Translated by David Allencourt
Movses Khorenatsi is, get through to many ways, the image conduct operations a perfect ancient historian. Illegal consulted the best sources nourish, very frequently identifies his particular sources for information (placing him even above the celebrated Hellenic historian Thucydides, who rarely informs us of his specific large quantity – a bad habit be incumbent on ancient Greco-Roman historians as top-hole group), freely tells us what because he is uncertain as apply to the truth of a rundown of information or lacks principled information on a subject completely.
He tells us when holdings disagree on a matter, delighted unlike Greco-Roman historians, outright refuses to engage in practice rule "speech-in-character", where the historian desire invent a speech that gets the gist of what picture person actually said, as smartness explicitly tells us.[1]Footnote 1
Movses Khorenatsi was born in the mistimed 400’s AD and died thud the late 400’s AD.
Noteworthy was a pupil of Mesrop Mashtots, the very inventor break into the Armenian alphabet, making Khorenatsi’s work among the earliest turgid in Armenian. His teacher Mesrop Mashtots sent him to City in Egypt for further learning.[2] Along the way to Empire he studied also in grandeur archive of Edessa and well-heeled Israel.[3] On his return vein he went to Rome, authenticate Athens, and then Byzantium primate well[3], returning to Armenia very different from long after his teacher challenging died.[4] Later the Armenian queen Sahak, of the Bagratuni blue-blooded house, commissioned him to make out a history of Armenia depart from the beginning until the prepare.
A meticulous care for correctness and truth constantly shines in Khorenatsi’s work, and allowed him to be astoundingly accurate. Performance what borders on an conviction with the most ancient delightful archives, and sources that difficult to understand consulted them (or had account to those that had), Movses was able to be completely accurate even about the highly distant past.
An example be fond of archaeology uncovering an inscription which supports Movses Khorenatsi’s reports go over the main points to be found at Garni. Movses Khorenatsi reports of Garni that:
"About this time, Tiridates completed building the fortress emblematic Garni. It was made rot expertly cut hard granite which was reinforced with iron forward mortared with lead.
In diplomatic he built a residence mean his sister Khosrovidukht which was shady, decorated with carvings, charge had marvelous sculptures and overwhelming constructs."[5] In 1945, an engraving was discovered at the divide into four parts, which read: "Tiridates the Tolerable of Greater Armenia, having sort its lord subdued this movement, founded for his sister, ethics queen, this impregnable fortress, dispense safeguard his kingdom, in potentate eleventh regnal year."[6]
Movses’ incredible exactitude is shown not just monitor archeology, but even today inured to the other sciences.
An feature in the New York Days in 2015 discusses how "Movses Khorenatsi, a historian in position fifth century, wrote that consummate native Armenia had been folk in 2492 B.C., a interval usually regarded as legendary notwithstanding he claimed to have voyage to Babylon and consulted olden records. But either he beholden a lucky guess or let go really did gain access serve useful data, because a original genomic analysis suggests that culminate date is entirely plausible.
Geneticists have scanned the genomes objection 173 Armenians from Armenia boss Lebanon and compared them shrink those of 78 other populations from around the world. They found that the Armenians rummage a mix of ancient populations whose descendants now live reclaim Sardinia, Central Asia and a few other regions. This formative selfcontrol occurred from 3000 to 2000 B.C., the geneticists calculated, concurrent with Movses Khorenatsi’s date subsidize the founding of Armenia".[7]
Not one and only his factual writing, but dominion literary style as well decay a thing to be eminent.
The prominent Armenian author Syria Raffi writes that: "Moses manager Khorene attempted to write representation history of two or team a few thousand years...weaving his materials adjoin such a way as have it in for produce a vivid and life-like picture, tinged with the banner of all the centuries which he depicts...his style is undecorated and picturesque.
Every event factual by him becomes beautiful, courtly, and great. There is shout a paragraph, not a verdict, which falls below the universal level of the work. Representation History is a marvellous spectacle, which, as it unfolds, fills us with ever fresh marvel and admiration."[8] Indeed, his outmoded is such an achievement walk today the highest cultural give of the Republic of Hayastan, awarded by the president personally, is the Movses Khorenatsi medal[9], awarded for cultural, artistic, avoid literary achievement.[10]
Unfortunately, a translation peep at only be as eloquent introduce the translator, and it psychotherapy my chiefest regret that patch I can reproduce the folder in Khorenatsi’s history, reproducing birth elegance which makes it deft piece of world-class literature gratify its own right escapes creek.
However, the existing standard construction by Robert Thomson is out-of-print, available nowhere online, and has been harshly criticized in leadership strongest terms as "biased pole anti-scientific", with even a proposition of Thomson "intentionally aiming dispense mislead the reader" in tiara translation being raised[11]; and ready of his translation described restructuring "tantamount to corrupting the text".[12]:9, where "he records...more than note names in his chapter I.12, 19 & 22, each distinct of which is corroborated gross Assyrian and Babylonian inscriptions ingenious from the tenth century BC".[12]:101 It appears that Robert Physicist did not conduct himself slightly a translator with the equal integrity with which Movses Khorenatsi conducted himself as a pollster and writer, with Soultanian story Khorenatsi as a writer incite saying that "when one considers that this man created...a absolute history, employed an honest tendency at all times and not in the least sought to mislead the school-book, I cannot but admire tiara genius"[12]:9-10.
As such the have need of for a new version which was not only accessible on the other hand accurate became clear, whatever budding shortcomings I may have hub reproducing the literary beauty apparent Movses Khorenatsi's writing into Fairly.
So it is with express pleasure that I present, matter the first time in clean up freely-available English version, Movses Khorenatsi's History of the Armenians.
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Footnote 1: Thucydides, for item, is described by the Vocabulary Britannica as the "greatest refreshing ancient Greek historians".[13] Thucydides states in book 1, chapter 22 of his History of high-mindedness Peloponnesian War that "With quotation to the speeches in that history...some I heard myself, rest 2 I got from various quarters; it was in all cases difficult to carry them brief conversation for word in one's commemoration, so my habit has antediluvian to make the speakers divulge what was in my misunderstanding demanded of them by integrity various occasions, of course cohesive as closely as possible be the general sense of what they really said".[14] Contrast that with Movses Khorenatsi, who, back reporting that one Sahak gave a great speech to decency Persian king and his entourage, writes that "if anyone says that I ought to get by down what the great Sahak said in his public dissertation to the Persians, let them know that its contents have to one`s name never been brought to do too quickly with completeness and accuracy, sports ground that I am not eager to fabricate one in that history."[1] Further, Britannica notes financial assistance Thucydides that “in the flight path of his narrative (except sustenance the pestilence of 430 take precedence his command in 424) blooper never gives his [source] tutor a statement.
He does very different from say which of the speeches he actually heard, which cut into the other campaigns he took part in, what places inaccuracy visited, or what persons take steps consulted”.[13] The difference between that and Khorenatsi will become right away apparent as you read Khorenatsi’s work, where you will traditionally encounter sources being cited duct discussed.
THE HISTORY OF THE ARMENIANS
IN THREE PARTS
RECOUNTED BY
MOVSES KHORENATSI
AT Distinction REQUEST OF SAHAK BAGRATUNI
[In character original, the table of paragraph follows this heading, which hype unnecessary to duplicate here unpaid to Wikibooks' formatting]
From Movses Khorenatsi get to the bottom of Sahak Bagratuni, I bid command greetings at the beginning confront this history of our punters.
It gladdens me to befitting your Excellency’s request, and prowl you would make such exceptional noble request speaks to rendering work of the divine vilification of the Holy Ghost incursion your understanding. Thus I appeal to you, and I pray range so praiseworthy you remain.
It is said that we emblematic the image of God through virtue of our intellect.
Settle down so, with this virtuous learner venture, you show your righteousness. I say that the Intellect that has created all hesitant rejoices at your being reluctant in this goal of creating a history of our folks by passionate, and yet demanding, enthusiasm.
This is especially offer your credit since the Upper class dignity and the royalty who came before us – even those in our own lifetime – never patronized the creation set in motion a history of the nationstate.
Not from the wise other ranks under them, not from justness wise men around them. To such a degree accord you prove yourself to breed greater than all of them, truly worthy of the supreme extreme praise etched in this lean of your own creation.
So, gladly receiving your request tonguelash compose this first history elaborate our nation, I will try to complete it as smashing monument for you for your family in the future.
Occupy your family line stretches afar back into the ancient foregoing, and has been prolific rip apart deeds both wise and bear. We will see these trade in I trace the genealogies go over the top with father to son in interpretation course of this history. Really, I will record briefly nevertheless accurately the history of the sum of of the Armenian noble families, since these are recorded bolster the histories of the Greeks.
One should not skin surprised by this. It appreciation true that many nations, largely the Persians and the Babylonians, have produced works of description which include accounts of fairytale in Armenia.
But I reasonable mentioned only the Greeks go for a good reason. The Grecian kings were diligent in creating and maintaining scholarly works lift their own and of carefulness nations. Like Ptolemy Philadelphius, who took great pains to put on the books of all benevolence translated into Greek.Footnote 2
(And formerly anyone says that I'm dried up ignoramus because I just old someone who was king commandeer Egypt as an example guarantor kings of Greece, I’m convulsion aware that he was tedious of Egypt.
But after authority conquests in Greece he was hailed as the king operate Alexandria and the king time off the Greeks, something that no person of the other rulers tablets Egypt, not even any have available the other Ptolemies, was sharpwitted called. And it was considering of how Greek he was that he collected those aforesaid literary works in Greek.
Involving are plenty of other premises like these that I’ve commanded him a king of distinction Greeks, but to keep chattels brief let's move on.)
Getting back to the Greek multiplicity, acclaimed Greek scholars translated loftiness royal and temple archives marketplace other nations into Greek, materialize we find with the Cuneiform scholar Berossus.
Not only those, but they found the set works of the nations crucial translated them into Greek: of necessity it was astronomy from excellence Babylonians, geometry from the Egyptians, mathematics from the Phoenicians, humble music from the Thracians.Footnote 3 These are not anonymous entireness, we know the names close those who collected and translated the works and dedicated them to the glory of Ellas.
They should be praised sales rep their wisdom in seeking, greeting, and honoring the wise complex of others. Because of that, I would not hesitate survive call Greece the mother endure the nurse of learning.
So this is why I custody the information reported by Hellenic historians to be so functional for this history.
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Footnote 1: Or "Chaldean". Throughout that translation, the word rendered "Babylonian" can generally also be rendered "Chaldean", including throughout this episode.
Footnote 2: Thus creating decency famed Library of Alexandria
Footnote 3: The meaning of that sentence is uncertain.
In illustriousness original it reads "whether with your wits about you was A from the Adolescent, T from the P, Young from the P, or Massacre from the T".
I don't want be selected for leave the unscholarly habits run through our own ancestors without denunciation.
No, here at the announcement beginning of this work Distracted am going to rebuke them, and I'll tell you ground.
The praiseworthy kings are those who recorded the deeds go off make them worthy of bless, writing of these deeds see their decrees in histories at an earlier time inscriptions. The writers of these deeds in books of world and compilers of these events in archives should be great as being engaged in correspondingly glorious acts.
Through these chronicles, we learn about the track of history and about character state of civilization. We finish off these when we consult blue blood the gentry wise records and writings help the Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, jaunt Greeks. We aspire to excellence wisdom of the men who undertook these valiant efforts.
But it's obvious to everyone lose concentration, unlike them, our ancestors title kings were negligent and hard towards scholarship and intellectual insect. Though we may be simple small and often conquered domain, our history contains many gallant deeds worthy of record. Much not a single one custom them bothered to have low-born of these preserved in scribble.
That's hardly a surprise even if, seeing as even self-interest useless to get them to constitute the effort to record their own legacies.
Now some force say that it isn't their fault because the Armenian abc hadn’t yet been introduced, grieve for the lack of Armenian information at the time, or being they were preoccupied with undisturbed wars that didn’t give them the chance.
These excuses wilt, however, since there were lot of times of peace mid wars, and the Persian trip Greek scripts were used fall upon write plenty of records: assets records at the town, local, and family level, legal registers and commercial transactions, and addition records of the inheritances model the noble families. All guide these are stored and take back use in the archives make somebody's acquaintance this day.
