The Armenian epic The Daredevils of Sassoun is an ancient folktale that has passed down generations through oral traditions. To this day performance of this epic either through songs, poetry reading or theater is a part of Armenian cultural expression. It’s often associated with the very spirit of the Armenian people and its historical...
Mythical king “Lion Mher”
Lion Mher (Armenian: Aŕiwc “Lion” or Aŕiwcajew “Lion-shaped”) is a mythical king from an ancient pagan Armenian folk epic of the “Daredevils of Sassoun“, who slew a lion with his bare hands earning the title of “lion-like”. Lion Mher is the father of David (also known as Mher the younger), the hero of the epic. He is the epitome of...
The Song Of The Stork
The Stork is traditionally considered a sacred animal in Armenian legends and mythology. The stork “Aragil” was in ancient Armenian mythology considered as the messenger of Ara the Beautiful, as well as the defender of fields. According to ancient mythological conceptions, two stork symbolize the sun. Storks are found in abundance on Armenia Highlands, of particular importance are the...
Armenian name of the Milky Way
The ancient Armenians had a refined knowledge of astronomy. The oldest known observatories are located in Armenia. Dated as early as 4200 BCE, Karahunj and the ca. 2800 BCE observatory at Metsamor allowed ancestral Armenians to develop geometry to such a level they could measure distances, latitudes and longitudes, envision the world as round,...
The Story of Zoulvisia
Folk tales are traditionally passed down generations through oral traditions and as such they tend to get lost in the mists of history. Some make it into books recorded by curious scholars, others completely forgotten. It is therefore always a delight to stumble upon tales recorded or otherwise translated by foreign travelers and scholars...
Ararat “Mother of the World”
Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in what used to be ancient Armenian region known as Ararat (modern day eastern Turkey). Mount Ararat has been revered by Armenians since times immemorial. According to ancient legends Armenian deities reside inside the mountain. Both peaks have separate names in Armenian, the smaller one is called “Sis” and...
Ancient Armenian spirit – Grogh
Grogh translates from Armenian as “writer” or “scribe” (sometimes identified with Armenian deity of literature Tir) was a spirit in ancient Armenian mythology. Grogh was the most punctual writer. As soon as a human was born, Grogh would write the newborn into the book of life, and on the forehead he imprinted the newborn’s...
Pagan temple complex in Armenia unravels the mystery of ancient offerings
A temple complex is being excavated in Ogmik, the northwest of Armenia’s Shirak province, archeologist Hayk Hakobyan told journalists on Monday. “We have already found altars, idols and clay figures and carcasses of animals offered to gods. More specifically, dogs and deer were offered to Anahit and Astghik, goats to Vahagn. On one of the altars we have even...
