ak" (ակ), meaning "water source".<ref name="Khachkar">{{cite web|title=Пулпулак ''(Pulpulak)''|url=http://www.khachkar.ru/encyclopedia/?id=101|publisher=Khachkar journal|accessdate=25 October 2012|language=ru}}</ref><ref name="atb"/> They are rarely referred to as ''tsaytaghbyur'' ({{langx|hy|ցայտաղբյուր}}), meaning "squirt spring".

== Description == Pulpulaks are small, usually one meter tall, stone memorials with running water, often fed by a mountain spring.<ref name="atb">{{cite web|title=Useful information about Armenia|url=http://www.atb.am/en/tourist/|publisher=Armenian Travel Bureau|accessdate=27 October 2012}}</ref> Some pulpulaks are erected in memory of dead relatives. In drinking from a memorial pulpulak, passersby give their blessing to the person in memory of whom it is constructed. Memorial pulpulaks are related to ''khatchkars''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shahnazaryan|first=Gnel|title=Պատմության դասեր ''[Lessons of history]''|url=http://www.hayzinvor.am/15128.html|newspaper=Zinvor|publisher=Defense Ministry of Armenia|accessdate=25 October 2012|date=5–11 July 2011|language=hy}}</ref>

==Yotnaghbyur== Yotnaghbyur (Յոթնաղբյուր, meaning "seven springs") is the name of the famous pulpulak in Yerevan's Republic Square. It was erected by Spartak Gndeghtsyan in 1965, and was restored in 2008 by Moscow-based Armenian designer Nur.<ref name="Sarukhanyan">{{cite news|last=Sarukhanyan|first=Petros|title=Յոթնաղբյուրի վերածնունդը ''[The Revival of Yotnaghbyur]''|url=http://www.hhpress.am/?sub=hodv&hodv=20080503_18&flag=am|accessdate=24 October 2012|date=3 May 2008|newspaper=Hayastani Hanrapetutyun|language=hy}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Пулпулак около церкви святой Богородицы Ка.jpeg|Pulpulak near the Katoghike Church, Yerevan File:Пулпулак в Гегарде.jpg|Pulpulak near the Geghard monastery File:Գյումրվա ցայտաղբյուր 03.jpg File:Գյումրվա ցայտաղբյուր 01.jpg File:Գյումրվա ցայտաղբյուր 02.jpg File:Tsaytaghbyur in Norashen, Tavush.jpg File:Vaikmemorialfountain-meta.jpg|Pulpulak in honor of an Armenian soldier killed in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War File:Pulpulak on M-4 road.jpg|In Gegharkunik Province File:Pulpulak in Bjni.JPG|In Bjni 2014 Górski Karabach, Klasztor Gandzasar, Fontanna do picia.jpg|Pulpulak near the Gandzasar monastery in Nagorno-Karabakh. </gallery>

== See also == {{Commons category|Pulpulaks}} *Khatchkars *Armenian architecture

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Drinking fountains Category:Architecture in Armenia