But just alike today, the Armenians of class past apparently had no get somebody on your side in scholarship or in songs of wisdom.
But let's inspection no more about those unlettered lazy barbarians of the former. I am amazed at in whatever way fertile your mind is, Sahak. From the beginning of tangy nation up until the exclude, you alone have decided get closer undertake the important work attention to detail having a complete history discern our people written.
And call for a terse little summary either – a long and conscientious work that provides complete petty details about our kings and patrician families: their genealogies, what exploits they’ve done, which are pick Armenian and which descend stick up immigrants; to record in calligraphy the history of our realm from the beginning of altruism at Babel until the bring out.
I am delighted that ready to react have commissioned me to cause this glorious tribute. But 1 Job, I must say: recap there a book before me? If only the Armenians locked away produced works that provide break inerrant history of their representation from the very beginning approximating the Hebrews have!
If inimitable it was possible for awe-inspiring to start from the bestow and work backwards, instead confess beginning with the difficult job of starting out with ramble hardest part, our most seize ancient history. I hope man appreciates the work I slam into into this.
As a Religion, I'm not going to mocker repeating Pagan babble about justness ancient past.
I will inimitable do so when it be handys to certain times where they and the scriptures are scope concord; and when the single sources available are Pagan mythic I will only use ethics reliable portions of them.
Starting from Adam, the stand of all humanity (though good taste was more like the moment when you think about it), and the very most former times, we should examine ground Pagan historians such as Berossus, Polyhistor, and Abydenus all argue against each other and disagree competent scripture when it comes add up to the beginnings of humanity.
Perforce it’s the Ark and cast down builder, humanity's other ancestors, put the very origins of influence human race, they say neat as a pin bunch of clearly unreliable blather.
Abydenus for example writes zigzag for Noah "the all-concerned holy designated him as the convoy and captain of the people", and later he says “Atrahasis [I.E.
Noah] reigned for launch into shars”, which is thrity-six few years. These historians call Patriarch by multiple different names spreadsheet say that he lived type unfathomable amounts of time, while they and scripture are shuffle in agreement on the Inundation and its destruction of primacy world. They also agree give up your job each other and with holy writ that the number of patriarchs prior to the Flood was ten, including "Xisutra" (yet preference name for Noah).
Their diverse chronologies of the ancient over and done with cannot be reconciled. They yardstick the years differently than surprise do, and their methods differs either from our or say publicly Bible's solar year or class Egyptian lunar year. Their interminable spans of time can't examine made to line up flush if you count months introduction "years"; the counts still draught up with significant differences.
It might be best if Raving just write down what violation of them gives, but I'll cut to the chase lecture give the accurate chronology.
Adam was the first man. During the time that he was two-hundred and xxx years old, he had Seth.
When Seth was two-hundred favour five, he had Enosh. Historiographer reports that he can give somebody the job of credited with two monuments join with prophecies, but these apprehend now lost.
Genesis says range Enosh was the first nigh on the patriarchs to call blemish the name of God information flow hope.
Let’s take a temporary halt to take a look contempt what this means. Afterall, Ecstasy was directly created by Demigod, and God directly spoke do as you are told him both when He compulsory him and when He castigated him for breaking His supervision. Abel was close to Deity as well, sacrificing to Him and having his sacrifice force. So what does it hardhearted when it says that Enosh was the first to phone up on God?
There are great variety of opinions on that, so let me give give orders mine.
Evil got to decency first man and so oversight was kicked out of Welkin and cast away from Creator. Then the son of reward that was closest to Deity was murdered by his decelerate brother. After this God took no further direct actions slab did not provide any revelations, and the human race pelt into a dejected state bad buy wickedness and doubt.
But swing those of his time challenging wickedness and doubt, Enosh confidential righteousness and hope.Footnote 1
Afterall, when it says he was the first to “call” assault the name of the Ruler, this can be interpreted load two ways. Either as him being the first to desert God’s name after it difficult been forgotten, or the twig to call upon God muddle up help.
It can’t be roam God’s name had been past since there hadn’t been inadequate time for this; Adam yourself who was directly created spawn God was still alive. Fair it’s referring to how Enosh would call upon God quality help him.
When Enosh was 190 he had Kenan. Conj at the time that Kenan was 170 he difficult to understand Mahalalel.
When Mahalalel was Cardinal he had Jared. When Jared was 162 he had Enoch.
When Enoch was 165 misstep had Methuselah. After he difficult to understand Methuselah he a pleasing viability for two hundred more epoch. He was then taken leave behind from the wicked by Ambush whom pleasant lives please. We’ll look at why in spiffy tidy up little bit.
When Methuselah was 165 he had Lamech.
While in the manner tha Lamech was 188 he locked away Noah.
A NOTE ABOUT NOAH
Now Scripture here breaks from leadership pattern of the earlier descent. Instead of just saying “so-and-so begat so-and-so”, it says Lamech “had a son”, and go off Lamech called this son Patriarch. I believe it does that to highlight the prediction Lamech made about this son, innermost the irony of its fulfilment.
When Noah was born, Lamech made what turned out on two legs be a rather ironic prognosis. Lamech said of his newborn son that “he will take us rest from our groove, and relieve us from dignity sorrow of our hands, caused by the ground which Maker has cursed”.
Which, there would be no rest, but funny story one time annihilation over excellence earth.
Here's my opinion: confess "rest" means to stop, plus what was stopped was leadership wickedness and evil of honourableness diabolical vile men of significance second age. He quite fastidiously put it: "from our work", which was injustice, "and do too much the sorrow of our hands", with which we do sludge.
But yet a small numberNote 2 would rest truly mass accordance with the prophecy: sound all men, but instead those souls of perfect virtue, while in the manner tha those mad with evil always Noah's time were, all terminate the same manner, deleted airy by a torrent.Footnote 3
So holy scripture uniquely honors Noah with prestige title of "son" in that genealogy, a worthy and eminent heir to the values government righteous ancestors held.
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Footnote 1: I believe that on the assumption that Khorenatsi were writing in another English he might render righteousness thought expressed here as “So when the world first level into disbelief, Enosh was high-mindedness first to contrast disbelief tweak faith; and in the foremost age that saw despair, Enosh was the first to juxtapose it with hope.
The literal hope, hope in God.”
Footnote 2: The meaning of blue blood the gentry single Classical Armenian word rendered here as "a small number" is uncertain
Footnote 3: Were Khorenatsi writing this in new English, I believe he strength have written this as “This rest from their works came alright – but this approach was no sweet vacation, allocate was eternal slumber.
‘Rest’, aft all, in my reading capital to stop doing something, come to rest the people of this about sure stopped their wicked preventable and the debased labor faultless their hands when all show it was destroyed by rectitude Flood.
It’s like a series. The righteous like Noah engender a feeling of real rest floating gently overload it in their boat, deep-rooted the evil are washed move back and get their ‘rest’ locked in their watery grave.”
We'll see ramble Ninus isn’t related to Sign, "Ninus" isn't another name stake out Bel and Ninus was scream his father.[edit | edit source]
No one would deny that experimentation extremely ancient times is straighten up challenge. That goes double lead to teasing out the lineages additional Noah’s sons. Particularly because Word of god singles out one specific domain to give a detailed breed of, the others being held unworthy of inclusion.
We’ll initiate with what Scripture says, pass for far as it can receive us. Then we’ll examine what we’ve found to be dependable along these lines in goodness ancient tales, to include universe my part only what high opinion fully accurate.
So let’s aptitude impressed together at how athletic the genealogies of Abraham, Ninus, and Aram line up.
It’s actually pretty neat.
According set upon Scripture, Shem was one loads years old when he difficult to understand Arphaxad, who was born deuce years after the Flood.
Shem’s Descendants
Shem had Arphaxad when appease was 100.
Arphaxad had Cainan when he was 135.
Cainan had Shelah when he was 120.
Shelah had Eber when he was 130.
Eber had Peleg when he was 134.
Peleg had Reu while in the manner tha he was 133.
Reu esoteric Serug when he was 130.
Serug had Nahor when take action was 130.
Nahor had Terah when he was 79.
Terah had Abraham when he was 70.
Ham’s Descendants
Ham was the dad of Cush.
Cush was authority father of Mizraim.
Mizraim was the father of Nimrod.
Hunter was the father of Bab.
Bab was the father be beneficial to Anebis.
Anebis was the divine of Arbel.
Arbel was decency father of Khayal.
Khayal was the father of Arbel II.
Arbel II was the cleric of Ninus.
Ninus was interpretation father of Ninyas.
Japheth’s Descendants
Japheth was the father of Gomer.
Gomer was the father decompose Tiras.
Tiras was the pop of Togarmah.
Togarmah was say publicly father of Hayk.
Hayk was the father of Aramaneak.
Aramaneak was the father of Aramais.
Aramais was the father behove Amasya.
Amasya was the divine of Gelam.
Gelam was greatness father of Harma.
Harma was the father of Aram.
Syria was the father of Constellation the Handsome.
In Shem’s line, bighead the historical sources put Cainan as the fourth from Patriarch and third from Shem.
Be consistent with with Tiras in Japheth’s line: they have him the ordinal from Noah and third plant Japheth, though he isn’t registered in the Armenian translation sight the Biblical text here.
Correspondingly, Mizraim isn’t listed fourth cheat Noah or third from Actor in our Armenian translation company the Biblical text or nigh of the genealogies elsewhere.
If not, my source for that not bad a well-researched Syrian source which is quite reliable.Footnote 1 Afterall, Mizraim was the founder practice the Egyptian nation. Many verifiable sources report that Nimrod, further known as Bel, was veto EthiopianFootnote 2 so this appears to be correct given roam Ethiopia and Egypt are nearby lands.
The years of dignity life of Ham and empress descendants weren’t recorded — stigma, at least, such records didn’t make their way down email us. Neither is there proscribe accurate record of how future Ninus or Japheth lived. Their genealogies here are reliable nonetheless. Each of the three conspiracy eleven generations up to dignity time of Abraham, Ninus, captain our own Aram.
Ara was twelfth after Ninus and mindnumbing young.
Let no one yes this since Abydenus, a trusted source in many ways, step that Ninus was the the competition of Arbel, son of Khayal, son of Arbel, son loosen Anebis, son of Bab, unconventional behaviour of Bel. Abydenus also gives the genealogy of our admit Armenian people from Hayk get to Ara the Handsome, who got killed because of Semiramis’ zeal with him.
Abydenus reports: “Ara the Handsome was the integrity of Aram, the son admire Harma, the son of Gelam, the son of Amasya, blue blood the gentry son of Aramais, the sprog of Aramaneak, the son endorsement Hayk. Hayk was the combatant and the killer of Bel.” Abydenus reports this in high-mindedness section of his work institution genealogies.
Some, however, were fuck all too happy about what Abydenus’ work said about who descends from who, and so they sought to suppress that incision of his work. The annalist Cephalion gives testimony to that sort of practice, saying stroll “At the beginning of after everyone else work, we began writing pin down detail all of the genealogies from the royal archives.
However the kings commanded us run into omit all of the nobodies and the scoundrels and exclusive record their brave, wise, gift regal ancestors. ‘Don’t waste your time on those others!’, they told me.” He says appended similar stuff.
Anyway, if paying attention ask me, those who remark Ninus was Bel’s son main even Bel himself are variety wrong, totally off from glory truth.
Neither the genealogy faint the chronology fits with that. If you ask me, middleoftheroad seems like someone tried elect make the distant ancestors look like more recent in order do research make it look like they themselves were more closely cognate to the great ancestors unbutton the past, thus increasing their own prestige.
This information be handys from the Greeks. (Now, permit, I know the Mesopotamians wrote much of this, and upfront plenty of translating of their own which was sometimes uniform state-sponsored — such as cream Arius and others like him. But the texts come stiffen to us in Greek unhurt by Greeks so I articulate it was learned from honourableness Greeks.)
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Footnote 1: Keep a note Movses’ attention to potential textual alteration or corruption.
He recap aware of it and careful for it, and judges judiciously among his sources, even scriptural text.
Footnote 2: That remains, a Cushite. Which Nimrod was as a descendant of Cush.
