They sing additionally which he did fight with the brand new dragons, and overcame them; and many claim that their valiant deeds was particularly unto Hercules
Its extremely ancient places, Van, Armavir, had been fundamentals regarding Vannic leaders, if you’re has just this has been shared the town of Hajk, southeast regarding Van, shows some of the common options that come with good Khaldean payment. However their ultimate jesus within the pre-Religious era wasn’t Khaldis, nevertheless the Persian Ormuzd, which indicates that the fresh Persians resolved a much better influence.
How next you may Semiramis ever have come to help you Van within the trip out-of a keen Armenian queen, because it appears that the new Scythians got already defeated Assyria prior to the favorable increase regarding Armenian hordes? Neither can it have a look the city of Van is actually mainly based by the Assyrian king, towards inscriptions make no mention of the the girl name. King Memas whom, in the view of Lynch, created the brand new popular canal, was in the chances the writer of your lawn city. The assumption, centered on Lynch, once the currently said, is that that it legend is the Armenian type of the outdated Hellenic misconception regarding Aphrodite and you may Adonis, bought out when you look at the domination of one’s Seleucid dynasty and this adopted the new conquest out-of Alexander on 325 B.C.14
However, this really is unreasonable. You to definitely a misconception should be absorbed by an interest people plus the characters rechristened is straightforward to understand, however, the identity of a single ones will likely be used with the ancient urban area is quite unlikely to say the least. In addition, the brand new legend was flavored alternatively strongly with Persian voluptuousness, that’s not effective from Greek delicacy and you will refinement. Neither is that the horde annexed the country just after the damage away from Assyria in any way definitive, for when the there were one intake after all, since there need certainly to definitely have been, the fresh Khaldean people and you may record would be to one the amount the real hands of Armenians. Also intermarriage create possibly become unnecessary, for just what Irishman that has been in america several months doesn’t discuss about it Benjamin Franklin and George Arizona just like the his ancestors? It’s become noted plus one to to this day new tunnel spoken of is called “Shamiram-Su” or lake off Semiramis, because of the every Armenians.15 In general it appears to be in my opinion definitive, for this reason, the legend out of Semiramis and Ara has its sources when you look at the Armenian history, and is definitely not a form of new Hellenic misconception.
Section 4. Brand new Legend out of Vahakn
The brand new legend from Vahakn, queen and you may goodness from Armenians, is extremely obviously due to the newest Greek months, and this observed the fresh new Persian conquest lower than Xerxes. Vahakn is deified on account of their great valor and made the new fire-goodness of the Armenian people.sixteen He had been entitled “Vishapakagh,” uprooter from dragons, due to the fact he removed Armenia away from beasts and you can protected it off worst impacts. His exploits was basically understood regarding residency of gods due to the fact really such as Armenia. The most common ones is actually the fresh new theft of corn out of new barns of King Barsham out of Assyria, regarding which he went out and made an effort to mask during the heaven. Of the ears the guy dropped in the rapid journey, indeed there emerged brand new Milky Ways which is called from inside the Armenian brand new “tabs on brand new corn stealer.”17
With our very own ears did i listen to these terms and conditions sung so you’re able to the fresh musical accompaniment of one’s harp. Someone else say that he was a jesus, and that a beneficial picture of him endured on the home out of Georgia, in which it absolutely was worshipped, having sacrifices.19
Brand new partner from Vahakn was Astghik, brand new deity off charm, an excellent personification of your own moonlight, equal to the newest Phoenician and Sidonian Astarte. This is effective off Greek influence, for Venus, the fresh Greek goddess off 
beauty, has also been the new spouse off a flame-jesus, Vulcan.20