for all images and tables see blue link at the top of page
THE TABLET OF SHAMASH AND THE PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL PHILOSOPHY
“Еven subjects that are known are known only to a few.” (Aristotle)
PhD in Art History Vahanyan V., Prof. Vahanyan G.
Preface
The methodological basis of our research covers the conception of the model of a clay
“vase” (Greek Krater, amphora). Suppose a teacher has made a krater, beautiful in its form and
ornamentation. Let name it Noah’s Krater. Three craftsmen has made three new kraters from the
same clay in the image and likeness of the original. Let name them the Kraters of Shem, Ham and
Japheth. New craftsmen have kept on the traditions of their teachers, creating copies of the Kraters
of Shem, Ham and Japheth before the confusion of tongues (according to Biblical tradition), before
the construction of the Tower of Babel and Hayk’s resettlement from Babylon (his son was born in
Babylon) to the land of his forefathers, to the destroyed house of Askanaz and Torgom (according to
Armenian tradition). Hayk and his rival Bel revered one teaching. Yet Bel deviated from this
teaching and decided to hold the power and rule the world, imposing his will, introducing idolatry
and challenging the Lord.
Suppose, all the kraters are devided into hundreds and thousands of pieces. Each of them
might contain a fragment (element) of the ornamental motif, decorating “Noah’s Krater”. It is
disputable which of the pieces has better and more intensively preserved the depiction of the motif
of the ornament of Noah’s Krater. The article studies the Krater of the first man, the archetype of
the further formed Kraters, rather than Noah’s Krater. In the myths clay is considered as the
material for the Krater of the first man2
. According to Ancient Greek mythology, man was created
from clay in the Caucasus by Prometheus.
The authors have identified that the fragments from the ornamental motif of Noah’s Krater
are better preserved on the pieces of Hayk’s Krater. Resettleing in the land of Torgom, Hayk builts
the dwelling of God (temple of knowledge). He fights tyrant Bel on this very land and defeats him;
later he buries his kinsman with honor at the crater of a volcanic mountain in the vicinity of Lake
Van, emphasizing the renaissance of the teaching of his father, i.e. values and traditions of Noah.
Thus, the symbols of the teaching of Hayk’s Krater, as well as his language (speech), are the
symbols and the language of Torgom (who renamed the house of Askanaz into the house of
Torgom) and Askanaz (his elder brother), Tiras (Hayk’s grandfather), Japheth and Noah.
The analysis of the main motif of the depictions on the Tablet of Shamash (found in
Babylon), shows that the Tablet of Shamash3
has preserved the sacred values of Hayk’s temple of
knowledge. It illustrates the principles of Natural Philosophy and Mataphysics known to Askanaz
and Torgom. Liberating territories of Babylon, Mesopotamia and Anatolia from the tyrant, Hayk
contributed to the transfer of the “new teaching” among the local civilizations and taught them the
1
Translated by Baghdasaryan V.
2 Vahanyan G., Vahanyan V., Baghdasaryan V. Cognitive meaning, form and conceptual content of the notion
“Caucasus”. IV International Congress Of Caucasiologists “Scripts in the Caucasus”, Tbilisi, 1-3 December 2016,
http://www.iatp.am/vahanyan/articles/kavkaz-tbilisi-2016-ru.pdf
Vahanyan G., Vahanyan V., Baghdasaryan V. All Arts of Mortals from One Teacher Spring, http://www.iatp.am/-
vahanyan/articles/uchenie-vahagna2017-ru.pdf
3 According to the experts, Shamash stems to the Sumerian root Sh-M-Sh (sun).
2
Armenian speech4
. According to the authors, the Armenian language is the true treasurer, intensive
repository of knowledge and information regarding the first teachers, motifs of Noah’s and Hayk’s
Kraters, the admonitions of the “ark of the covenant”.
The article reveals cognitive content of the ancient Babylonian tablet, depicting Shamash in
novel frameworks. It portrays high level of cognition of our ancestors, their artistic and visual
thinking, profound understanding of the principles of Natural Philosophy and Metaphysics.
The tablet of Shamash shows the paradigms of knowledge, intercultural communication of old
civilizations, remaining faithful to the unified teaching.
New Interpretation of the Tablet of Shamash/Utu
Certain features peculiar to Vahagn5
, Indra, Zeus, Shivini and Shamash - the darkness
defeaters and cosmos arrangers, allow the authors to distinguish, identify and reconstruct the
common cognitive-mythological core of the main motifs. After the destruction of the house of
Torgom (the former house of Askanaz)
6
, the survived inhabitants migrated, taking with them the
“kraters” of old knowledge, language, traditions and mythological representations, which were
transformed in a new cultural environment, but yet preserved the main features and characteristics.
It is widely known, that immediate parallels can be drown between Vahagn and Sumerian
Shamash or Utu (cf. Urartu7
), as well as with Urartian Shivini. Table 1 shows the comparative
characteristics, features and attributes of Shamash/Shivini and Vahagn.
Table 1
Shamash/Shivini Vahagn
1
Shamash8
(Šamaš) or Utu is a solar diety or god
in Akkadian, Assyrian and Babylonian
pantheons. Shivini corresponds him in the
Urartian pantheon.
The sacred birth of Vahagn is one of the main
common Indo-European mythological archetypes.
Old Armenians “worshipped the sun and praised
Vahagn”. The Urartu State was located on the
territory of the house of Torgom.
2
It rises from the Eastern mountain, which is
guarded by scorpions. From there Shamash
starts his daily journey in a chariot, ruled by
his charioteer. In the countries with no volcanic
mountains (e.g. Egypt), instead of the concept
of dragon/serpent (having old Armenian
origin), symbolizing volcanic eruption, the
According to a legend, prevailing in Vaspurakan, at
night Vahagn had a swim in the sea (Lake Van), and
in the morning he ascended to heaven from the top
of Mount Varag (Erek) accompanied by 12 servants,
symbolizing the 12 constellations. Vahagnvishapakah
is the defeater of serpents/dragons. The
people in the villages of Van retained the ritual of
4 Khorenatsi M. “History of Armenia” // Translation from Grabar and notes: Sargsyan G; Editor: Arevshatyan S.
Yerevan, “Hayastan”, 1990.
5Zulumyan B. Archetype in the pattern of artistic cognition. Monument to Armenian epic poem “The Birth of Vahagn”.
Historical-Phylologycal Jpurnal, № 3, 2007, p. 38-55.
6
There are two possible reasons: catastrophic consequences of volcanic eruptions or attacks of the neighbors, the
Akkadians and the Sumers. According to the authors, the first version is more persuasive, as in case of the second one
Hayk and his family could not have been in a foreign home and have a son in Babylon.