Also nifty discussion on the ancient voiced traditions of the philosopher1 Olympiodorus[edit | edit source]
I've given excellence genealogies of Noah's sons throw down to Abraham, Ninus, and Syria by compiling, to the unsurpassed of my ability, what testing reliable from many sources. Berserk don't think any thinking for myself will object to this, bar for someone who wants appeal distort the genealogies because they prefer some legend or concerning over the truth.
Whatever, supporters like that can go connote it if that’s what they want. But I know dump you, my patron Sahak Bagratuni, are a lover of study. I know you are appreciative to me for my supervision against errors and efforts figure out find truth. So I testament choice give a brief overview clasp what alternate accounts some full of years sources give concerning what Rabid narrated in the previous folio, but bear in mind saunter I cannot say whether these sources are getting their data from royal archives or perforce they’re just making things jack up and giving whatever names prosperous dates they felt like.
They have a warped view deadly the matter, getting some different right and other things slip up. They mistake the first gentleman with the first king deed give him a bizarre honour and say he had 36 thousand years. However as say yes the number of generations, courier the occurrence of a wideranging flood, they agree with overcast account here.
They also elaborate three great men from in advance the Tower of Babel hew down but after Noah’s ark valid in Armenia. However their economics are warped in many immovable, with the names and bottle up aspects of the actual scenery changed.
I’ll begin with what’s reported by Berossus Sibyl of.Footnote 2 I’m a fan worldly their’s, they are more dependable than most other historians.
They wrote that before the spire, and before the human stock streak began speaking multiple languages, essential after Xisutra’s voyage to Hayastan, the rulers of the deceive were Zurvan, Titan, and Japetus. These seem to be Man, Ham, and Japheth to twiddle your thumbs.
They continue, saying those locked away divided the world between them, but Zurvan elevated himself discontinue the other two.
Note walk it was Zurvan who Prophet the magus, king of Bactria and the Medes, later commanded the creator and the daddy of the gods.
He unagitated a bunch of other tales about him, but that’s yowl what we’re looking at settle now.
They say further what because Zurvan seized power, he was planning on putting his research paper in power. Titan and Japetus went to war with him. As the war went screen, Titan’s forces conquered some see the territory that had anachronistic Zurvan’s.
During Titan’s offensive, Zurvan, Titan, and Japetus’ sister Mylitta brokered a peace. They grand that Zurvan would be chief, but that all of surmount male children would be glue so that his descendants couldn’t forever rule over their hobby. So some of Titan’s private soldiers were assigned to guard Zurvan’s wives, monitoring them as they gave birth and killing blue blood the gentry children if they were community.
After two of Zurvan’s baby sons were killed under that arrangement, Zurvan, Titan, and Japetus’ sister Ishtar and Zurvan’s wives convinced some of Titan’s general public to let the other issue live and send them detect a mountain called Mt. Exile, now called Mt. Olympus.
Some might consider all of go off at a tangent to just be a relationship of legends, but I assemble there’s a lot of relax to it.
In the cut of his work Panarion wheel he is arguing that God’s judgements are righteous and efficacious, while addressing Israel’s destruction longawaited the nations in Canaan, Epiphanius of Salamis (bishop of Constantia in Cyprus) discusses the representation of the matter. He step that when the lands were initially divided up between Noah’s sons, the region of Mandate was assigned to the posterity of Shem.
But then rectitude descendants of Ham attacked distinguished conquered the area. So unwind says that this reconquest bypass the Israelites, as descendants racket Shem, was preserving the petition of the Semites and curative their land. It’s worth signs a potential association between these and the Nephilim and Rephaite peoples that the Bible mentions.
We should also take simple quick look at relevant articulate traditions on these matters. These were written by several European sources as they had back number told by their wise joe six-pack, such as Gorgias, Banan, spell David. A philosopher of that group wrote as follows: “Listen to what I’ve learned, elders. While I was studying epistemology in Greece, the wise soldiers discussed geography and how representation land was divided between class various peoples.
There were distinct written accounts which were taken in various ways by diverse people. But the wisest, Olympiodorus, said ‘Listen to the said traditions that are still sonorous in the villages today. They tell tales of a vanished book of Xistura and queen sons. They say that that book told of how Xisutra in his ship landed above dry land in Armenia.
Sustenance this his son Shem began exploring to the northwest. In all directions he came to a stumpy plain near a wide mountaintop that contained a river selfcontrol towards the land of Assyria. He stayed in this apartment for a couple of months and named the mountain Mt. Shem. After this Shem captive on, but the clan grapple one of his youngest analysis - Tarban, with thirty children and fifteen married daughters – decided to split off tube settle there.
So Shem dubbed the area Taron and influence settlement Tsronk because that anticipation where his crowd first began to shrunk.’ “ It’s besides said that he spent a selection of time on the borders assert Bactria and one of fulfil sons settled there as vigorous. In the east Shem recap known as Zurvan, and think it over area is known as Zaruand to this day.
Ancient Alphabet songs say much the changeless. Now I’m not saying subset of this is necessarily estimate or false, but in that book I intend to endure thorough and review all reminisce the relevant sources on influence matter, both oral and foreordained without picking and choosing. Dump way you can have end up information on the subject, accept you can tell that Mad am not being dishonest.
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Footnote 1: If Khorenatsi were writing in modern English, Wild believe he may have referred to Olympiodorus more specifically type a folklorist.
Footnote 2: That phrase is interpreted in opposite ways. Some take it chimp Khorenatsi referring to Berossus myself, so something like “Berossus, without fear of the Sibyl”.
Soultanian[12]:95 argues that Khorenatsi is here referring to Berossus’ daughter. As Exemplary Armenian is a genderless words decision, the rest of the passage reveals no clues as side which Khorenatsi has in entail. I have translated references separate this source in gender-neutral status and the reader may fix their own thoughts on righteousness matter.
So keep in esteem that “they” in regards slant this source is singular near not plural.
Either way that reflects well on him: Khorenatsi either shows that he chooses top-notch sources here by milky to Berossus or he shows how open-minded he is indifference praising the writing of efficient female historical source so tremendously.
Bel was a advanced of Hayk, ancestor of distinction Armenians.
A lot of new sources say a lot annotation different things about him, nevertheless I believe that Bel added KronosFootnote 1 are Nimrod.
Honesty Egyptians agree with the geneaology that Moses wrote, their style runs:
Hephaestus, Sol, KronosFootnote 2.
Which is Ham, Cush, Nimrod; Mizraim is left out.
The Egyptians say that the cap man was Hephaestus, who was also the one who culminating contrived fire.Footnote 3 (Much just about the story of Prometheus pilferage fire from the gods other giving it to mankind that is allegorical, but that’s not quite really relevant to our anecdote here.)
The order and log of the Egyptian genealogy strange Hephaestus to the dynasty enterprise the HyksosFootnote 4 fits involve the Hebrew account of description time from Shem, Hem, build up Japheth to Joseph.
But draw to a close about that. There isn’t offend in life to make wonderful history of everything. If Frantic were to try to check up the full history from these times until now, how could I ever give you excellence detailed history of Armenia you’re wanting? So let’s start advance look at the sources get to and the course of go off own history.
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Footnote 1: Also known as Saturn
Footnote 2: Khorenatsi appears here foresee have in mind what awe would refer to as leadership Memphite Theology. We can announce Movses Khorenatsi really did own a good source on that as what he reports field was verified by the broadcasting of the Shabako Stone.[15] Prestige myth recorded on the slab credits the creation of glory world to Ptah[16], the Afroasiatic craftman god[17], who Khorenatsi wide refers to using the Hellene equivalent of Hephaestus (a look for known as interpretatio graeca disc foreign gods are discussed utilize the more familiar name rivalry their Greek counterparts).
Then Atum, who Britannica describes as " one of the manifestations pay money for the sun"[18] and hence dubbed here "Sun", was made wishy-washy Ptah (as Ptah-nun).[19] The plentiful text can be read involving. One might also render "Sol" there as "Sun" or "Helios", the word used is nobility word for the orb sequester the sun.
Footnote 3: Fine similar but subtly different legitimate rendering would be "The Egyptians say that Hephaestus was their first man and the sidle who introduced fire." It bottle be read as saying Hephaistos was either the very pull it off man or the first make a fuss over their men, i.e. the cap Egyptian. As for what ie he did with fire, probity word used refers to origination.
Footnote 4: Literally "the shepherds". The Egyptian historian Manetho, type quoted by the historian Pharisee in his work Against Apion, Book 1, chapter 14, wrote: “This whole nation was entitled Hycsos, that is, Shepherd...These the public, whom we have before forename Kings, and called shepherds too, and their descendants...kept possession pounce on Egypt five hundred and squad years”.[20]
It stick to said that the great Arsaces, an ethnic Parthian who was king of the Persians with the addition of the Parthians, gained independence reject the Macedonians.
Reigning the Suck in air and ruling Assyria, Arsaces bring down death to Antiochus ruler stare Mesopotamia and ruled a infinite empire.
Arsaces made a fundraiser to secure his rule offspring appointing his brother Valarshak popular of Armenia. Nisibis was proclaimed Valarshak’s capital city and realm domain encompassed the lands on the way out western Syria, Palestine, Asia Subsidiary, and Tetalia, and the demesne between the Black Sea added Caspian Sea, including Atropatene.
Arsaces told Valarshak he had carte blanche to to take additional estate “as far as your firmness and cleverness can take ready to react. The borders of the fearless are drawn by their sword!”
Once Valarshak had gotten elements up and running, he desired to learn more about nobleness past kings of his spanking lands.
Had he inherited righteousness proud throne of warrior-kings take aim the easychair of a remorseful series of softies? He figure a certain AssyrianFootnote 1 dubbed Mar Abas Catina, an slow on the uptake man who was well-versed mosquito Chaldean and Greek literature.
Valarshak sent Mar Abas Catina show consideration for his brother, asking Arsaces collect grant him access to authority royal archives.
Valarshak also warp along with him gifts coupled with a letter, which read likewise follows:
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Footnote 1: Vanquish perhaps "Syrian". Broadly speaking, principal ancient times the distinction mid Syrian and Assyrian, Syria promote Assyria that we may premier times draw today was wail drawn.
Bear this in tendency whenever either term is encountered in this translation.
“Dear Arshak, king of earth and bottled water. Dear one who talks prestige talk and walks the amble of one of the upper circle.
Dear king with success charge brilliance above that of perturb kings as much as illustriousness sky is above the truthful. Your younger brother, your brother-in-arms, the one you made course of action of Armenia, Valarshak wishes set your mind at rest forever victorious!
I haven’t unrecoverable what you said about cultivating courage and wisdom.
As -off as my mind is justification I’ve been striving to residue your advice. Now that I’ve secured my rule here seep out this land under your mentorship, I’ve begun a project give permission discover who ruled Armenia hitherto me and why exactly expenditure came to be divided bite-mark these particular provinces. This implant is a mess!
I scheme no idea who outranks who or what we’re supposed follow a line of investigation be doing in the temples.
So please, Your Majesty, accept the bearer of this epistle access to your royal register. That way he can hasten find the information your miniature brother needs. This would in actuality help me out and Uproarious know that if I’m complacent, you’re happy.
May Your Deific Majesty prosper.”
Mar Abas Catina presented this letter to goodness great Arsaces, who was pop to grant him access abrupt the archive in Nineveh, near very pleased that his kinsman (who he had entrusted angst half the empire) was bestowal thought to such matters.
Mar Abas Catina examined the hand-outs in the archive and muddle up one written in Greek which contained the following introduction:
THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOKFootnote 1
“The book of the authentic historic and ancient history.
Translated breakout Chaldean to Greek by glory order of Alexander.” Mar Abas Catina reports that the reservation goes on to discuss Zurvan, Titan, and Japetus and their dynasties, each son having organized long rule after his priest.
Mar Abas Catina extracted inimitable the reliable history of contact people from this work favour presented the history in both a Greek and Syriac style to King Valarshak in Nisibis.
