They sing also which he did fight with the newest dragons, and overcame her or him; and several declare that their valiant deeds was such as for example unto Hercules
Their most old towns and cities, Van, Armavir, were foundations from Vannic kings, while you are has just it has been unveiled your city of Hajk, the southern part of off Van, suggests some of the common attributes of a Khaldean settlement. However their ultimate jesus in pre-Christian era was not Khaldis, nevertheless Persian Ormuzd, and therefore shows that the new Persians resolved an even greater influence.
Exactly how up coming you may Semiramis actually ever attended to help you Van in the journey away from an Armenian king, because it seems that new Scythians had already overcome Assyria ahead of the great influx out-of Armenian millions? Neither will it see that city of Van are mainly based from the Assyrian king, for the inscriptions build zero mention of the the woman name. Queen Memas exactly who, about view of Lynch, constructed new famous canal, was in all of the chances the writer of the yard town. The belief, centered on Lynch, because the currently mentioned, would be the fact escort in Hayward it legend ‘s the Armenian sort of the old Hellenic myth out-of Aphrodite and you can Adonis, bought out inside the control of your own Seleucid dynasty and this then followed the latest conquest regarding Alexander regarding the 325 B.C.14
However, this is unrealistic. One a myth can be taken over by the a topic someone and also the characters rechristened is simple to understand, however, that label of a single of those can be used towards old city is very not very likely as you would expect. Additionally, brand new legend try flavored rather strongly with Persian voluptuousness, which is not really suggestive out of Greek delicacy and subtlety. Nor is that the horde annexed the nation immediately following the damage out of Assyria in any way conclusive, getting when the there had been people consumption whatsoever, because there need to definitely was basically, the latest Khaldean society and you may history would be to you to definitely the total amount the actual arms of one’s Armenians. Even intermarriage manage possibly feel a lot of, for what Irishman that has been in america several weeks cannot discuss about it Benjamin Franklin and you can George Arizona because the his ancestors? It is as listed together with one to even today the fresh new tunnel mentioned is known as “Shamiram-Su” or river off Semiramis, from the all Armenians.15 All in all it appears to be in my experience definitive, ergo, that legend away from Semiramis and you may Ara has its own root inside Armenian record, and that’s not really a version of brand new Hellenic misconception.
Section 4. The fresh Legend of Vahakn
The legend regarding Vahakn, king and goodness out-of Armenians, is really certainly attributable to the newest Greek period, and this used the brand new Persian conquest lower than Xerxes. Vahakn was deified because of his high valor making this new fire-goodness of your Armenian people.sixteen He had been called “Vishapakagh,” uprooter away from dragons, because the the guy removed Armenia off monsters and saved they of worst affects. Their exploits have been understood on residence of your own gods while the well like in Armenia. Widely known of them are the new thieves off corn out-of the newest barns off Queen Barsham from Assyria, out-of just who he went aside and tried to cover up for the paradise. From the ears he dropped inside the quick trip, truth be told there emerged the Milky Method to create during the Armenian this new “tabs on the new corn stealer.”17
With these own ears performed we listen to this type of terms sung so you can brand new accompaniment of one’s harp. Anyone else declare that he had been a god, and this a beneficial image of your stood on residential property out of Georgia, where it had been worshipped, that have sacrifices.19
The fresh girlfriend off Vahakn try Astghik, the latest deity out-of charm, a beneficial personification of the moon, comparable to the latest Phoenician and you can Sidonian Astarte. It is suggestive out-of Greek influence, to have Venus, the newest Greek goddess out-of charm, was also this new girlfriend out-of a fire-god, Vulcan.20