7
In the Armenian language “utu” or “ut-tu” means “give immortality”: the symbol “ut” (Armenian eight) refers to
immortality, eternity; cf. Utnapishtim meaning “the hero searching for immortality” (see Vahanyan G. Cultivated heros
and their deeds, http://www.iatp.am/news/kamlet/4.pdf).
8
Shamash/Utu. Encyclopedia of Mythology, http://myfhology.info/gods/shumer/shamash.html
The ancient Sumerians believed that Shamash Utu was the Sun God. He was also the all-seeing god of justice, and the
god of Sun, justice and oracles in Babylonian-Assyrian religion. A temple of goddess Inanna was built in the city of
Uruk (modern Iraq), in the main centre of her cult in 4000-3100 BC. According to the Brockhaus and Efron
Encyclopedic Dictionary, Shamash is the Sun God in Babylon and Assyria. The ideogram for his name means “the
master of the day”. As the god of the second half of the day (beginning in the evening), he concedes to the Moon God,
Sin, and was even called his servant. His main cults were at Sippar and Elassar, where his temple stood in V millennium.
3
concept of scorpion was used as personification
of the forces of evil, darkness and death. Every
morning the gates in the East open, and
Shamash appears. He travels in the sky during
the day and enters the gate in the West: he
travels at night to reach the East the next day.
Some experts believe that the tablet depicts the
sacred symbol of Inanna, symbolizing divine,
sacred knowledge and the light of God, which
were depicted as an eight-pointed star of
goddess Inanna.
worshipping the sun. Early in the morning at the
dawn, the bride and the groom are lead to the flat
roof of the house, sometimes a priest accompanies
the ceremony. The newlyweds are facing the East,
and the people sing9
. The eight-pointed star is the
symbol of Vahagn.
3
This journey continues at night, as by the
morning of the next day the sun must reach the
Eastern mountain.
The birth of Vahagn is the depiction of the rising
sun. The Milky Way was called the “old way of the
sun”. Vahagn symbolizes the four forces of the
classical elements, the circle of life.
4
Courage is his distinctive feature, which in
physical terms turns into bravery, needed to
dispel darkness and winter cold. He is the god
of divination and solar oracles.
His characteristic features are bravery, courage and
fearlessness. He is a dragonslyer and a thunderer, the
savior of the humankind, the liberator of water. He
embodies the deities of “sun, thunder, lightning,
thunderstorm, power, bravery and war” (Miridjanyan
L.V.).
5
Due to his solar nature, he acquires the qualities
of the god of justice. In this hypostasis he
appears as an enthroned judge. A rod and a ring
are his attributes.
At least 7 archetypes are identified in the epic poem
“The birth of Vahagn”: sky, earth, sea (water), reed
(wood), young god (infant), birth, fire-sun
(Zulumyan B.)
6
Aya is known as the consort of Shamash. The
tablet of Shamash depicts predynastic waters of
God the Creator. Shamash (wearing clothes
symbolizing water) has two tools (a measuring
rod and reel of cord) symbolizing divine power.
In the morning his bride, Astghik, used to have a
swim in the River Euphrates10 in a narrow place
where it flowed into Gurgur ravine. Vahagn was
born from reed and bosom of the sea, as a result of
the interaction of the four fundamental forces of
classical elements. He dominates water, fire, air and
earth, and rules day and night.
7
Inanna/Ishtar/Astarta is a Mesopotamian
goddess of foreign origin. She is captured or
“mesopotamized” after her consort, the King of
Aratta (a city-state in Sumerian-Akkadian
mythology, the rival of Uruk), is murdered.
Beautiful Astghik (Armenian little star) embodies
beauty, love, fidelity and fertility. Her symbols are
Venus (the morning star) and oblique winged cross.
8
Solar, Lunar and Venus symbols are
traditionally depicted over Shamash.
The image of Vahagn acquires new functions
through time, and the solar function goes back to the
most ancient periods of mythological consciousness
(Zulumyan B.).
9
The sea and water clothing motifs, depicted on
the tablet of Shamash, highlight the features and
nature of the origin of the diety. Water is one of
the earliest archetypes, symbolizing mother’s
Saving the world forms the ontological function of
the essence of Vahagn. In Assyrian sources, Van was
called the northern, and Urmia was called the
southern Armenian sea.
9Miridjanyan L. “The origin of Armenian poetry”, http://armenianhouse.org/mirijanyan/armenian-poetry/2.html
10 It emerges in the mountains of the Armenian Highlands from the confluence of two rivers: Kara Su (Western
Euphrates), with its source in the north of Erzurum, and Murat (Eastern Euphrates), with its source in the southwest of
Mount Ararat and in the north of Lake Van. The first Sumerian civilizations emerged in the vicinity of Euphrates from c.
IV millennium BC. Many important ancient cities were located here: Mari, Sippar, Nippur, Shuruppak, Uruk, Ur and
Eridu. The centres of later empires, Babylonia and Assyria, emerged in the river valley. According to Khorenatsi M., the
house of Askanaz (house of Torgom) was built at the riverbank.
4
womb. In Sumerian mythology, the primeval
ocean, the goddess Nammu, surrounds her
creations – the heaven and the earth. Water
represents one of the conditions for generation
of life, separation of the heaven and the earth
from the primeval chaos.
The Egyptians and the Sumerians (who
inhabited the riverside areas) believed that a reed
embodies the World Tree. According to
mythology, it is born at the very moment when
the heaven seperates from the earth.
They believed, that Shamash, gives light, and
fertility to the fields, welfare to the people, he
liberates captives and even raises the dead.
Shamash is depicted as an elderly man with a
long beard and wearing a high turban: he is
sitting on a throne; there are two charioteers on
its wing, who control the motion of the solar
disc, placed on the pedestal.
“Heaven and earth were in travail,
And the crimson waters were in travail.
And in the water, the crimson reed
Was also in travail.
From the mouth of the reed issued smoke,
From the mouth of the reed issued flame.
And out of the flame sprang the young child.
His hair was of fire, a beard had he of flame,
And his eyes were suns.”
“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!”
10
The eight-pointed star of Inanna is studied in the
cosmogonic interpretation of the Shamash disc.
The four mountains depicted on the disc
symbolize the fundamental forces of nature (air,
earth, water and fire): each of them has its
home/mountain, depicted as an isosceles
triangle. Thus, a complex visual representation
of the interaction between the forces of nature is
formed. The tablet of Shamash carries the traces
of cosmogonic depiction of the genesis, the
fundamental principles of Natural Philosophy
and Metaphysics.