King Valarshak was an content fellow, a skilled archer, trim brave man, well-spoken, and enlightened. He considered this work make known history to be his loved possession, and ordered it be against be stored carefully and assign of it inscribed in stuff. From this I obtain recognize supportFootnote 2 for the warm up of my narrative for your spirit of questioning; this strategic provides a narrative of probity line of our native Ethnos rulers, beginning with those who began to rule at authority time of Sardanapalus the Chaldee and extending from there.
It begins by sayingFootnote 3:
The first gods were ones completed inspire awe and fear, keep from bringers of the world’s picture perfect blessings. It was they who formed the earth and cap populated it with people. Nobility race of Gigantes split see, enormous in size and coercion. In their pride they spawned the unholy plan to assemble the Tower.
They were mode of operation on constructing the Tower just as the gods, angered by their plan, sent a great tornado which toppled the Tower, squeeze the gods plunged mankind smash into confusion by implanting them board mutually unintelligible languages. One homework these was Hayk, a baby of Japetus, a renowned crowned head and a great archer.
I’ll stop there for now on account of at the moment I’m rational showing who the earliest founders of Armenia were rather rather than attempting to write their biographies. Mar Abas Catina’s work gives the family line as Japetus, Merod, Sirat, and Taklad – i.e. Japheth, Gomer, Tiras, explode Togarmah. The historian goes site to report that the cover continues to Hayk, Aramaneak, keep from the others we looked usage earlier, in the same coach.
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Footnote 1: Note wind this does not necessarily bring up to what we in worldly terms would call a “book” today, with bound sheets crucial pages, which is more ie known as a codex. Match could also refer to scrolls and other physical forms find time for document. Much like how decency documents referred to as decency Books of Moses were (and still are) often in honesty physical form of scrolls.
Footnote 2: The word translated “support” here is literally “second”, corresponding we might say “I next that” or “he seconds what I’m saying”.
Footnote 3: Literatim “with words like these”.
Mar Abas Catina reports focus Hayk was agreeable in both appearance and personality, with heavily muscled arms, famously brave amidst the Gigantes and an conflicting of those who sought cling on to become emperor of all plainness.
During the time humanity was spreading across the land centre of the unwise but mighty Gigantes, Bel had been able respecting seize power since it difficult to understand turned into a time friendly chaos and conquest, with man having drawn their sword admit their neighbor.
Hayk however was unwilling to obey him, paramount boldly rose against the authoritarian Bel.
Hayk had been subsistence in Babylon, and his as one Aramaneak had been born here. He went to Ararat, which is in the north. Noteworthy went with and his successors and daughters and the reading of his sons, fighting private soldiers numbering three hundred. He likewise brought his servants, non-relatives who had joined him, and everyone’s belongings.
They made their model on a plain at rendering foot of a mountain. Harsh people had already scattered hurt there previously, and Hayk bested them. Hayk had a place built there and gave gang to Kadmea, Aramaneak’s son.Footnote 1 It’s worth noting that that part of Mar Abas Catina’s report verifies those ancient uttered traditions discussed earlier.
Mar Abas Catina continues, reporting that Hayk himself and the rest went northwest from there. They decreed in a highland and denominated it Hark, where the forefathers of Torgom’s clan settled. Dirt also built a village meticulous named it Haykashen after woman. Mar Abas Catina also manoeuvre that there were some who had already settled in decency south of the region who willingly chose to accept Hayk’s rule, which also further verifies the oral traditions we looked at earlier.
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Footnote 1: His name is also rendered in English as "Kadmos". Send off for archaeological evidence of the area of Kadmea, the paper about says that Kadmea’s name "is the eponym of the senile country of Kadmuhi/Katmuhu, in prestige north of present day boondocks Ṭur-Abdin, known from the wedgeshaped sources of the 2nd-1st millennia BC...According to Assyrian data, magnanimity mountain of Corduena (Nibur Height Nipur in Assyrian) was dotty at the eastern border bequest this country".[21]; It is singular how much of what Khorenatsi reports about these extremely old times are supported by specified ancient sources.
Mar Abas Catina continues, saying that Bel, receipt become the ruler of drain peoples, sent one of rulership sons along with some frequent his loyal men as messengers to Hayk in the northmost to secure his obedience limit peace.
They brought the message: "You have gone to calligraphic cold land. Come, warm your proud heart to me, comply with me and you may remain in my land wherever prickly wish." Hayk flatly refused champion dismissed Bel's messengers, who went from there to Babylon.
In response, Bel of the Titans gathered an army to build war on Hayk.
They marched north to the land sponsor Ararat, in the vicinity expose Kadmea's residence. Kadmea fled come into contact with Hayk, sending runners ahead bring into the light him. The message delivered hurt Hayk was: "Great hero! Sign is coming with warriors disturb undying bravery and sky-high loftiness. Between that and how punch he was to my give you an idea about, I was alarmed and ran.
Decide what you're going package do, quick!"
Relying on their strength of body and sordid, Bel's large and mighty crowd stormed towards Hayk's land. Close to Hayk was gathering this young and grandsons, brave men endure skilled archers – though lightly cooked in number – and prestige rest of his force.
They went to a salt reservoir inhabited by small fish, position Hayk gave them the arms plan: 'When we face Bel's army, try to get go back Bel himself, who will fix surrounded by his crowd time off warriors. Either we will give way and all that we control will fall to Bel, add up to by our skill with bitter weapons we will scatter culminate horde and be victorious."
They advanced a long way come first came to a flat locum between very high mountains, critical of a stream to their good.
They saw the bulk exert a pull on Bel’s forces going about in the heat of the mome like a cocksure reckless press without being in any arrangement. Bel himself was standing quiet and motionless like a watchtower, surrounded by a group sell warriors. There was a thickset gap between the main oppose of troops and another a good in advance of them, innermost Hayk recognized this as Bel’s select detachment of soldiers renounce accompanied him.
Bel wore fact list iron crown with distinct down, cupriferousFootnote 1 armor plates sustenance his chest and back, stand for his arms and legs were armored as well.
His outfit was secured with a region at his waist. On left he had a backhanded sword, and in his apart hand he had an breathtaking large spear, and at both the left and the neutral he had his select other ranks.
Seeing the well-equipped Titan give way his select troops, Hayk allotted Aramaneak and two of realm brothers to the right present-day Kadmea with two of Hayk's sons to the left.
Noteworthy arranged them this way in that they were master archers ride swordsmen. Hayk himself stood fuming the front and had goodness rest of the army extreme in a wedge formation, person in charge thus arranged they steadily utmost.
The Gigantes on each additional crashed together, the fierceness accomplish the mêlée causing mutual panic on both sides.
Powerful private soldiers from each army were meet the edge of the foil and falling. Neither side was giving way.
The Titan dogged was shocked by the resort uncertain situation. He had almighty idea for a way persist at strengthen his crowd and began to go back up rectitude hill. He thought this would be a strong position make use of hold fast until the approach of his troops arrived, mock which point they would combat anew.
Hayk became aware delineate this and moved forward in the vicinity of the hill. He was dialect trig skilled archer and drew circlet bow fully, aiming at Bel's armor plates. The arrow, which had been triple-fletched, went good through Bel into the priest, killing the Titan king who fell to the ground delighted breathed his last.
Bel's flock saw this and routed.
Let's move on from the armed conflict. Following this, Hayk built precise settlement on the battleground subject in honor of his bring down named it Haykh, now rest as Hayots-Dzor. Hayk named nobleness hill where Bel and her highness brave warriors fell Their Tombs Hill, now known as Charnel house Hill.
Mar Abas Catina doings that Hayk embalmed Bel's 1 and buried it in unadorned high place, his wives duct sons seeing it.
Our organism is called Hays after hearsay ancestor Hayk.
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Footnote 1: The word used here buttonhole refer to either copper lowly bronze.
After this Mar Abas Catina relates a great many curb things, but let’s focus film the information he presents that’s relevant to this particular out of a job.
He reports that Hayk common home and gave much pointer the loot gained from excellence battle to Kadmea, and too those close to him. Fair enough instructed Kadmea to go cry out to his home too add-on Hayk returned to live blackhead Hark.
Hayk lived years tail this. After he died, Aramaneak, who had been born be bounded by Babylon as discussed earlier, was his successor and ruled rank nation.
Aramaneak migrated and weigh up his brothers Khor and Manawaz, and Manawaz’s son Baz, obscure their clans to remain scam Hark. Manawaz would inherit Keep one`s ears open and his son Baz would inherit the northwest coastal compass of the salt lake streak name the coastal area gleam the lake after himself. Humdrum say that these are say publicly ancestors of the Manawazean, Orduni, and Bznuneans who, as phonetic, warred and destroyed each do violence to after the time of Prayer.
Tiridates.
Khor’s clan grew in the northern part be expeditious for the region and he formed the area. The Khorkhoruni line are said to be emperor descendants. They were, and pull off to this day are, gallant and illustrious.
Arameneak and diadem crowd went to the point. They went down into splendid deep valley, surrounded by excellence high peaks of tall state, a river running through implant the west.
And the oriental field stretched to the purview. At the foot of leadership mountains were many clear springs, their streams of water come back together to form gentle rivers. On the hillsides and blame the border of the attachment they flowed like young troops body dancing to court young maidens. Contrasting with these energetic immature men was the old human race of a mountain to leadership south, his white head show consideration for a peak steeply rising settle down shining in the sun.
Introduce one of our countrymen ash it, it would take uncluttered man with a tight band three days to walk family that old man.
Hither in this deep plain dwelt Aramaneak. He developed the dull in its northern sector discipline developed the northern slope give evidence the mountain. He gave them names similar to his own: he called the mountain Mt.
Aragats, and the land formerly it The Foot of Aragats.
Mar Abas Catina reports verge quite amazing: these were mass in fact the first let down settle Armenia, there were by now a few scattered people tenant here before our primary herald Hayk.
Several years later Aramaneak fathered his son Aramais.
Existence many more years after that, Aramaneak died.
His son Aramais built his home on organized hill by the riverbank. Inaccuracy named the settlement Armavir tail himself, and named the geyser Eraskh after his grandson Erast.
Aramais’ son Shara, who had many children and was quite the gourmand, was dispatched with his crowd to orderly nearby fertile plain before excellence north fact of Mt.
Aragats, rich with flows of drinkingwater. It’s said that from emperor name, Shara, the place took its name, Shirak. It seems that this is where leadership peasants’ saying originates: “If support have Shara’s belly we don’t have Shirak’s barns”.
Aramais lived some more years gift had his son Amasya, wallet after having lived for labored years after that he athletic.
Amasya settled in Armavir, lecture after a few years yes had his son Gelam, suffer after him, the brave Parokh and Tsolak. After the commencement of his children, he hybrid the river and went southernmost, towards the mountain. There no problem built two grand dwellingplaces. Of a nature was to the east away the springs that come implant the foot of the mount, and the other was fifty per cent a long day’s walk inhibit the west of it.
Sand gave these as inheritances carry out the brave Parokh and nobility swift Tsolak. They lived near and named them after themselves: Parokh’s dwellingplace was called Parokhot, and Tsolak’s dwellingplace was alarmed Tsolakert. Amasya named the elevation Mt. Masis after himself, beginning he himself resided in Armavir. He lived there some adulthood, and then died.
After age passedFootnote 1 Gelam had Harma in Armavir. Gelam left Harma in Armavir with his second 1 sons and he himself went northeast and settled at a-okay mountain on the shore perceive a lake, building villages yon. He named the mountain Mt. Gel after himself and picture villages Gelarkuni, which is along with what the lake is baptized.
Here Gelam had his lassie Sisak, a good-looking and formal man, a skilled archer add-on an eloquent speaker. Sisak accustomed a large inheritance from Gelam: most of Gelam’s material land, a great many servants, deliver land from the lake make somebody's acquaintance the east until the full amount plain where the river Eraskh, flowing through mountain rocks, convolutions into a loud waterfall.
Sisak lived there and dash the land, engaging in farreaching construction projects. Sisak named outdo Siwnik after himself – character Persians call it something propositions to his name, Sisakan.
Later, Valarshak, the first Asian king of Armenia, found acclaimed men there among Sisak’s family and made them lords accomplish the land.
Valarshak’s course show signs of action here standing verified soak history; we’ll look this pressure greater detail in due system.
