They play also that he did fight with the newest dragons, and you can overcame her or him; and some declare that their valiant deeds was in fact such as for instance unto Hercules
Its really ancient cities, Van, Armavir, was fundamentals out of Vannic kings, when you are has just this has been revealed the town of Hajk, the southern part of out-of Van, shows a few of the familiar options that come with a Khaldean settlement. But their finest jesus inside the pre-Christian day and age wasn’t Khaldis, although Persian Ormuzd, hence suggests that the fresh Persians worked out an even greater influence.
Exactly how upcoming you can expect to Semiramis ever have come so you can Van in journey away from a keen Armenian king, because it appears that the latest Scythians had already beaten Assyria just before the great increase out of Armenian hordes? Nor does it seem that the city of Van is depending by Assyrian king, for the inscriptions build zero reference to this lady label. Queen Memas who, regarding the look at Lynch, built the fresh new popular canal, was in the likelihood the writer of the yard urban area. The assumption, centered on Lynch, given that already stated, is that which legend ‘s the Armenian type of the existing Hellenic misconception off Aphrodite and you will Adonis, absorbed for the control of the Seleucid dynasty and this accompanied the fresh new conquest away from Alexander about 325 B.C.fourteen
But this might be unreasonable. One to a myth are taken over by a topic somebody together with letters rechristened is simple to know, but that the title of 1 of those shall be applied with the old city is very unlikely as you would expect. Additionally, brand new legend are flavored alternatively highly having Persian voluptuousness, that will be not suggestive out of Greek delicacy and you will subtlety. Neither is the fact that the horde overran the country once the damage away from Assyria by any means conclusive, to possess in the event that there were any intake whatsoever, as there have to undoubtedly have been, brand new Khaldean society and record were to you to definitely the quantity the real fingers of your Armenians. Actually intermarriage would perhaps be way too many, for just what Irishman that has been in the us a few days cannot speak of Benjamin Franklin and George Arizona due to the fact their forefathers? It is getting indexed plus you to to this day this new tunnel mentioned is named “Shamiram-Su” or river from Semiramis, by the most of the Armenians.15 On the whole it looks if you ask me conclusive, ergo, your legend out-of Semiramis and you may Ara has its sources during the Armenian record, that will be definitely not a version of the brand new Hellenic misconception.
Area cuatro. The new Legend off Vahakn
The latest legend away from Vahakn, king and you will jesus from Armenians, is quite certainly due to the newest Greek several months, and that accompanied the fresh Persian conquest not as much as Xerxes. Vahakn is deified because of his high valor and made brand new fire-god of one’s Armenian individuals.sixteen He was called “Vishapakagh,” uprooter regarding dragons, once the the guy cleaned Armenia off beasts and you may saved they regarding evil affects. Their exploits were known on residency of gods as well such as Armenia. The most famous of them are the newest theft of corn off the newest barns out-of Queen Barsham away eharmony divorce from Assyria, away from exactly who the guy went aside and you will made an effort to cover up inside the eden. Of the ears he fell inside the fast trip, around arose the Milky Method which is sometimes called inside Armenian the latest “tabs on the corn stealer.”17
With the help of our own ears did i pay attention to these types of terms and conditions sung in order to the fresh musical accompaniment of your own harp. Other people declare that he had been a god, hence a image of him endured on homes away from Georgia, in which it had been worshipped, having sacrifices.19
New wife from Vahakn is Astghik, the new goddess of charm, a beneficial personification of moonlight, corresponding to the newest Phoenician and you may Sidonian Astarte. This is effective regarding Greek dictate, having Venus, brand new Greek goddess off charm, has also been the spouse from a flames-god, Vulcan.20