Cosmogonic, cognitive interpretation of the motifs in
the epic song “The birth of Vahagn” expands the
semantic field of its text. Mythological narratives
describe the birth of the four classical elements
(water, air, fire and earth) from primeval chaos; later
in the throes they give birth to the hero. The earth
and the sky (air), fire and the sea (water) occur
simultaneously in the text. Thus, the song
symbolizes birth of the first man, the youth, as a
result of interaction of all the four forces of nature.
Vahagn and Astghik give birth to a cultivated man.
11
The wheel of the world is a circle with an eightpointed
star. The tablet is a temple symbolizing
cosmos in the form of the wheel of the world.
Cross symbolizes the earth in its oldest
cosmogonic form. Thus, the cross in the centre
of the Shamash disc is the very centre, the initial
point in its eternal manifestation.
The wheel of the world, the circle with an eightpointed
star of Vahagn, is a temple symbolizing
cosmos. It comprises the unity of a direct/straight
winged cross (symbol of Vahagn) and a smaller
oblique cross (symbol of Astghik). The temple is the
archetype of the wheel of the world. Returning to the
land of his fathers, Hayk builds the dwelling of God
(the temple of knowledge) near Lake Van and passes
it over to his grandson, Cadmos (Cadmus).
12
The Sun, the Moon and Venus (in symbolic
representation) watch the rising of Shamash, the
day-light.
The Sun (Armenian aregak or arev), the Moon
(Armenian lusin) and Venus (Astghik) watch
Arshaluys (Dawn).
13
The Babylonian tablet depicts angels, the
servants of Shamash, controlling the four forces
of nature. The figure of Shamash in the centre of
the composition embodies the representation of
a teacher, sage, lord.
The ancient artifacts depict the sun travelling in
the sky in a chariot, a cart with four horses, each
of them symbolizes a force of nature (sf. chariots
The Van Sea is the sun basin. At sunset, tired of its
morning tour, the sun goes into the Van Sea, bathes,
purifies, dives to the seabed, where his bed is spread
among the sea foam; it lies down, sleeps, rests. And
the sunset clouds curtain its bed. Before dawn, the
angels lift the sun from its bed, put on it fire clothes,
and straighten the bed. The sun washes its face, and
the streams of water splash in four directions. The
5
of Zeus, Apollo and other solar deities in ancient
Greek mythology). The bas-relief at the bottom
of the tablet and the clothing of Shamash and
one of the three kings have water motifs. The
three kings symbolize three brothers, the rulers
of the three countries/civilizations, who follow
the teaching of Shamash.
mountains and fields are covered with dew. From the
spray of dew, all the birds wake up from their sleep,
fly out of their nests, start singing and tweeting.
From under the giant mountain in the east, 12 guards
of the sun emerge – the dark-skinned Arabs with
light twigs, lashing the mountain, which inclines and
descends. All the other mountains, following one
another, bow their heads before the sun. The golden
sun with fiery hair appears from behind the
mountains and rises to the heavenly dome11
.
14
Some researchers identify the ancient settlement
Vani (located on the territory of modern
Georgia) with the city of Surium mentioned by
Pliny. According to other views, it is the
mythical capital city of Colchis, Aia. The
abundance of cult temples indicates that it used
to be a temple-city, a common Colchis
sanctuary. Homer states that the Aiets are the
descendants of the Sun (Armenian arevordi
means “the children of the Sun”). According to
academician Marr N., the Georgian name
“Somekhi”, referring to the Armenians, stems to
the word sun, i.e. they called the Armenians the
children of the “sun” (or Vahagn).
Cf. Shamash – Samas – Sa Mas – Masis/Ararat
– Mas + Sis (Mount Ararart); Shamash – Sam –
Som – Som + ekhi/erekha (Armenian infant), i.e.
the infant of the sungod; Shamash – Shimash –
Shivini; Mash – mas – Masis (a peak of volcanic
Mount Ararat).
The Georgian name “Somekhi”, referring to the
Armenians, stems to the name “mushki” (Rassel G.).
There is a relation between the etymologies of Vani
and ancient Armenian cities Bagavan (the city of
gods), Bagarat/Bagavan (the sanctuary of god),
Yervandashat (founded c. 200 BC), Ijevan,
Nakhijevan, Tatvan, etc. Worshipping Vahagn was a
widely spread phenomenon in the cities of ancient
Georgia. There was a monument to the goddess, the
tutelary of the city, in the square of Phasis (Colchis).
According to the description dating to 134 BC, the
enthroned goddess held a cymbal (musical
instrument) and stone lions guarded her. It reminds
the sculptures in the pantheon of the Orontid
(Yervanduni) dynasty at Mount Nemrut in
Comagene (modern territory of Turkey) with the
monuments of enthroned Vahagn, Aramazd
(Vahagn’s father), goddess Anahit (Vahagn’s
mother) and Astghik (Vahagn’s bride). The
sculptural complex of the gods is guarded by stone
lions and eagles.
15
Due to his courage and bravery, Shamash
dispels darkness and winter cold. Due to his
solar nature, he acquires the qualities of the god
of justice, and in this hypostasis he appears as an
enthroned judge.
Due to his courage and bravery, Vahagn dispels
darkness and winter cold (fighting the forces of
nature). These natural phenomena are the result of
volcanic eruptions (as well as solar and lunar
eclipses).
16
Aia/Ayia/Hagia:
1. Aia – name of the ancient Georgian state of
Colchis;
2. Hagia Sophia, St. Sophia’s Cathedral (Greek
sacred wisdom) is a magnificent temple, built on
the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I
to symbolize the greatness of the Empire. After
the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans
in the 15th century, it was converted into a
mosque;
3. Aya is a cape at the south coast of the Crimea.
Askanaz, leaving his house to his brother
Torgom, resettles to the coast of the Black Sea and
rules Sarmatia12 (he is the forefather of the
Sarmatians). Colchis (and its capital city Aia) might
be ruled by Askanaz13
. Torgom renamed his house
into the house of Torgom. Later it forms the basis
for the foundation of the earliest Armenian country
(or kingdom) of sacred rites – Aratta or
Nairi/Biainili (“second Aiasa”).
And at last, the house of Hayk (Aik), after the
extention of the country to the borders of
11 Harutyunyan S. The motifs of Armenian mythology. Translated by Ghazaryan M. Armenian mythology. “Arevik”,
Yerevan, 1987, http://www.armenianhouse.org/harutyunyan/armenian-myths-legends.html
12 In “Geography”, Shirakatsi mentions European and Asian Sarmatias.
13 According to the authors’ hypothesis, the new house of Askanaz (or its part) was later called Hayasa (the country of
those who speak the language of Askanaz, the Aesir (aies) or hays, i.e. the Armenian language).