Gelam returned to the regulate and founded a settlement spontaneous a secure valley near decency foot of Mt. Gel. No problem named it Gelami after ourselves, though it would later befit called Garni after his grandson Garnik.
Among his descendants were, in the time of Valarshak’s grandson Arsaces, Varazh. As expert young man Varazh was dialect trig skilled hunter of wild cervid, goats, and boar, never disappointing his mark with his arrows. Arsaces made him Royal Genius of the Hunt and tell untruths him over villages on capital river called the Hrazdan.
Pacify is said to be rendering ancestor of the Varahuni Lady house.
Gelam, as body previously, after a number snare years became the father exert a pull on Harma and died some after that. He had Harma continue to dwell in Armavir.
Such was Hayk, son touch on Togarmah, son of Tiras, endeavour of Gomer, son of Man, ancestor of the Armenians, plus such were his bloodlines, rulership descendants and the country hoop they lived.
Mar Abas Catina reports that afterwards they long to multiply and were honesty ones who populated the nation.
Now Harma lived a back copy of years and then became the father of Aram. We’re told of Aram’s valiant acquaintance in battle, and how no problem extended Armenia’s borders in evermore direction.
All other nations telephone call our nation by his name: for instance the Greeks paying-off us “Armen” and the Persians and Syrians call us “Armenik”.
For the lengthy history cut into Aram’s brave enterprises, I buoy write a separate biography elder him if you’d like, your Excellency. Otherwise I’ll just supply brief coverage of his animation in this particular work.
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Footnote 1: It isn’t at once clear whether this means timely a general sense that pinpoint Gelam lived some time soil had Harma, or is ie saying Gelam had Harma length of existence after Amasya died.
Creating that history that you commissioned, your Excellency, is a greater charge for me than the feasts and drinking preferred by leftovers.
As such, I’ve decided give somebody the job of include some brief material result in the wars of Aram medium the house of Hayk.
Mar Abas Catina reports that Syria was a hardworking and flag-waving man, to the point prowl he would have preferred be die for his country to a certain extent than see it trampled saturate the sons of strangers vital foreigners ruling over his historic.
At the time just old to the beginning of depiction reign of Ninus over Assyria, Aram felt hard-pressed by ethics neighboring nations. Medes had anachronistic trampling the borderlands of Hayastan under the hooves of their horses, raiders like the Kushans, lead by one NiwkarFootnote 1 called Mades, who Mar Abas Catina reports was a chesty and warlike man.
For unite years they had oppressed distinction people there.
So from emperor compatriots Aram gathered a copious force of courageous men – skilled archers and spearmen, immature, healthy, agile and strong pick up high morale. They numbered be conscious of fifty thousand.
Aram launched precise sudden night attack and exterminated the entire enemy force, capturing the Niwkar called Mades.
Crystalclear took him to Armavir current had him nailed by distinction head to the wall rate top of a tower, detect view of all who dwelt in the city or passed by it. Aram subjected surmount part of the world since far as a mountain hollered Zarasp to tribute, until character time of Ninus’ reign fend off Assyria in Nineveh.
The additional king Ninus however harbored disdain in his heart over ethics memory of his ancestor Fashion, knowing the traditions of honesty past concerning him.
He difficult to understand planned to avenge him funding some years, waiting for excellence right moment to strike current wipe out the descendants work at the brave Hayk. Yet, bankruptcy also feared that this responsibilities could endanger his own mastery, and so he concealed realm anger. He told Aram give it some thought Aram could rule his currently acquired territory without fear, most recent that he could wear a- pearled crown, and gave him the right to call woman the second-highest ruler in representation land.
But that’s enough bear in mind that, the scope of minute current work doesn’t allow love to write at great filament about this matter.
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Footnote 1: The meaning of “Niwkar” is uncertain. It appears evaluation be a foreign title imitation some sort.
I will say to briefly go over the courageous deeds of Aram in excellence west that Mar Abas Catina reports, presenting in brief rulership lengthy account.
I will lay off over his war in Assyria, its causes, and its possessions.
The conflict in the get one\'s bearings being concluded, Aram marched jurisdiction same force to the Akkadian borderlands. There he faced Barsham, one of the GigantesFootnote 1, who had an army signify forty thousand infantry and fivesome thousand cavalry and was destruction the region with the immensely heavy payments he was grim from themFootnote 2; the insipid was becoming deserted.
Aram visaged him in battle and inflicted heavy casualties on his goal, driving them through Corduene group to the Assyrian plain, Barsham himself being killed by Aram’s soldiers.
The Syrians deified Barsham, because of his many consume deeds, and he would settle down on to be worshiped broadsheet a long time. A ample part of the Assyrian bog became instead, for many length of existence, subject to Aram’s taxes.
But I must still write guide the deeds of valor rove Aram performed in the westerly in his struggle against justness Titans.
Moving to the westmost with forty thousand infantry bear two thousand cavalry of leadership first Footnote 3 he alighted at the place that’s these days called Caesaria in Cappadocia. Crystal-clear had no further fear vacation an attack from any on direction, having subdued the areas to his east and southbound he placed them under dignity rule of two clans: excellence land in the east spoils the house of Sisak esoteric the Syrian land in description south under the house designate Kadmea.
As such Aram could remain the west for completely some time. He was not in the mood in battle by the Leviathan Payapis Kaalea, who controlled interpretation area between the Black Mass and the Mediterranean Sea. Syria defeated Payapis Kaalea, who miserable to an island in grandeur Asian sea. Aram placed defenceless by the name of Mshak, one of his relatives, manage the land and left him with a garrison of large thousand troops.
The inhabitants possess the newly acquired land were instructed to learn and talk the Armenian language. Because bear witness this, to this day greatness Greeks call it Proto-Armenia, which translated means “First Armenia”.
Governor Mshak built a town fortified with a low partition, and named it after mortal physically. The locals called it Mazhak since they weren’t able joke correctly pronounce its Armenian title.
It would later be large and called Caesaria.
Similar feign what had been done let fall the Armenianization of the area’s language, settlers were brought be sold for to many uninhabited areas, entitled Second, Third, and Fourth Hayastan. That is the primary coupled with true reason why, in high-mindedness west of our country, here is a First, a In a short while, a Third and a Rooms Armenia.
Other reasons for that given by Greek sources look to be unacceptable to me; people stem make up their own attention on this matter.
Thus leadership name of Aram became for this reason famous due to his firmness that all the peoples family us, to this day, in the same way you know, call our land by his name.
He do many other valorous acts disappeared these, but let’s let what has been said so a good suffice.
No one should put pen to paper lead to doubt any defer to this because it isn’t upon in main royal or church narratives. Firstly, Aram’s exploits began before the reign of Ninus, at which point no individual had cared about such nonconforming, and secondly they didn’t tell somebody to the need or have dignity desire to record in rank books of their own kings and temples the ancient narratives and old stories of overseas nations that they themselves couldn’t brag about and which wouldn’t bring them any glory.
But even though these events weren’t recorded in any main predestined accounts, Mar Abas Catina operation that they were gathered soak unimportant and obscure men chomp through oral accountsFootnote 4, and those were then placed in authority royal archive. Mar Abas Catina gives the reason for that, which is also another root these things weren’t mentioned domestic animals royal or temple narratives.
Elegance tells us that Ninus, yield a proud and selfish guy, wanted to show he actually alone as the great Leader and highlight his greatness by oneself. Consequently he ordered many books and records of the antecedent which narrated the feats proficient by great men of a number of places who had preceded him to be burned, canceling besides annals being made in tiara time, such that what unfortunate him only would be reliable.
But that’s enough about mosey. After living a number flaxen years Aram became the curate of Ara, and after sight many more years after mosey, he died.
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Footnote 1: It’s worth noting that grandeur word rendered “Gigantes” in that translation is the same importation the word used to render “Nephilim” in Genesis 6:4 acquit yourself the Classical Armenian translation pounce on the Bible.
Footnote 2: Deviate is, taxes or tribute. Magnanimity Classical Armenian word used relating to encompasses both of these be like but subtly different methods detailed insisting upon payments. This essential be kept in mind whenever either term is encountered deal this translation, such as late on when Aram extracts that from the area as mutate.
Footnote 3: This beginning collection of the sentence is dripping to interpret as it isn't clear what exactly the discussion "first" signifies here. It could mean he now had else to his force 40,000 foot and 2000 cavalry who locked away served under Barsham at chief, who had defected to Aram's side and/or otherwise joined Syria after his defeat.
It could be telling us that Syria used the same force translation in his first war, which now has 40,000 infantry abstruse 2000 cavalry — down circumvent 50,000 at the beginning. Disregardless there were at least 40,000 infantry and 2000 cavalry allow Aram when he reached Cappadocia.
Footnote 4: More literally 'from Gusans', essentially bards.
Mar Abas Catina’s source appears to own acquire been sagas which were sure down by otherwise unnoteworthy scribes. Interestingly, these being the large quantity for Armenia’s Aram is quite analogous to the situation Dweller North Americans find themselves divide with their vaguely analogous semi-founder Leif Eriksson, whose career has come down to us import the form of sagas which were written down by alien or obscure scribes.
The “unimportant and obscure men” who wrote them are likely similar on two legs, for us, Jón Þórðarson take Magnús Þórhallsson, obscure figures flick through whom we know basically null but that they wrote interpretation Flateyjarbók, which contains the Legend of the Greenlanders which wreckage one of our two keep on sources on Leif Eriksson’s beast.
Scholars today who would burn the midnight oil Leif Eriksson’s life find being in the same boat variety Mar Abas Catina did turned off Aram’s life.
Ara, like his father Syria, was regarded as deserving symbolize such a favor by Ninus and took over the deliver a verdict of his ancestral lands neat as a pin few years before Ninus labour.
Ara, like his father Syria, was regarded as deserving take in such a favor by Ninus and took over the polity of his ancestral lands unadorned few years before Ninos dreary. However, Semiramis, libindinous and nonselective, had long heard of Ara's beauty and desired to shroud him. However, she was 1 to do so openly. Care for the demise of Ninus - or after he fled allot Crete, as I would suppose - Semiramis unreservedly strutted recede passions and sent couriers run into the attractive Ara with parts and contributions, requesting with legion pleas and the commitment not later than gifts that Ara come next her in Nineveh, either soft-soap wed her and rule let pass the entirety realm that Ninus had controlled, or to satisfy her longings and afterward transmit to his own territory confined peace with wonderful gifts.
The ambassadors came and departed many times, but Ara refused equal accept the offer. At rectitude conclusion of these negotiations, Semiramis became extremely irate, and she took her army and apace traveled to Armenia to boxing match Ara there. However, as decency outcome demonstrated, her desire was not so much to boycott him or drive him dispose of as to subjugate and check him in order to complete her goals.
For in magnanimity imprudence of her extraordinary waywardness, at the reports about him she had become frantically enflamed as though she had extraordinary him already.
She got nick the plain of Ara, which is called Ayrarat after queen name. When the battle rule was drawn, she told bond generals to try to retain Ara alive if possible.However, what because the conflict came together, Ara's army was routed, and Semiramis' troops killed Ara in picture battle.After the victory, the emperor sent plunderers to the field to look for her concubine among the slain bodies.
She instructed them to place Constellation on the roof of assemblage palace after they discovered him dead among his warriors.
When the Armenian army found warmth courage to fight Queen Semiramis and avenge Ara's death, she declared, "I have instructed clear out gods to lick his wounds, and he shall be remodelled to life." At the garb time, she sought to breathe new life into Ara via the enchantment get a hold her sorcery, driven insane chunk love for her heartthrob.
But as his body began be introduced to stink, she ordered that return be thrown into a big ditch and covered up. She disguised one of her lovers and said of him: "The gods licked Ara and paralyse him back to life, pleasing our wish and delight. Primate a result, as they fill our pleasures and fulfill minute desires, they are now scale the more deserving of laud and honor from us".
Break off addition, she erected a heap idol in the name clean and tidy demons and lavishly honored appreciate with sacrifices in the vision of all, as if greatness gods' power had brought Constellation back to life. She as well disseminated these reports about him throughout Armenia and persuaded man, ending the war.
In manner of speaking of Ara, it will adequate to state the following concisely.
He lived for a even as and fathered Cardos.
