Statue of Vahagn choking a dragon in Yerevan

Vahagn (or Vahagan) (Armenian: Վահագն) was a god worshiped anciently and historically in Armenia. Some time in his existence, he formed a "triad" with Aramazd and Anahit. Vahagn was identified with the Greek Heracles. The priests of Vahévahian temple, who claimed Vahagn as their own ancestor, placed a statue of the Greek hero in their sanctuary. In the Armenian translation of the Bible, "Heracles, worshipped at Tyr" is renamed "Vahagn".

When Zoroastrian ideas pervaded Armenia, generally superseding the gods of the country, there was so much vitality in Vahagn's worship that Mithra himself, in the face of the popularity of his native rival, could not obtain a firm foothold.

All the gods, according to the Euhemerian belief, had been living men; Vahagn likewise, was introduced within the ranks of the Armenian kings, as the son of Yervand (6th century B.C.), together with his brothers — Bab and Tiran.

Historian Khorenatsi's report of an ancient song gives a clue to his nature and origin: Ancient Armenian origin of Vahagn's birth song

In travail were heaven and earth,

In travail, too, the purple sea!

The travail held in the sea the small red reed.

Through the hollow of the stalk came forth smoke,

Through the hollow of the stalk came forth flame,

And out of the flame a youth ran!

Fiery hair had he,

Ay, too, he had flaming beard,

And his eyes, they were as suns!

Other parts of the song, now lost, said that Vahagn fought and conquered dragons, hence his title Vishabakagh, "dragon reaper". He was invoked as a god of courage, later identified with Herakles. He was also a sun-god, rival of Baal-shamin and Mihr.

The Vahagnian song was sung to the accompaniment of the lyre by the bards of Goghten (modern Akulis), long after the conversion of Armenia to Christianity.

The stalk or reed, key to the situation, is an important word in Indo-European mythology, in connection with fire in its three forms.

The name, originally Verethragna, the hypostasis of victory in the texts of the Avesta, turned into Vahagn (the Avestan "th" becoming "h" in Arsacid Middle Persian), later on to take the form of Vahagn. See Վահագն for more on the origin of the name.

[edit] External links and references

• [1] (Armenian Mythology ). A History of Armenia by Vahan M. Kurkjian. Published by the Armenian General Benevolent Union of America 1958/YR.
• [2] Vahagni Tsnunde Vishapakax