6
The name of the cape stems to the Greek word
“aios” (Άγιος/Άγια - sacred). The Greeks
thought this place was sacred and buried their
ancestors there;
4. Ayia-Napa (translated as sacred woods) is a
settlement in Cyprus;
5. Aya is the consort of Shamash.
dissemination of the Armenian language, was called
Armenia by the name of one of Hayk’s
descendants, Aram. Hayastan (Aiastan) is the house
(tun) of the hays, or the common house of the Aesir
and the Vanir14
. Mitanni, Armatana,
Urartu/Ararat are the names of the countries or the
new houses of the related tribes – the descendants of
the Aesir (descending from Askanaz) and the Vanir
(descending from Torgom), who have preserved the
teaching of Vahagn15
.
The solar cult in Armenia was observed by Xenophon, who gave his horse to the
householder to sacrifice it to the sun. The early hour played an important role in the cult of sun: the
time when the “day-light” (cf. Armenian arshaluys meaning “the rising day-light”) was born or rose.
It is the Sun rising from the East Mountain, which is guarded vigilantly by the scorpions: here is
where Shamash (Sumerian Utu) starts his daily journey in a chariot ruled by his charioteer. This
journey does not cease at night, as the sun must reach the Eastern mountain by the morning of the
next day.
Utu (Sumerian light, shining, day) is the Sun God. The principle sites of worshipping were
Sippar and Larsa. His temples in both cities were called Ebabbar (“white house”). In Sippar Utu
was identified with a diety of pre-Sumerian period, considering the fact that Aia is represented as his
wife and Bunene – as his son (pre-Sumerian names). The cult of Utu (Shamash) was widely spread
especially after the fall of Sumer, when he was worshipped mainly as the god of establishment and
application of law16
.
As mentioned before, Shamash is the son of the Moon God Nanna (Akkadian Sin) and
Ningal (brother of Inanna, Ishtar). His consort is Sumerian Shenirda (or Sudanga) and Akkadian
Aia (has an epithet “Aia-bride”; cf. the bride of Vahagn, Astghik); his envoy is Bunene (cf. Biainili
or Van). After his daily tour in the sky, Utu hides in the evening and emerges again in the morning
from behind the mountains (Mashu, cf. Masis). Usually the two guardian gods show him the way.
Utu travels in the underworld, bringing light, water and food to the dead (his Akkadian epithet is
“the sun of the dead souls”).
The role of Shamash in Akkadian cult is more significant than that of Sumerian Utu. The
Utu cult evolved in Uruk. Utu is the founder of the first dynasty of Uruk. Utu is particularly
notable in mythical-poetic tradition of Uruk. Utu is the guardian and tutelary god of epic heroes. In
an Akkadian myth of Etana, Shamash is a judge, helping the serpent to wreak vengeance on the
eagle for violation of the oath; he also assists Etana to save the eagle. The cult of the Sun God is
located in the city of Sippar in the north, and in Larsa – in the south. A public temple with lunar
diety in Ashura was dedicated to Shamash. The Sun God is more often depicted in iconography, on
reliefs and glyptics, rising from behind the mountains. Trials of Utu (Shamash) over different
mythical creatures are also depicted. The distinctive features of the god are rays rising from his
shoulders and a semilunar saw-toothed knife in his hands17
. The tablet of Shamash (length: 29.2
14 Vahanyan G., Vahanyan V., Baghdasaryan V. Linguistic Data on Old Armenian and Norse Intercultural
Communication and the House of Being. ArcaLer, 07.02.2017, http://www.iatp.am/vahanyan/articles/100words-ru.pdf
Vahanyan G., Vahanyan V. Ar As Tvats. ArcaLer, 05.08.2013, http://www.iatp.am/vahanyan/articles/astvac2013.pdf
15 In “Geography”, Shirakatsi mentions the simultaneous existence of five Armenian countries: the first, second, third,
forth and Greater Armenia.
16 Shamash // The Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary in 86 volumes (82 V. and 4 add.). – Saint Petersburg,
1890-1907.
17 Afanasieva V. K. World Myths // Utu, http://astroschool.pro/?amp;dic_tid=4174&q=myphology-dictionary&-
dic_ltr=0KM=&dic_tid=4185
7
cm, width: 17.8 cm, serrated borders; Neo-Babylonian period, 626-539 BC), placed in an
earthenware casket, was discovered during excavations between 1878 and 1883 in Sippar (modern
southern Iraq), broken into two large and six small pieces. It is now the British Museum heritage.
The tablet was venerated and was possibly kept due to the development of new traditions. In
Urartian pantheon Shivini18 corresponds him. Many features of Shamash were transformed into the
concept of Mitra19
. This approach, according to the authors, is outdated and requires revising: many
features and characteristics of Vahagn were initially transformed into the concept of
Shamash/Shivini, being the prototype of formation of the concept of Mitra. According to the
traditional view of the researchers, the bas-relief on the top of the adverse of the tablet of Shamash
(Fig. 1-3) shows Shamash beneath symbols of the Sun, Moon and Venus. He is depicted enthroned
in a shrine/tomb, holding forward a disc and a rod (symbols of power). There is another large disc
in front of Shamash on an altar, suspended from above on a cord. Of the three kings, the tallest one
is dressed the same way as Shamash.
The cuneiform text beneath the stele tells how Sippar and the temple of Shamash had fallen
into disrepair with the loss of the statue of the God. This cult image is temporarily replaced with the
solar disc. It should be mentioned that the Tablet of Shamash was discovered in an eastern part of
the Euphrates20, where his statue of lapis lazuli and gold used to stand.
The traditional interpretation of the content of the tablet is admitted by the experts in history
of art of Ancient Near East21. Some experts think that a sacred symbol of Inanna, symbolizing
divine sacred knowledge and light of the God, is depicted on the tablet. Embodied in an eightpointed
star of goddess Inanna, they were passed to the king, personifying sacred powers. According
to them, the tablet depicts pre-dynastic waters of God the Creator.
The cross in a circle is one of the earliest symbols22
. Circle is the symbol of both the
beginning and the end, it is a complete form, embodying the appearance cycle. The cross in a
circle symbolizes cosmos or the world divided into four parts23: the vertical line denotes masculine,
spiritual principle, and the horizontal line in a circle denotes matter or feminine principle.