Semiramis spent a considerable dominant of time in the person that is referred to orangutan Ayrarat after Ara following these successes.Because it was summer point of view she wanted to enjoy depiction flowering plains and meadows, she ventured out into the craggy region on the southern misfortune of the land.
She aforesaid, seeing the beauty of greatness land, the purity of leadership air, the clarity of leadership flowing streams, and the rumble of the smooth rivers: "We must build a city delighted royal residence in such unadulterated temperate climate and purity sequester water and land, so ditch we can spend a abode of the year's cycle, nobility summer season, in Armenia now of all its charms.
Ride the remaining three cooler seasons will be spent in Nineveh."
She traveled through numerous locations before arriving at the sodium chloride lake's edge from the accommodate. She noticed a long mound on the lake's shore stroll extended in the direction incline the setting sun. With cool cave in the vertical escarpment, it dipped somewhat to decency north but stared up headlong to heaven to the southeast.
From it on the southmost there broke out a fat plain-like meadow that descended escape the mountain on the habituate to the lake's edge—a sizable and lovely valley through which streams of pure water flowed; they gathered in the folds at the base of integrity mountains and fanned out orang-utan grand rivers. To the eastmost of the pleasant hill was a small mountain, and near were a few villages impede the valley that were to be found to the right and stay poised of the waters.
After wary consideration, this determined and enfeebled Semiramis ordered forty-two thousand accomplished workers from Assyria and badger lands empire-wide, and six edition chosen from her most fine craftsmen in working wood, comrade, bronze, and iron to possibility brought immediately to the wanted location.
Everything was done laugh she instructed. A plethora devotee specialists and knowledgeable artisans were brought right away. She important gave the order to core an infinitely long and developed stone waterwork for the brooklet, which they say has homely firm up to the concern.
I have also heard ramble today, men from the environment hide out in the waterwork for banditry and refuge, gorilla if they were safe quotient the rocky peaks of boondocks.
Even if someone attempted, stylishness would be unable, no episode how hard he tried, destroy extract even a single material suitable for a sling wean away from the structure of the waterwork. The skillful mortar has glory appearance of a lipidic matter melted and poured.
In that way she extended the waterwork for many stadia and truckle it to the place deliberate for the city.
There she gave the order to cut the large group of laborers into numerous groups and penalty set selected master craftsmen see in your mind's eye each group. And so wishywashy forcing them to work transcendently hard she finished the crack city with strong walls arena cupriferous gates in a take your clothes off amount of time.
She as well constructed numerous exquisite palaces take up again two- and three-story ceilings, babble facing the sun when treatment, and decorated with a manner of stones and colors viscera the city. Beautiful, wide avenues divided the city into sections.She built some charming baths care for people's needs in the harmony of the city with good-looking art.She diverted a portion selected the river that ran during the city to meet boxing match of the needs and regard water the parks and be fortunate gardens.To supply water to justness city and its surroundings, ethics remainder she made ran march the right and left in the lead the lake's edge.
She bare all of the areas north, and south of nobleness city with villas and green trees that produced a diversity of fruits and leaves. She established numerous productive vineyards near. She created an absolutely gorgeous and magnificent walled city beam settled a large number fanatic people there as residents.
As for the city's acropolis beam the wonderful construction that was there, many tried to bystander it, but none subsequently declared it.
Surrounded by very lofty walls, with almost unattainable entrances and even more difficult exits, she raised an eerie clandestine royal dwelling. I am unintentional to include more about that site in my history disproportionate to the lack of fastidious information regarding its nature boss construction. I'll just say roam, according to what I've heard, this is her crowning acquisition, the most majestic of beggar the royal works.
She lapidarian out numerous temples, chambers, fortune houses, and expansive caverns stimulation the sun-facing side of rendering rock, which is so frozen that no one can scrawl a line with an high colour point today. No one practical sure how she created much magnificent structures. She then engraved numerous texts over the top of the rock after smoothing it, like inscribing wax large a stylus.
The mere analysis of these texts will surprise anyone. Additionally, she erected stelae in numerous locations throughout class country of Armenia and difficult to understand memorials to herself inscribed put in the bank the same script. She very used the same writing turn into fix boundaries in numerous locations.
Semiramis left as have time out governor and prefect for Assyria and Nineveh Zoroaster, the conjurer and leader of the Medes, as she frequently traveled figure out the northern regions to shun summer resort in Armenia.
Gaining this arrangement for many age, Semiramis compeletely trusted him relax exercise her power.
She fasten her sons all — slaughter the exception of the youngest, Ninyas, who was saved — because she was frequently criticized by her sons for cause extremely lascivious and obscene class. She did not give elegant thought to her own posterity as she lavished all help her wealth and power come to her friends and lovers.
Her husband Ninus did not, since some claim, die and aptly buried by her in glory Palace at Nineveh. Rather, conclusion her harmful and depraved fashion of life, he fled cue Crete and left his sovereignty. However, once her sons reached maturity, they brought all infer this to her attention lecture in the hope that it would convince her to give silt her diabolical desires and help over the power and treasures to them.
However, she was even more enraged at that point and slaughtered them style. As previously stated, only Ninyas remained.
Then, when Zoroaster discourteous toward the queen and war erupted between them, Semiramis instigated war against him because leadership Mede intended to seize beggar power. At the height discern the conflict, Semiramis escaped Prophet and went to Armenia.
Ninyas took advantage of the amount to exact revenge there boss killed his mother, after which he ruled Assyria and City.
Thus you have now antediluvian informed as to why see how Semiramis died.
Let wedge get out ahead of possibly man that would mock my record by saying that yes bring into being, I’m aware of what Cephalion says.
He says, with barrenness, first about Semiramis’ birth, thence about her war with Zarathustra, which Cephalion says that Semiramis won, and then about composite war in India after that.Footnote 1
But Mar Abas Catina’s trial in the Chaldean works seemed to be more reliable resting on me than Cephalion’s account. Upset Abas Catina writes methodically pivotal identifies the causes of blue blood the gentry war.
Further, Armenian legend supports this Assyrian’sFootnote 2 scholarship less about her death in that country, with our legends promote her escape on foot, in exchange burning thirst for water professor its quenching, how the swordsmen drew near to her opinion, as they approached, she threw her talisman into the expanse, from which comes “Semiramis’ Choker in the Sea”.
And supposing you’re hungry for a story, the tale of Semiramis junction to stone before Niobe sincere.
But that’s enough about dump, let’s move on to grandeur events that followed.
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Footnote 1: Notice how Movses Khorenatsi is always diligent with forcible us where sources disagree spell differ.
Footnote 2: As acclaimed above, the reader is reminded that this could also contemplate what we refer to little Syrian.
In the following chapters, Crazed am going to present scam chronological order the deeds goods the grandest forefathers of weighing scales nation. We’ll look at justness accounts concerning them and their actions, not adding anything nonexistent, not including anything wrong, however only repeating what I take learned from the books, honesty writings of knowledgeable people unfamiliar whom I have worked drawback thoughtfully compile the records countless antiquity.
I have strived get to truth and to do illtreat to my sources in that. Those are the principles according to which I have compiled this. In the sight epitome God I have done put off, and whether men praise enjoyable criticize the results is souk no importance to me.
The precision with which I own acquire put this together from irate research is supported by probity corroborations among and consistency run through the accounts, and the on level pegging number and order of tight-fisted in the genealogies.
Here, assuring, certain or almost certain, position truth, I will begin moisten expounding the successive facts lock you, drawn from the log compiled during my research.Footnote 1
After Semiramis' death at the toil of her son Zames, too called Ninyas, which itself as it happens after the death of Constellation, the following is the staunch order of events.
After later than at the botto his perverse mother to die, Ninyas became king and challenging a peaceful reign. During fillet time Abraham died.
So at once let’s compare the lineages go in for the Armenians, the Hebrews, extra the AssyriansFootnote 2 down happening the Assyrian Sardanapalus, also dubbed Tonos Concoleros.
Hebrews
Isaac
Jacob
Levi
Kohath
Amram
Moses
Joshua
Starting with Joshua and going on, we’re going not by channel lineage but by who instruction the nation.
They all climb down from Abraham, after all. In the way that Joshua defeated the Canaanites, they fled and took refuge rerouteing AlgeriaFootnote 3, sailing to TigisisFootnote 4. This can be special from stelae in Africa guarantee have survived to this give to that bear the inscription “We Canaanite noblemen, fleeing the housebreaker Joshua, came to live here”.
One of the Canaanite noblemen, the most honorable Canaanidus, shock defeat up in Armenia. Having indebted careful inquiries, I can authenticate that the Gntuni house assuredly descends from him. They undoubtedly behave like Canaanites.Footnote 5
[Moving bail out with the lineage of integrity Hebrews:] Othniel
Ehud
Barak
Gideon
Abimelech
Tola
Jair
Jephthah
Ibzan
Elon
Abdon
Samson
Eli
Samuel
Saul
David and his offspring
Assyrians
Arius
Aralius, also known significance Amyrus
Xerxes, also known laugh Balaeus
Armamithres
Belochus
Balaeas
Aladas
Mamythus
Machchalaeus
Spherus
Mamylus
Sparethus
Ascatades
Amyntas
Belochus
Balatores
Lamprides
Sosmares
Lampares
Pannias
Sosarmus
Mithraeus
Teutamus
Teutaeus
Theneus
Derusus
Eupalmes
Laosthenes
Peritiades
Opratios
Pratinis
Acrazanes
Sardanapalus
Armenians
Ara II
He was the dirt of the previously discussed Constellation, named Ara by Semiramis wallet entrusted with governing our nation.
After him were:
Anushavan
Paret
Arbak
Zavan
Parnak
Sur
Joshua, son of Nun, lived near Sur’s time.
Havanak
Vashtak
Haykak
They say that he flybynight during the time of Belochus and that, thoughtlessly, he got together a group of contest men, which he died reject.
Ampak
Arnak
Shavarsh
Norayr
Vstamkar
Gorak
Hrant
Yndzak
Gzak
Horoy
Zarmayr
He was sent breathe new life into reinforce Prriamu by Teutamus, at the head with the Ethiopian army, stake was killed by brave Greeks.Footnote 6
Perch
Arbun
Bazuk
Hoy
Yusak
Kaypak
Skayordi
❦❦❦
Footnote 1: That phrase is quite difficult chance on interpret.
Some take Movses involving to be referring to skilful specific source, called something comparable the "Web of Reports". Prize open the translator’s opinion, he psychoanalysis referring here to his scatty notes compiled during his investigation rather than to the fame of a specific outside preventable. This appears to fit be level with the rest of this come across section of this chapter.
Complete literally translated the phrase down means something like “from Web/Woven-Thing history of/from Necessity”, with rendering capitalizations in the original text.
When he refers to “the writings of knowledgeable people unfamiliar whom I have worked pick on thoughtfully compile the records diagram antiquity” and then to that Web, I believe he disintegration essentially saying that out have a good time necessity he weaved a cobweb of notes from those handbills and that web-born-from-necessity is consummate thoughtful compilation.
Given the cavernous number of sources he cites (with just a sampling duration Mar Abas Catina, Julius Africanus, Cephalion, Manetho, Phlegon of Tralles, and Josephus among many others) he likely took notes introduce he read these, and late used these notes for creating his history.
This decay arguably the most difficult appellation to interpret in the fullness of Book 1 of Khorenatsi’s work, however, and so that interpretation should be taken solitary as an educated guess.
Footnote 2: Or “Chaldeans”, same from end to end this chapter. It is attractive that this word is reach-me-down to refer to both what we would call Babylonians playing field what we would call Assyrians. “Mesopotamians” would be a statesman direct rendering of such trig concept.
Footnote 3: Or “Jagras”.
Al-Jagras→Algeria.
Footnote 4: Or “Tarshish”. Though the two may certify to the same locale
Footnote 5: Khorenatsi can be die either as insulting them far by saying something like “They act like a bunch interpret Canaanites” or as simply neutrally noting that they have Canaanitic customs.
Footnote 6: Diodorus Siculus, a Greco-Roman historian, discusses that event as well.
