On November 1, 1967, the iconic “We Are Our Mountains” (Մենք ենք, մեր սարերը) monument was inaugurated in Stepanakert, Artsakh. Today marks 59 years since its unveiling. The monument remains one of the most recognizable symbols of Artsakh’s Armenian identity and cultural heritage.
Designed by sculptor Sargis Baghdasaryan and architect Yuri Hakobyan, the monument was carved from volcanic tufa stone and deliberately built without a pedestal, creating the impression that its figures emerge directly from the land.
Depicting an elderly Armenian man and woman, the monument symbolizes the enduring connection between the people of Artsakh and their ancestral homeland. The figures have also been associated with the strength and resilience of the Armenian people, with their silhouettes poetically compared to the twin peaks of Mount Ararat.
Despite opposition from Soviet Azerbaijani authorities, the monument was completed and inaugurated on November 1, 1967.
Nearly six decades later, “We Are Our Mountains” continues to stand in Stepanakert, now under Azerbaijani occupation following the forced displacement of Artsakh’s Armenian population in 2023.
The monument remains an enduring symbol of Artsakh’s Armenian heritage, identity, and historical connection to the land.