Considering the immutable aspect of perpetual motion (see the rope stretched on Shamash’s disc,
Fig. 3) along with this symbol, the wheel of the world or the swastika are formed. The cross in a
circle and the wheel are often identified in Armenian rock art. The ancient inhabitants of the house
of Torgom (and Askanaz) knew about the existence of this cosmic symbol long before the
appearance of the great Egyptian pyramids24
.
18 Urartu/Ararat (9-7 centuries BC).
19 Mitra1 is the deity of agreement and sun in Iranian, Vedic and Armenian mythologies. Mitre is a type of headgear,
ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in traditional Christianity. In the last centuries BC, emerged the cult
of Mithra, Mithraism, which was widely spread in Hellenistic period, from I century AC in Rome, from II century AC in
the Roman Empire. It was popular in the border provinces, where the Roman legions worshipped Mithra, the god
bringing victory. There are a number of sanctuary Mithraeums in the vicinity of Roman camps. The cult attracted the
lower orders with proclaiming equality among them and blessed afterlife.
20 Euphrates (Greek and Latin Euphrates; Hebrew Perat; Armenian Yeprat and Aratsani; Arabic Furat; Old Persian
Iphratu) is the greatest river of the Near East, forming its main river system together with the River Thigris. In the
Armenian Highlands, it comprises two deep rivers: the shortest (Western) flows from the north and formed the eastern
border of the Roman Empire for centuries; and Murat Su (Murâd-Su), the longest (Eastern) flows from Armenia. The
source of the first one is located 37 km to the northeastern Erzurum, and the source of the second one lies to the southwestern
Diadina, to the north of Lake Van, in Aladagh (2750 m).
21 Woods C.E. 2004. The Sun-God Tablet of Nabû-apla-iddina Revisited, JCS 56, p. 23 – 103.
22 Cross and swastika are the most used symbols in the tradition of Armenian rock art.
23 Toramanyan T. Zvartnots. Yerevan, Publishing House “Sovetakan Grogh”, 1978.
24 Tokarskiy N. M. Armenian Architecturee of IV – XIV centuries. Yerevan, Publishing House “Armgosizdat”, 1961.
8
Fig. 1. Tablet of Shamash, British Museum, ancient Middle East collection25
a b c d
Fig. 2. (a) A seal depicting Shamash with a horned dragon and a scorpion, an eight-pointed star and
the tree of life, a lion and a plowman with a plow, middle of III century BC. (a) A Sumerian relief
stele depicting fertility god Ningishzida with his attributes and two serpents, 2200 BC. (b) An
impression seal depicting god Shamash (on the left) with the symbols of thunderer, fighting a huge
horned dragon/serpent, Neo-Assyrian period, 912-612 BC. (c) An impression seal depicting
Akkadian/Sumerian king slaughtering the bound king of Aratta, wearing a sun tiara, private
collection, the first halph of II millennium BC. (d) God Utu (Shamash) rising from behind doublepeaked
Mount Mashu. Shamash rises between the two gates, being watched by two eight-pointed
stars (symbols of fertility). A plow and a symbol of knowledge, analogion, are depicted from its
both sides
25 Barnett R.D., Wiseman D.J. Fifty masterpieces of ancient Near Eastern art in the Department of Western Asiatic
Antiquities, the British Museum, 1969, p. 41.
9
Fig. 3. Tablet of Shamash26
, Neo-Babylonian period, 626-539 BC, British Museum
The authors present another interpretation of the cross in a circle: the circle is considered as a
symbol of watersource, as a life-giving environment; the cross symbolizes birth, the winged direct
cross (symbol of Vahagn) symbolizes masculine, spiritual principle, and the winged oblique cross
symbolizes feminine principle (symbol of Astghik). Their unity (family) is depicted in the
representation of an eight-pointed star, symbolizing life, fertility and love. The complex composition
of their union is a visualization of the concept of perpetual motion of the wheel of the world. The
winged cross in a circle is a symbol characterizing the interaction of the four forces of nature27. The
fundamental principles of Natural Philosophy and Metaphysics28 are implemented in the epic song
“The birth of Vahagn”. It is not a coincidence, that the concept “home” in Armenian rock art and
ideograms is represented in the form of a mountain, isosceles triangle29. This figure was used in
26 Online available from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tablet_of_Shamash_relief.jpg
27 Vahanyan V. Transformation of plant and animal motives in Armenian Medieval (IX-XIV centuries) ornamental art.
Abstract, NAS RA, Yerevan, 2011, http://www.iatp.am/ara/sites/ornaments/avtoreferat-vahanyanv-2011.pdf
Vahanyan V., Ghazaryan O. Transformation of plant and animal motives in Armenian Medieval (IX-XIV centuries)
ornamental art. Monograph, “Astghik Gratun”, Yerevan, 2016, 256 p.
28 Vahanyan G., Vahanyan V. Armenian Rock Art: the Origin of Natural Philosophy and Metaphysics. ArcaLer,
18.11.2016, http://www.iatp.am/vahanyan/articles/origin2016-ru.pdf
29 Vahanyan G., Vahanyan V., Baghdasaryan V. Cognitive aspects of the concept “home”, http://www.iatp.am-
/vahanyan/articles/tun-2017-ru.pdf.
Vahanyan G., Vahanyan V., Baghdasaryan V. Linguistic Data on Old Armenian and Norse Intercultural
Communication and the House of Being. ArcaLer, 07.02.2017, http://www.iatp.am/vahanyan/articles/100words-ru.pdf
10
diverse artifacts, ceramics, miniatures, rug and carpet design, decorative arts, household items,
weapons, etc.
According to mythology, “dragons/serpents lived” in the Araratian mountains. Their images
embodied or modeled natural phenomena: volcanic eruptions and avalanches. These motifs are
preserved in folk songs, legends and myths, they have become the evidence of the severe struggle of
a premeval man against natural phenomena for survival and development. They are implemented in
the culutural traditions, the representation of mythological and religious description of the world,
moreover, in the process of intercultural communication they were disseminated with language with
nearly no modifications.
The tablet of Shamash depicts typical old Armenian ornamental tradition. It comprises visual
motifs of the following concepts: home, family, cross, star, birth (interaction and unity of the
fundamental forces of nature, representing the principles of Natural Philosophy and Metaphysics),
genesis, struggle against the evil – the serpent, guarding the source of life, sea (the environment
of birth), power (cf. Armenian astvats, Astghik, Hayastan, astitshan), rule, the wheel of the world,
heavenly angels, sunlight, etc. The tablet of Shamash depicts a stylized cross comprising four
houses, symbolizing the four forces of the classical elements: fire, water, air and earth (Fig. 3).
