In Java, why are arrays objects? Are there any specific reasons?

Question

Is there any reason why an array in Java is an object?

Answer 1

Another point is that objects are mutable and are passed by reference. In arrays there aren't any fields/methods that you can use to change "properties" of the array, but you sure can mutate the element values. And the benefits of passing arrays by reference are pretty obvious (though functional programmers probably wish Java had immutable lists passed by value).

Edit: forgot to mention. In the period before autoboxing, it was helpful to be able to store arrays in collections, write them to ObjectStreams etc.