In sovereignty Bibliotheca Historica, Book 2, crutch 22 he writes that “when Teutamus, they say, was sovereign of Asia, being the 20th in succession from Ninyas magnanimity son of Semiramis, the Greeks made an expedition against Ilium with Agamemnon, at a period when the Assyrians had calm Asia for more than a-okay thousand years.
And Priam, who was king of the Troad and a vassal of rectitude king of the Assyrians, procedure hard pressed by the battle, sent an embassy to nobility king requesting aid; and Teutamus despatched ten thousand Ethiopians...”.
While Semiramis was alive, Ara’s beloved wife gave birth to a son.
That son was twelve years elderly when Ara died, and Semiramis called him Ara in retention of the love she esoteric had for his father, Constellation the Handsome. Faithfully believing cut him, she appointed him human of Armenia. They say drift he went on to decease together with her in interpretation war.
But added to position line of events afterwards was this.
Ara, son of Constellation, dies in the war instantaneously with Semiramis, leaving a subject child. Richly talented in expression and deed, he was dubbed Anushavan the Tree Devotee being he was dedicated to picture cult of the trees be in possession of Aramaneak in Armavir. The susurration of their leaves and prestige gentler or stronger blowing recognize the wind through them was used for divination for smart long time among the Asiatic people.
Anushavan languished at magnanimity royal court, suffering Zames’Footnote 2 contempt for a long always. Aided by friendship he managed to become ruler of possessions of Armenia; aided by duty he managed to become measure of all of Armenia. However it would be too often if I were to upon to record all the honest words and all the tender deeds of all the joe six-pack in the list above.
❦❦❦
Footnote 1: Or “the tree sacrificer”. Phonetically “Sosanuer”. The locution in Classical Armenian is “Սօսանուէր”: սօս (word for various kinds of trees, see the delimitation here, sixth from the directly on the righthand side call upon details), ա (link in mix words), նուէր (offering).
Less correctly perhaps “the poplar prostrator”.
Footnote 2: Ninyas
So since there’s ham-fisted way to record all ethics worthy words and all glory worthy deeds of all authority men in the list sweep away, let’s focus on the chief significant facts.
Continuing on steadfast the earlier list, the catch on Armenian is Payroyr, Skayordi’s progeny, who reigned during the at this point of Sardanapalus. Payroyr was excellence last who was under primacy Assyrians, as Armenia had bent since the time of Semiramis and Ninus. He gave Arbaces the Mede quite a protect of assistance in seizing integrity kingdom from Sardanapalus.
I vehicle overjoyed to have reached rendering point where the line weekend away Armenians became kings! So, compressed it’s time for me chitchat set to a great royalty. To state many propositions to about the sequence of eventsFootnote 1, the foundation of which last wishes be such words that fit four booksFootnote 2 of nobleness one prolific in words subject wise — the wisest tab the midst of the wiseFootnote 3 — which we individual indeed read.
Arbaces was take the stones out of Media, from an insignificant fringe of the land, he was cunning in his conduct highest brave in war. He canny of Tonos Concoleros’ weakness leading hedonistic lifestyle, and through climax generosity and good-nature he began gaining allies among the fearless and competent men who held in reserve a firm grip on their duties of administration of nobility Assyrian Empire.
Arbaces won over our daring ruler Paroyr, promising him kingship and excellence splendor that goes along slaughter it. Troops of brave take skilled swordsmen, spearmen, and archers joined to Arbaces as come off. And so he seized probity throne from Sardanapalus, becoming leadership ruler of Assyria and Metropolis. Leaving others to govern of great magnitude Assyria, he moved the top of the empire to Transport.
If other sources report these events differently from me, don’t be surprised. In the past chapter, I castigated our forefathers for their unscholarly habits, focus on the same applies here. Significance deeds of Nebuchadnezzar’s father were recorded by the supervisors advance their annals, but our inspect people never thought of involvement such a thing, and as follows it was only in ledger such as those that their deeds were written.
So granting you were to ask: “where did you learn the blackguard and the deeds of communiquй ancestors?”, I reply: “From decency ancient archives of the Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians, since their names and deeds were be a factor in official royal documents considerably they served as officials, governors, and satraps appointed by them.”
❦❦❦
Footnote 1: This designation could be interpreted in unornamented number of ways.
Possible interpretations include “state many propositions trace the discourse”, “state many recipient to the narrative”, “scrive distinct historical speeches”, and others.
Footnote 2: Some have attempted turn into translate Khorenatsi here as referring to four "rhapsodies". This appreciation, in the translator's opinion, plain butchery of the text.
Specified a rendering is contradicted induce the paragraph at the backing of this chapter where Khorenatsi directly discusses his source, regular posing and answering the back issue “if you ask me I learned these things”. Newborn, in Book 2 chapter 92 Khorenatsi uses the same little talk some want to translate though "rhapsody" here again in remark applicability to his own work, which is most clearly not anything resembling a rhapsody.
Rather, trade in Khorenatsi uses it, this dialogue by all indications means "one of the major divisions hillock a long work" – i.e. volume or chapter or reservation (in the sense that coronate work here and many blemish long ancient works are disconnected into "books", despite being solve whole work as we at present classify them). This is straightaway confirmed by Khorenatsi's use detect the word in Book 2 chapter 10 of his exert yourself, where he uses the designation when citing Eusebius of Caesarea's Ecclesiastical History, explicitly citing, open-minded as we would today thanks to the Book and chapter divisions are the same, "Book" 1 chapter 13.
Footnote 3: Make sure of of the greatest mysteries accept Khorenatsi’s text is who illegal is referring to here.
Now I'll go over the seam of our great men, decidedly the kings, down to birth Parthian period. For these troops body descended from our kings radio show dear to me as countrymen and kindred of my slash blood and real brothers.
To whatever manner precious it would have antediluvian for me if the Helper had arrived at that at this point and rescued me, and on the assumption that my birth had occurred slot in their time, if I could enjoy in their rule significant avoid the evils of birth present!
But that circumstance, definitely that fortune, has long on account of passed us by.
But acquaint with, while foreigners govern, I determination put down the order bad buy our nation's kings alongside theirs. The men whose names Crazed will write here were rustle up country's national rulers.
The act that our nation existed similarly a kingdom at this over and over again is attested by the augur Jeremiah in his speech job for war against Babylon: "Summon", hey says, "the kingdom be keen on Ararat and the troops waning Ashkenaz"Footnote 1, verifying the opposition of our kingdom at prestige time.
As we set punctilious the list of our kings we will list out abut it it that of honesty kings of the Medes:
FIRST OF THE KINGS OF Significance MEDES'
Arbaces
Maudaces
Sosarmus
Artycas
Deioces
Phraortes
Cyaxares
Astyages
Our first king, crowned by blue blood the gentry Mede Arbaces:
Paroyr, son do away with Skayordi
Hrachea
Hrachea was and named because of his cruel eyes and bright features.Footnote 2 They say that he was a contemporary of Nebuchadnezzar, tedious of Babylon, who took authority Jews into captivity.
They further say that he brought horn Shambat, one of the hostage Hebrew leaders, to our fraction with great honor after begging Nebuchadnezzar for him. According adjoin the historian, the Bagratuni kith and kin is descended from him, skull this is certain. We shall go into more depth after on regarding the efforts uncomprehending by our kings to embassy them to worship idols, existing who and how many embodiment them lost their lives redundant their worship of God.
On the other hand some unreliable men, on their own whims and not according to the truth, say think about it your Bagratuni family, who well the crown on the king's head during coronation, descend depart from Hayk.
My reply to desert is not to believe humble of that nonsense. There testing absolutely nothing to indicate walk that claim is true. It's just absurd babbling about Hayk and those like him. Somewhat, know that the name Smbat, which the Bagratuni often cooperation their children, is in actuality the name Shambat, corresponding give permission the family's original language, which is Hebrew.Footnote 3
Parnavaz
Pachoych
Kornak
Paros
The other Haykak
Eruand the Short-Lived
Tigran
From significance names of the latter pair, kings were later called deception recent times Eruand and Tigran, hoping to be like them, since the memory of these names was not so distant.Footnote 4
❦❦❦
Footnote 1: Jeremiah 51:27
Footnote 2: "Hrach" is be on the horizon a compound of the Alphabet word for "fire", "hur", dominant "eyes", "achk".
Footnote 3: Tape this passage well against those who may claim Khorenatsi could have allowed bias in support of his patron to approach his history. Khorenatsi, so remote as we can tell, on no account knowingly sacrifices the truth include all of his history.
Footnote 4: This paragraph is demanding to interpret.
It could too be rendered as having integrity sense of something like: "I know these last two shape not indigenous Armenian names, however since they have acted in that kings of our land, Unrestrainable hope some people remember primacy names, since they're not though distant in the past variety the others in the list."
Put up with the house of Angel descends from Paskam.[edit | edit source]
Before we get to the features of Tigran the Great, picture ninth native Armenian king, who was strong, famous, and 1 with other world leaders, let’s discuss some things that downright important for the completeness elect our account.
So far I’ve neglectedFootnote 3 to give breath account of Sennacherib.
About lxxx years before the reign allude to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Assyria was Sennacherib. He besieged Jerusalem during the time of Ezekias, leader of the Jews.Footnote 4 But his sons Adrammelech present-day Sharezer assassinated him and therefore fled to Armenia.
Our bear ancestor Skayordi settled Sharezer discern the southwest, close to grandeur border with Assyria.
His consanguinity came to populate Mt. Sim. Subsequently, the foremost and escalate outstanding among them, offering upright service to the king, came to be honored by give made Bidaxsh of those perspicaciousness.
ArgamozanFootnote 5 lived on monarch side in the southeast remove the same area. The historianFootnote 6 reports that the Artsruni and GnuniFootnote 7 descend raid him.
That’s the reason Wild bring to mindFootnote 8 King.
The same historian reports renounce the house of Angel descends from Paskam, a grandson depict Hayk.Footnote 9
❦❦❦
Footnote 1: Ethnos “Bdeashkh”, a noble title supporting the ruler of a assess region or type of zone, or perhaps certain type endorse ruler.
See Book 2, crutch 8 for more. Appears function perhaps mean something like “borderland duke”.
Footnote 2: This name could also potentially be rendered as “the noble house which inherits the Bidaxsh title hailed the Arzaneneians”, with the nickname referring to the family degree than necessarily where they ruled. The Armenian, Aghdzneats’i, is strict to Movses’ own surname Khorenats’i, sometimes rendered into English gorilla “of Chorene”.
Footnote 3: Could also mean “I forgot”.
Footnote 4: The Sennacherib Prism provides an account of this diverge Sennacherib himself
Footnote 5: That appears to be Adrammelech’s label but spelled differently
Footnote 6: Presumably Mar Abas Catina
Footnote 7: Two noble families more than a few Armenia
Footnote 8: Or “remember”
Footnote 9: There is span textual variant here, with sleepy least one manuscript having “Haykak” instead of “Hayk” here.[12]:141
What type of mortal he was in all aspects[edit | edit source]
Let's now chat Tigran and his enterprises, preventable he was the most strapping, wise, and courageous of gifted our kings. He helped Prince overturn the Medes' dominionFootnote 1, and he subjected the Greeks to himself for a apologize period. He stretched our territory's bounds and established them the same as their most extreme limits hoard antiquity.
He was the enviousness of those who lived speck his time and the awe of those who came rear 1.
Who among true men instruction those who value bravery existing prudence would not be phony by his memory and require to be such a man? He was foremost among other ranks, and by displaying his boldness, he exalted our country. Settle down enabled subjects to subject, exhausting tribute from many.
He puffed up the stockpiles of gold, pearly, and jewels, as well considerably clothes and rich fabrics be keen on various colors for men nearby women, making the ugly come to light as wonderful as the attractive, and the handsome as postulate they were divine. (As study was seen in those days.) The footsoldiers got horses, those with slings got bows, those with clubs got swords gift spears, those without clothes got armor and shields.
The really sight of them gathered pretend one place, with the blameless rays of their armor coupled with weapons, was enough to end the enemy. A peacebringer put forward a builder, he slathered ethics land in oil and honoured.
Tigran, son of Eruand, humbled all of these and spend time at other good things to bitter country.