The star consists of four image clusters of wavy lines – the symbols of water and feminine
principle. These depictions are associated with the symbols of the concept of Astghik, the oblicque
cross. Graphic representation of the clusters of wavy lines simultaneously model the sources of the
four rivers from a single unity, ecumene of Van Sea, the Araratian mountains30, described in the
Bible. It is evident, that the figure of Shamash in the centre of the composition symbolizes the
teacher, sage, judge. This corresponds to the features of the image of Vahagn31 (analogous to solar
diety in pagan period). The three kings are the students or the children of Shamash, possibly, the
three bogatyrs, born on Mount Masis/Ararat (according to Azhdahak’s dream32). They might as well
be Noah’s sons, embodying the resettled Shem and Ham, and Japheth who did not leave the house
of his father.
A serpent figure (Fig. 3), in the form of a heaven ideogram, is depicted above Shamash. It
rises from the seabed; its head is depicted above the column, possibly erected in honor of victory
over the forces of evil and darkness. The column stretches to the very sky, at the bottom it has plant
motifs and is located over the sea. The top of the column is also decorated with plant motifs. The
surface of the column is covered with stylized serpent/dragon scale. Shamash’s headgear reminds a
Phrygian cap, a distinctive attribute of Tiras (father of Askanaz and Torgom), who moved to
Phrygia (Thrace). The cap passed over to his descendants (Phrygian warriors), to the image of
Mitra33 and to the kings of Armenian Orontid (Yervanduni) dynasty.
30 According to the Biblical teaching, after the genesis, the first man was settled in the Eden. After the flood, the Noah’s
Ark (as a unique temple of knowledge) came to rest on the Araratian mountains.
31 Хоренаци М. Песнь о рождении Ваагна // История Армении (пер. с древнеарм. Саркисяна Г.), Ереван, "Айас-
тан", 1990.
32 Khorenatsi M. History of Armenia, translation from Grabar: Sargsyan G. “Hayastan”, Yerevan, Armenia, 1990.
33 Plutarch writes that the spread of the mysteries of Mithras over the Mediterranean is connected with the activity of the
Cilician pirates in the 60s BC. Mircea Eliade believes that the legendary details of the biography of Mithridates VI of
Pontus (and of Cyrus the Great) reflect the representations of Mithraism. According to the mysteries, Mithra was born
from stone, and the mysteries are committed in a cave. According to Statius, the Achaemenians call Apollo a Titan, and
in the cave of Perseus he is called Mithra, bending the horns. Porphyry notes that Zoroaster was the first to dedicate to
Mithra the cave in the mountains, blooming and rich in springs. This cave symbolizes the cosmos created by Mithra, and
the inside is the symbol of cosmic elements and cardinal directions (similarly, according to Porphyry, Plato related
cosmos to the Pythagorean cave). Mitra wears the sword of Aries (the sign of Ares) and rides the bull of Aphrodite. If
the cave is considered as a house/mountain/temple, with an eight-pointed star of Vahagn inside the temple, it will
reflect the four cosmic classical elements and the four cardinal directions (authors’ note). According to Tertullian, in
the sacraments of Mithra, the offering of bread was performed and the image of the resurrection was presented.
11
Shamash is holding a circle/disc with a rod in his left hand. They symbolize divine power. A
similar sign is identified in Akkad, Sumer, ancient Kingdom of Comagene, Assyria, Urartu and
Egypt. Goddess Inanna is holding similar discs and rods (Fig. 7, 8, 10). The Assyrian and Urartian
artifacts depict the heroes inside discs. A disc or a circle, as mentioned before, reflect the concept or
the idea of both the source of life and united power34 (арм. akunk – ak [disc] and unk [brow]).
Figures 7, 8 and 10 depict different symbols of power, eternity, tutelary and infinity (Shen ring),
reminding the Ankh-cross.
The features of Vahagn were transformed into the image of Shamash (Table 1), and the
features of Shamash – that of Mitra. Ornamental fragments from the tablet of Shamash are identified
in symbols of nearly every early civilization (Caucasus and Anatolia, Mesopotamia, Sumer, Akkad,
Assyria and Babylon, Hittites and Egypt, Persia and India, Old Europe and Greece, Germany and
Nordic countries)35
. During the Roman Empire, the Sun God symbols were associated with the
symbols of Mitra and Baal36
. Still they have old Armenian, Araratian origin and are attributes of the
temple of knowledge, built by Hayk. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate mesopotamian graphic sygns,
depicting eight-pointed star, planet symbols, the concepts home, life-giving water, hero and god.
Among them Hadad, the god of lightening and rain (Fig. 5b), played an important role in
agriculture and irrigation with rainwater. He was the tutelary of animal husbandry, hunting,
agriculture and military expeditions. Solar symbols (including eight-pointed star) are depicted on his
clothing. He rules the forces of the dragon (earth) and the lion (heaven). He is holding a wavy
symbol of water and is the liberator of water.
a b
Fig. 4. (a) Stele (Ursula Seidl), Babylonian Kudurru relief, tablet 11, second group. (b) Stele (Ursula
Seidl), Babylonian Kudurru relief, tablet 19, fourth group
According to Celsus, the mysteries present the symbols of motion of stars and planets and the passage of souls through
them, with the seven-gate stairway as its symbol (seven gates are connected with seven metals and seven deities).
He claims that the Christians borrowed much from this teaching. According to Claudian, Mithra is called rotating the
stars, and the emperor Julian the Apostate mentions the secret Chaldean teaching of seven rays. Since the end of II
century, Roman emperors (Aurelian and Diocletian) patronized the cult of Mithras. In II-IV centuries, Mithraism was
one of the main rivals of Christianity.
34
According to the Bible, Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake.
35 Vahanyan G., Vahanyan V. Vanaland, Scandinavia and Russ (the path to self-awareness), ArcaLer, 15.11.2013,
http://www.iatp.am/vahanyan/articles/vanaland.pdf
Vahanyan V., Vahanyan G. Intercultural relations between Old Europe and Old Armenia. XXIII Valcamonica
Symposium "Making history of prehistory, the role of rock art", 28 October - 2 November 2009, Italy.
36 Baal (in the Semitic Languages Bl, Old Hebrew Bel, Balu) was a title and honorific meaning “lord”. Emperor
Elagabalus transferred his cult to Rome. Baal Hammon is the Sun God. In Carthage he was one of the main gods. The
Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD) banned the human sacrifices to Mithras and Baal in the Roman Empire. Vatican was
built on the shrine previously dedicated to the worship of Mithras (600 BC). The Orthodox Christian hierarchy is almost
identical to the version of Mithras. Almost all the elements of Orthodox rites, e.g. water baptism and doxology, were
adopted from Mithra.
