Armenia, ruled for many centuries by the Persians, has become a buffer state between the Greeks and Romans to the west and the Persians and Arabs of the Middle East.

It reaches its greatest size and influence under King Tigran II, also known as Tigranes or Tigran the Great (r. 95-55 BCE).

Armenia during his reign stretches from the Mediterranean Sea northeast to the Mtkvari River (called the Kura in Azerbaijan) in present-day Georgia.

Tigran and his son, Artavazdes II, make Armenia a center of Hellenic culture during their reigns.