Armenian mythology

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Little is known about pre-Christian Armenian mythology. It was strongly influenced by Zoroastrianism (e.g. the deities Aramazd , Mitra, and Anahit ) and by Assyrian traditions (e.g. the deity Barsamin ). In addition, isolated traces of local traditions can be discovered (e.g. the deities Hayk , Vahagn and Astlik). One of the oldest sources is the legend "Xorenatsi's History".

Gods

(possibly with Greek equivalent)

  • Anahit (Artemis): goddess of fertility and childbirth, is equated with Artemis or Aphrodite, in earlier times she was a goddess of war. Also known as the moon goddess.
  • Ara Geghetsik ("Ara the Beautiful"): The god of spring, flora, agriculture, sowing and watering.
  • Aramazd (Zeus): father of gods who created heaven and earth; also worship as a sun god. The festival in his honor was called Am'nor or New Year and was celebrated on March 21, according to the old Armenian calendar.
  • Hayk : archer and ancestor of the Armenian people, killed the Babylonian titan Bel
  • Aray : a god of war
  • Astlik : Goddess of love, beauty and water, symbolized by daylight. She was the mistress or wife of Vahagn. Their festival was called Vardevar and was celebrated in mid-June. This involves pouring water on unsuspecting passers-by.
  • Barsamin : God of the sky and the weather, whose origin is perhaps the Semitic god Baal Shamin.
  • Naneh (Athena): Goddess of wisdom, community spirit, motherhood and protector of the home, keeper of the family.
  • Tir (Apollo): the god of literature, science and art, also a dream interpreter
  • Tork Angegh (Ares): God of strength, valor, war and military
  • Tsovinar : also called Nar, goddess of rain, sea and water. She was a creature of fire, forcing the rain and calling on him in her wild anger to fall from the sky.
  • Vahagn : (Hephaestus): a Herculean hero who slew some dragons and was also considered a sun god and god of courage.
  • Vanatur : God of hospitality and generous hosts

Other mythological characters

  • Āl : shaggy and shaggy creatures. They are filthy ghosts with glowing eyes, holding a pair of scissors in their hands, sitting in sandy places. They have snake-like hair, brass fingernails, iron teeth, and a boar's tusk. They live in water or moisture, but also do not disdain house corners or stables. They were originally disease demons that were later limited to unborn children and their mothers. They kill or steal babies or prevent their mother's milk from flowing. You serve a king living in hell who is chained and screaming all the time.
  • Dev : An air spirit that has its origins in the Daevas of Zoroastrian mythology. He shares some similar traits with the angels. He lives in stony places and ruins and keeps away from each other. The devs include:
    • Aralēz , a good spirit in the shape of a dog, who by licking wounds (e.g. in battle) can heal them or even bring the dead back to life.
    • Ays , he penetrates people's bodies, making them insane or demons themselves.
    • Čivał , who disrupts dreams at night in order to frighten those who sleep.
    • K'aǰk ' , live in caves, ravines, mountains and carry out the punishments set by the people.
    • Uruakan , the spirits of the deceased who rise from the shrouds
    • Vischap , is represented in the form of a snake
  • Dragons: Their home was Mount Ararat, formerly called Masis . The dragons, or the children of dragons, stole children in order to replace them with their own evil little spirits, descendants of their own brood. It is said that Artawasd I, son of Artaxias I , builder of Artaxata and friend of Hannibal, knew of his uncanny descent. When he fell from the cliff one day it was said that the mountain spirits or dragons had caught him and carried him back up.
  • Hambarus: mysterious ghosts, probably female inhabitants of abandoned places or ruins.
  • Javerzahlareses (nymphs). They were probably female kaches. They were invisible beings with immortal knowledge, but unable to develop further. They wandered in the grassy plains between stones and could be found on river banks.
  • Kaches: they form a link between the Armenian dragons and the Armenian devs. In fact, they're probably the same as the devs. They are incorporeal, little ghosts. Much like the devs, they prefer rocky places. Like dragons, they have palaces on high places. They stole the threshed grain and wine. They love to beat and torture their victims and also exerted an ominous influence on the men. They were musical and you could often hear them singing.
  • Nhang: The name is derived from the Persian word for "crocodile". It's a snake-like monster living in a river. It could transform and drink blood. The word nhang is still sometimes used in Armenian literature for a sea monster.
  • Piatek: a large, mammal-like creature, similar to a wingless griffin.
  • Shahapet: friendly, guarding spirits, usually appear in the form of a serpent. They inhabit houses, orchards, fields, forests and some other places. The Shvaz are agriculturally oriented while the Shvod are house guards. A well-treated Shvod rewards his resident with gold, while arguments make him leave the house.
  • Tukh Manuk : Cult of the "black youth", to whom shrines in the country are dedicated to this day.
  • Vushkapariks: their name identifies them as half demonic, half animal beings, similar to the devs who have a sensual tendency.

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