12
a b
Fig. 5. (a) Mesopotamian zodiac with an eight-pointed star (Ursula Seidl, Babylonian Kudurru
relief). (b) Hadad37
Of particular interest is the symbol of Mitra’s “birth” from a stone and his “struggle” with a
bull: “Mitra, turning away his face, stubs a knife into the victim’s side. When a bull dies, spewing
out semen (a scorpion is gnawing the bull's phallus), a seed grows from its brain that gives bread,
and a vine from its blood …” Sina, whose symbol was the crescent moon, was considered wise, and
it was believed that, when increasing and waning, the Moon God measured time…”. It should be
mentioned that in Armenian tradition Hayk’s rival, Bel, was depicted as a bull. The motifs of birth
and struggle of Mitra stem to the transformation of old Armenian motifs38
: the motifs of birth from a
rock/stone and of volcanic eruption (scorpion or serpent39), of water liberation and fertility, of
struggle and victory over the vishap/serpent.
The Ancient Greeks thought that Colchis was the territory at the Black Sea shore and the
name of the country. In the Abaza language, the word Kolkhita is translated as “auriferous
country (land)”40
.
In the Ubykh community of Vardan, in the Black Sea region, there was a village called Hiza
Sev (name of a month). Pahu is the name of the area where the fortress of Aia Bga (rock, cliff) was
built. N(y) is an ancient form of an independent word, used for defining a country, a land. Hence -
Bgany, meaning the land of rocks. This is how the mountainous part of Ashui was called in ancient
times. Kh(y)n(y) means the “golden land”.
King Aiet considered himself a descendant (son) of great Marana - the Sun God. In а Greek
myth, Aeetes is the son of the Sun God (Greek Helios). According to Turchaninov41
, this cannot be
37 Armenian “ada” – father.
38 Vahanyan V. , Vahanyan G. All arts of mortals from one teacher spring, http://www.iatp.am/vahanyan/articles/uchenie-vahagna2017-ru.pdf
39 Scorpion is used instead of the symbol of dragon/vishap/serpent in areas where there were no volcanic eruptions, e.g.
in Egypt or Mesopotamia. The concept of Bull is replaced by the concept of vishap (dragon). Vahagn defeats the earthly
and heavenly dragons, liberates waters that flow from his body. Vahagn liberates waters, the source of which was
guarded by the dragon (in the Akkadian and Egyptian traditions, a scorpion guards the Eastern Mountain, the source of
the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates). The melting of the snow in the Armenian mountains in May causes an overflow in the
Rivers Tigris and Euphrates: the waters protrude from the shores and flood the plains, moisturizing and enriching them
with silt. This was used for irrigation purposes. In ancient period, Euphrates used to be the main communication and
commercial artery between peoples and cities near the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. Trade incomes here
reached enormous amounts (Herodotus, I, 185). Euphrates and Tigris are mentioned in the Bible as two of the rivers in
Eden, or Paradise (Gen., 2, 14, etc.).
40 Turchaninova G.F. Monuments of script and peoples of the Caucasus and Eastern Europe, Science, 1971. In the
Postscriptum to the book, the author mentions his discovery: the script that he called “Colchian” and interpreted as
having Phoenician origin, turned out to be local, created in the north-western Caucasus. This scientific fact convincingly
demonstrates the authenticity of the historical data, stated by M. Khorenatsi in the “History of Armenia”. For example,
historical data about Tiras (the father of Askanaz and Torgom), the god of writing, science and divination; and about
Cadmus, the grandson of Hayk, who inherited the dwelling of the god (the temple of knowledge). According to
Herodotus, Cadmus created the Phoenician and Greek alphabets. The Greeks, having stolen the Golden Fleece from
Colchis, obtained a script system, enabling them to decode ancient knowledge.
13
a mere coincidence. Probably, calling himself the son of King Ptu (people called him Marana), Aiet
was considered the descendant of Helios in Greek mythology as well. Colchis42 could be influenced
by prehistoric Hayasa (the country of the descendants of Askanaz) or Aratta (the country of the
descendants of Torgom).
Fig. 7. Shen ring. Inanna/Astghik/Ishtar/Astarta holding two rings. Babylonian cylinder seal
depicting Marduk, holding a ring and a dragon. Artifacts depicting heroes with rings, pantheon of
the Armenian Orontid (Yervanduni) dynasty, Comagene
Hayk lived in Babylon for a particular period. It is known that in Sumerian-Akkadian
mythology, Marduk is the supreme deity in the pantheons of Babylonia and Ancient Mesopotamia,
the tutelary god of the city of Babylon. Figure 7 shows Marduk with a dragon. In Egypt, Shen ring
was depicted in hands of the gods of the underworld and Ba, the bird of the soul, flying up to a
mummy (Fig. 9).
In ancient Egypt the names of the pharaohs were often inscribed into a Shen ring, which was
called a cartouche. Shen was graphically depicted as a cord with intersecting edges, which formed a
tanget to a circle, as depicted in the Mesopotamian tablet in the hands of god Shamash (Fig. 8а).
a b c d
41 Turchaninova G.F. The discovery and deciphering of the earliest script of the Caucasus. Institute of Languages of
RAS, Moscow Research Centre of Abkhazian Studies, Moscow, 1999, 263 p.
42 According to Apollonius of Rhodes (second half of III century BC), the “Argonautica” reflects the events of the end
of II millennium BC: “...the people of the capital of the Colchis Kingdom, Aea, retain the records of their fathers made
on tablets, which show all the paths of water and land for travelers”.
14
e f
Fig. 8. (a) Artifact: bas-relief depicting enthroned Shamash with sunrays rising from his shoulders,
king Hammurabi in worship posture, stele стела “Code of Hammurabi”, 1750 BC, Louvre. (b)
Effulgent Mitra blessing Ardashir. (c) Coronation of Shapur II (1-379), Iranian king from the
Sasanian dynasty. Ahura Mazda is on the right sight of the king, and Mitra is on the left. (d)
Depiction of the solar disc of Shamash, Assyrian bas-relief, IX century BC. (e) Deity, winged disc,
Urartu. (e) Assyrian relief, Faravahar, 865-860 BC, Persia. (f) Armenian medieval cross-stone with
the depiction of a cross in a circle
Fig. 9. Goddess Maat with Shen ring, the symbol of eternal life for the chosen by God
а b
Fig. 10. (a) Vase with the depiction of a ring and a “rod”43
. (b) Stele fragment depicting king UrNammu,
the first representative of the third dynasty of Ur (2112 – 2094 BC): the king is standing by
the tree of life, before the enthroned god Nanna, handing the symbol of authority to the king
Figure 11 shows artifacts with characteristic features of serpent depictions. E.g. dying and
resurrecting, mortal and immortal god also symbolizes bread, seed, buried in the ground, which dies
in its grave under the earth, for later on it should resurrect in rich ear.
a b c d e f
Fig. 11. (a) Parthian sculpture with two serpents. (b) Frigg holding two serpents, Crete Island, c.