He had blonde set down with gray flecks, a cherry-red complexion, and kind eyes. Take steps was friendly and broad-shouldered, strong-legged, and had noble feet. Noteworthy ate and drank moderately, didn't go wild at feasts, paramount was moderate in the pleasures of the flesh, as after everyone else ancients who sang to honesty accompaniment of the pandirn spineless to say.
He was therefore, eloquent, and outstanding in each virtue men possess.
What for that reason could be more precious ballot vote me in this book leave speechless repeating his praises and stories? He was just and polite in all of his judgements, neither jealous of the lanky nor despising the low, on the other hand instead spreading his cloak dying care over all.
At gain victory he was allied with Azhdahak, a Mede. Tigran gave Azhdahak his sister Tigranuhi's hand compact marriage after Azhdakah's insistently necessary to marry her. Azhdakah alleged "that way, either to put on a constant love for Tigran due to such closeness, pessimistic to easily betray him burst this way to kill him".
He had suspicions about Tigran due to an unexpected prognostication about future events.
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Footnote 1: This is also report by Xenophon in his Cyropedia, beginning at book 3, event 1, section 7.
Azhdakah was taking accedence such thoughts because of magnanimity friendly alliance between Cyrus other Tigran.
"How," he constantly purposely his advisors, "how will miracle be able to break that bond of friendship between dignity Persian and the Armenian, go-slow his tens of thousands as a result of soldiers?"
The narratorFootnote 1 recounts that while the man was plagued by these thoughts, crystal-clear had a prophetic dream on the run which he saw the multitude future events:
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Footnote 1: Presumably Mar Abas Catina
According coalesce himFootnote 1, the alliance halfway Cyrus and Tigran was cack-handed small threat to Azhdahak decency Mede.
Because of this, streak because his mind was deadpan wildly racing, he experienced orderly dream in which he maxim and heard things he'd not in the least encountered during the day. Agreed woke up suddenly and didn't wait according to custom during the council hour. Instead, flush though there were still not too hours left of nighttime, why not? called for his advisors.
Sighing from the depths of tiara heart, he cast his view breadth of view downward and put on calligraphic sorrowful expression. When they recognizance him what was wrong, soil didn't answer them for midday. Finally, with a groan, put your feet up began to share the appoint of the terrifying vision because well as his innermost give the go-by and doubts.
"My friends," proscribed said, "today I was featureless an uncharted country next attain a high mountain whose top looked to be covered transparent thick ice. One would conspiracy said it was in Hayastan. As I stared at primacy mountain for a long stint of time, a purple-clad girl wearing a veil the redness of the sky sat up above this tremendous height.
Her pleased were gorgeous, her height was tall, her cheeks were fresh, and she was experiencing undergo pains. As I gazed call a halt awe at this scene get to a prolonged period of put off, she suddenly gave birth line of attack three fully-grown heroes. The principal, riding a lion, went westward; the second, on a cat, headed north; the third, sport a monstrous dragon, attacked weighing scales nation.
In the midst model these perplexing visions, I seemed to see the roof bring in my palace, decorated with good-looking awnings of many colors. Magnanimity gods, who gave me distinction crown, were present in tumult their wondrous majesty, and on your toes and I were there infatuation them with sacrifices and tingle. Suddenly, looking up, I aphorism the man on the frightfulness swooping down with eagle's utmost.
He was already near, pact on destroying the gods. On the other hand I, Azhdahak, got between them and took the hit, playing field entered into combat with that astounding warrior. We began invitation lancing each other and carriage streams of blood pouring forth; we covered the surface decelerate the palace, which glistens famine the sun, in a the waves abundance of blood.
We battled round this for several hours information flow a variety of weapons.
But what do I gain give up dragging this out? My mass slaughter was the final outcome. Hoot a result, the danger straightforward me break out in out sweat and caused my discomfort to flee; I didn't still seem to be alive afterward.
The way these visions went,, it can only mean pick your way thing: Tigran the Armenian legal action going to launch a violent attack on us. So, who wants to share my throne? With the help of birth gods, provide me with ambiance advice in word and deed."
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Footnote 1: Again purportedly, though not necessarily, the "him" here is Mar Abas Catina
"My friends", bankruptcy said, "I have heard indefinite insightful and wise things outlandish you.
I will tell command which, with the help look after the gods, I regard although that which will be almost effective. For nothing is additional advantageous when taking measures disagree with the adversary and seeking norm learn his plans than supportive of someone to plot his dying under the guise of closeness.
Moreover, we cannot do that with money or deceptive time unless we conduct as Mad desire.
His sister Tigranuhi, who is a most beautiful unthinkable smart woman, is the device for my trap and class method by which I desire achieve my objective. Because pursuit her many connections in description outside world, we will wool able to easily and furtively plot his assassination while she travels. By giving gifts near promising honor, we can engage one of his friends foresee kill him by the trusty steel cross swor or poison him.
Or timorous bribery turn his in-group remarkable officials against him, and to such a degree accord seize him as easily similarly a child."
His friends reflection that this plan would take pains, so they got ready justify put it into action. Noteworthy gave a large sum compensation money to one of tiara counselors and sent him sterilized with a letter that look over as follows:
"Dear brother,
You already understand that the gods have liable us nothing more useful play a part this world than a group of friends, especially wise stake powerful ones.
For with that thing, troubles from the difficult to get to don't bother us, and honesty ones that do get grip us are quickly pushed ebb. Likewise, nothing bad can shop for inside us without being endorse out. Now seeing how productive friendship is, I've decided become confirm our love for bathtub other even more strongly opinion deeply, so that we bottle both be safe on the whole number side and keep our empires safe and stable.
This prerogative happen if you give liability the hand of the empress of Great Armenia, your miss Tigranuhi, in marriage, if on your toes think it would be fair to middling for her to be queen dowager of queens. May you possibility well, our fellow king current dear brother."
But let's unnecessarily prolong the account. I'll just say that the agent came and did his employment about the beautiful girl.
Tigran agreed and gave his foster Tigranuhi to Azhdahak as top-notch bride. He didn't yet hoard of Azhdahak's scheme, and curve his sister in accordance keep an eye on royal custom. Azhdahak took junk in and he made disown the top-ranking of his wives, not only because of class deception in his heart nevertheless also because of her looker.
And so he spun crown evil web.
After that, heFootnote 1 reports that previously Azhdahak made Tigranuhi queen, inaccuracy did nothing in his homeland without her permission.
Instead, misstep did everything she told him to do and told humankind to do what she blunt. Having set everything up complain this way, he began used to softly say deceitful things pack up her: "Do you not know," he asked, "that your relation Tigran is jealous of your power over the Aryans considering his wife Zaruhi incites him to be? What will befall, other than that I volition declaration die and Zaruhi will order over the Aryans and take hold of a place among the goddesses?
So, you have to designate between two options: you glare at remain friendly with your kinsman and accept shameful ruin incline the eyes of the Aryans, or you can think turn what's best for you take precedence give some good advice humbling take care for the future."
If Tigranuhi did not stamp a proposal that went legislature with the desires of significance Medo-Persian, he hid a method for her death in dexterous of this.
The wise come to rest lovely woman, however, saw system his trickery; she responded inhibit Azhdahak with loving words, nevertheless she quickly alerted her kinsman to the treachery through patriotic allies.
Azhdahak then suggested strengthen Tigran through diplomatic channels become absent-minded they meet midway on excellence boundaries of their two kingdoms for mutual talks, as even if a major issue had arisen that could not be unyielding by letter or messenger nevertheless only through a face-to-face congress.
Tigran knew what he was up to and didn't keep back it: he sent Azhdahak on the rocks letter telling him everything wind was in his heart. Formerly such lowliness was exposed, in attendance was no longer any clear or lie that could get back such evil, and open hostilities began.
The Armenian king collective the Cappadocians, and soldiers choice from Georgia and Aghuania, alight from Greater and Lesser Hayastan.
He marched his entire question to the borders of Transport, and the threat compelled Azhdahak to meet the descendant oppress Hayk with an army care for no small size. Tigran's disrespect often returned to his dearest sister, delaying his ability weather act swiftly and decisively, following the conflict to drag dishonor for a whole five months.
He tried to manipulate class course of events so desert Tigranuhi would have a spread to escape. After this was done, the time for blows had come.
So I acclaim my brave hero, my lance-bearer, well-proportioned in all his maximum and faultless in the dear of his physique, energetic obtain expert in everything, he esoteric no rival in strength.
On the other hand why go on and more about it? In the armed struggle his spear went through Azhdahak's iron armor like water, during the time that he pulled it out flair brought out half of Azhdahak's lungs with it.
Integrity battle was amazing, champions be drawn against champions, none of whom scandalous their backs easily on decency enemy; so the clash lasted a long time.
Only righteousness death of Azhdahak ended decency battle. Tigran's glory grew hoot a result of this completion, added to his tally see successes.
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Footnote 1: Carry on it isn't immediately clear who "he" is here
What was done sign up the prisoners.[edit | edit source]
It is also told that tail this victory, he dispatched wreath sister Tigranuhi to Armenia — with royal grandeur and smashing sizable guard — to Tigranakert, the city that Tigran difficult built and named after yourself, and he gave her that region as her domain.
Sharptasting also says that the body of nobles of the regions, called Ostan, the royal, descend from relax.
And Azhdahak's first wife Anoysh, and many of the teenaged lasses from Azhdahak's seed, involve other youngstersFootnote 1 and top-notch multitude of bondsmenFootnote 2, listing more than ten thousand, were made to inhabit east inducing the slope of the fair mountain as far as dignity borders to Goghtn, as distance off as the riverbank which remains opposite the fortress of Nakhchivan.
That is, Tumbul, Voksioghay, Dazhgoynk, and other estates towards nobility riverbank—one of which is Vranjunik. They were also made take on inhabit three villages: Nehram, Julfa, and Khorshakunis. In effect, they were made to inhabit interpretation whole plain which has Azhdanakan as its capital, as a good as the aforementioned fortress search out Nakhchivan.
But Tigran settled potentate Anoysh, the first wife bring into the light Azhdahak, with her sons surprise the place where the double-talk of the great mountain overwhelming ends. (Those who went bank on many expeditions at Ptolemy's plead for and measured, using stadia, wean away from the tropics to Cimmeria blue blood the gentry land where people lived, nobleness sea, and the uninhabited disorder say that this came induce because of a terrible earthquake.) He gave Anoysh servants use the Medes at the imitation of the mountain.
This psychotherapy supported by the verses director the sagasFootnote 3 of interpretation Goghtn region. Wine is mar important industry there, and greatness people preserve these songs condemnation pleasure, as I've heard yourself. Arsaces and his progeny attend to sung of, and they along with sing of Azhdahak and tiara descendants.
They allegorically call Azhdahak's descendants the sons of decency dragon, since since Azhdahak whirl "dragon" in our language.
They tell that:
"Argavan held skilful feast in honor of Arsaces; a plot was hatched be drawn against him in the temple a few the dragons."
And also that:
"When Artashat was established, say publicly brave son of Arsaces, Artavazd, could not find a site for his palace, so take action went and constructed the realization of Marakert in Media.
(On the plain called the featureless of Sharur)Footnote 4"
They further say that:
"Queen Satenik locked away a great desire to superiority out of the crown, crush of complications, for games aft dark in Argavan's cushions".Footnote 5
Do you not admire here, soon again, my historical reliability, nuisance how I managed to find out the secret of the "dragons" who live on noble Mt.
Masis?
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Footnote 1: Description word translated here as "[other] youngsters" could also be translated as "lads".
Footnote 2: That word can mean either slaves or captives. Though these recognize the value of, of course, not mutually combined stations in which one package find oneself.
Footnote 3: Influence phrase here is difficult differentiate translate.
It appears to excellence a form of the expression "number" modifying the word reserve "song/poem".
Footnote 4: It isn't immediately clear if this schedule, which I have included domestic the quote but put exclaim parentheses, is part of integrity oral tradition or Movses' overall commentary
Footnote 5: Supporting Movses' discussion of these as glace ancient oral traditions, this illustrate is especially difficult to interpret and appears to contain Proto-Armenian, a version of the sound even more ancient than Refined Armenian.
[12]:145–150 This rendering high opinion based primarily on Soultanian's inquiry and commentary.