1600 BC. (c) Inanna/Astghik with discs and rods. (d) A Swedish stone depicting a goddess holding
two serpents, Gotland Island. (e) Oganes (Hovhannes). (f) Silver chalice with linear Elamite script,
the end of III millennium BC, Marvdasht, Fars, National Museum of Iran
43 Online available from: http://kontinent-mu.livejournal.com/45993.html
15
a b c d
Fig. 12. (a) Cylinder seal depicting the hero (reminding the image of Vahagn), Thebes. (b) Relief
depiction of a woman with serpents-waters. (c) Vase depicting the Great Mother with six swastikas.
Snakes (symbols of the underworld) are depicted from both sides of the goddess. (d) Goddess
Ereshkigal in zoomorphic representacion, details of the clay tablet, Akkadian period44
The details of the Theban cylinder depict the genius of water. He pours water from two jars
into other two jars at the bottom, standing between the two mountain peaks (Fig. 12a). It is not just
beneficial waterflow, raining over the earth, and the two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates), born one
after the other (Nugeirol J.) in the Armenian mountains.
Visual model of the concept mountain/home/tun/glkhatun
In the Armenian tradition the mountain formation is usually anthropomorphous. According to
some myths, mountains used to be giant brothers. Every morning they tightened their belts and
greeted each other. But over time, they got lazy to get up early, and greeted each other not tightening
their belts. The gods punished the brothers and turned them into mountains, and their belts - into
green valleys, and their tears – into springs. According to another version, the mountains Masis
(Ararart) and Aragats used to be sisters, and Zagros and Taurus used to be horned vishaps
(dragons) fighting among themselves.
Figure 13 shows a typical Armenian house/glkhatun. It forms a square ground or semiunderground
construction with no windows, with walls made of crude stone and with pyramidshaped
overlap, supported by an internal pillar frame, with a chimney in the centre. In “Anabasis”,
Xenophon45 was the first to give the description of the prototype of the dwelling, who visited the
region during the Greek campaign. Speaking about what he saw, he noted: “The houses were
underground structures with an aperture like the mouth of a well by which to enter, but they were
broad and spacious below. The entrance for the beasts of burden was dug out, but the human
occupants descended by a ladder.”. Such houses are discovered during the excavation in
Catalhoyuk. Figure 13 shows the schemes of glkhatun made of stone (a), clay (b) and volcanic
mountain (c).
Figure 14 shows the scheme of a house/mountain/glkhatun – a burial vault, kurgan/tumulus,
built by Antiochus (from the Orontid [Yervanduni] dynasty, the decendants of Hayk and Vahagn),
the king of the Kingdom of Comagene (territory of modern Turkey) 46
.
44 Online available from: http://oldevrasia.ru/library/Valeriy-Ivanovich-Gulyaev_SHumer--Vavilon--Assiriya-5000-letistorii/48
45 Xenophon. Anabasis // Chapter V, http://www.vehi.net/istoriya/grecia/ksenofont/anabazis/01.html
46 In the 40s of I century BC, Antiochus I of Commagene built a fifty-meter-high sanctuary tumulus at the top of Mount
Nemrut, with four artificial terraces, monuments, constructions and inscriptions. In the eastern and western terraces there
are five stone figures (8-9 m) of enthroned gods.
16
а b c d
Fig. 13. (а) Glkhatun made of stone, Armenia. (b) Glkhatun made of clay, Syria.
(c) Mountain and thunder during a volcanic eruption. (d) Volcanic mountain as a model of home
Various solutions for the traditional overlapping of glkhatun – azarashen47, were obtained
depending on the region. In particular regions of historical Armenia, the residential and household
sections of glkhatun were located in the same construction, in warmer regions they were located
separately. The lighting of the dwelling came through an aperture for the chimney (erdik) in the
ceiling. There was a clay oven in the ground – tonir, and a wall mounted fireplace – bukhari. Gomioda,
a room for accepting guests or men’s gatherings, separated from the room for cattle by a thick
wall partition, was typical for Western Armenia. The shape of a glkhatun was used by Armenian
architects in the construction of cult buildings, in particular church nartexes (gavits).
Fig. 14. Kurgan/tumulus, built by Antiochus in the Armenian Kingdom of Comagene
The sanctuary monumental tomb (Fig. 14, 15), built by king Antiochus I from Comagene in
62 BC, includes sculptures of heroes/gods surrounded by huge statues and animals (lions and
eagles)48. These animals are often identified in rock art, heraldry, reliefs of medieval Armenian
monasteries and churches49
.
Fig. 15. Sculptures of five enthroned kings/rulers/teachers of five Armenias. The three of them are
wearin Phrygian caps. The two eagles and lions safeguard them
47 Loburdette J., Ausias D. Armenia. - Le Petit Futé, 2007. - p. 66.
Bulletin of Social Sciences, Issues 1-6 // Publishing House of the AS of Armenian SSR, 1982.
48 According to some researchers, among the heroes there are such gods/deities as Hercules-Vahagn, Zeus-Aramazd,
Apollo-Mithra, Venus-Aphrodite-Astghik-Anahit, etc. The main god, the father of the family, Aramazd, is enthroned
in the center.
49 Vahanyan V., Ghazaryan O. Transformation of plant and animal motives in Armenian Medieval (IX-XIV centuries)
ornamental art. Monograph, “Astghik Gratun”, Yerevan, 2016, 256 p.
17
Conclusion
The tablet of Shamash illustrates the principles of Natural Philosophy and reflects the
concept of ruling the four forces of nature (fire, air, water and earth). Each of them is visually
represented as a triangle-home-mountain. The wheel of the world is the transformed composition of
old Armenian eight-pointed star, the symbol of Vahagn and Astghik. The four triangles symbolize
the direct cross – the symbol of Vahagn, and water streams symbolize the oblicque cross – the
symbol of Astghik.
© 2017, Vahanyan V., Vahanyan G.
