The Wheel of Eternity is the sole symbol that is placed upon the hearth of the eternal flame of the Monument to the Innocent Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan, Armenia.

Gevork Nazaryan, Armenologist, Historian

Painting by John Guevherian

His name was Thaddeus. He was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. He preached in people’s homes, in hidden underground chambers, in marketplaces, and in the streets. The Holy Spirit spoke through Thaddeus, bringing the words of Christ to his followers. People listened intently, eager to hear; moved by the Good News, many converted.

Rumors of this unusual man reached a young girl named Sandukht, the daughter of Armenia’s king Sanatrouk. Sparked by curiosity, the princess disguised herself as an ordinary woman and followed her nurse to a Christian gathering.

St Taddeus in Armenia

The Christian faith made such an impact on Sandukht’s life that she decided to convert. She declared her belief in Christ and was baptized, and a sign from heaven designated her as a holy virgin.

But when the king’s spies reported the news to her father, Sanatrouk was enraged. In an attempt to dissuade his daughter, he promised to allow her to marry the man she loved—an exceptional horseman named Zareh—and to enjoy life in a comfortable palace, surrounded by endless riches.

Sandukht was not tempted by the lure of this extravagant life. Infuriated by his daughter’s stubbornness, Sanatrouk sentenced the princess to jail. Even Zareh could not change Sandukht’s mind. He visited her in prison, begging her to return to him and to her old faith, but nothing could sway Sandukht.

Meanwhile, the news of Sandukht’s imprisonment spread throughout Armenia. Increasingly, people began to accept the Christian faith, and they prayed for Sandukht’s release.

Moved by his love for his daughter, Sanatrouk summoned the princess to his palace to give her one final chance to renounce her new faith. He asked his daughter to choose between the crown and the sword—either she would renounce Christianity and serve as a pagan princess or face death. Sandukht chose the sword, knowing that Christianity would soon blossom in Armenia. Sanatrouk pitied his daughter, but he could not bring himself to turn back on his word.

The young princess was subjected to torture and ultimately ordered to be executed. During this difficult time, she drew strength from St. Thaddeus, who encouraged her to be firm, reminding her that she would soon be with her Savior. Shortly after Sandukht’s death, Thaddeus was also executed by the king.

Zareh was among the many Armenians who were moved by Sandukht’s faith, and who also converted to Christianity. King Sanatrouk continued the orders for the executions of Christians, including Zareh. Their sacrifice planted the seeds of the Christian faith in Armenia—a faith that 300 years later would become the foundation on which Christian Armenia was to be built.

St Sandukht

Культ арийского бога ”ара,” символизирующего могущество солнца, соединил в себе черты силы природы, весны, позже черты божества войны. Данный культ в Армянском нагорье появился в 3-ем тысячелетии до н.э. (А. Терьян, 1995). Однако наскальные рисунки солнца и его символика датируется с еще раннего периода (5-3 тыс. до н.э., Г. Мартиросян, Г. Исраелян, 1971). Днем Ара считался день весеннего равноденствия – 21 марта. С именем Ара связывается также древнеармянское название 6-го месяца года ”Арац” и имя культового армянского царя Ара Прекрасногo, в которого была безумна влюблена ассирийская царица Шамирам (Семирамида). Согласно многим исследованиям, культ Ара имел общеиндоевропейское распространение: Арес (греч.), Ахурамазд (перс.), Эртаг (герм.), Рам (инд.), Яр – Ярило (слав.) и др. (Г. Капанцян, 1944). По мнению академиков Т.Гамкрелидзе и В.Иванова (1990) общеиндоевропейский корень, значащий “огонь”, содержится в таких словах, как: Арев – душа, позже – Солнце, Арпи – небесное светило, Арарич – (Бог-создатель), Арарат – место Арара, то есть творения, Арян – арийский и других. М. Гавукчян, К. Сукиасян, А. Терьян и др. показывают наличие в словах “Армения”, “Арарат” и “Урарту” (а также в ряде основополагающих слов) общего индоевропейского корня “ар”. Государственное образование Мусасир в урартском тексте названо Ардини, что также, по мнению исследователей, было связано с почитанием древнейшего протоармяно-арийского солнечного божества  “Арда” (Тер Саркисянц А., 2005). В христианские века в Армении культ бога солнца Ар сохранился в народных сказаниях, архитектуре средневековой и современной Армении.

Modern historian Suren Yeremyan disputes this assertion, arguing that ancient Armenian tradition placed Nakhichevan’s founding to the year 3669 BC and, in ascribing its establishment to Noah, that it took its present name after the Armenian phrase “Nakhnakan Ichevan” (Նախնական Իջևան), or “first landing.”

“This Αποβατηριον , or Place of Descent, is the proper rendering of the Armenian name of this very city”.

Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Chapter 3

Josephus also tells about the ethnic composition of the region:

And after seven days he sent out a dove, to know the state of the ground; which came back to him covered with mud, and bringing an olive branch: hereby Noah learned that the earth was become clear of the flood. So after he had staid seven more days, he sent the living creatures out of the ark; and both he and his family went out, when he also sacrificed to God, and feasted with his companions. However, the Armenians call this place, ” The Place of Descent”; for the ark being saved in that place, its remains are shown there by the inhabitants to this day.

Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Chapter 3

Khachkar/Crosstone in Jugha,Naxcavan or Nakhnakan Ichevan

M. Kavoukjian’s
Armenia, Subartu and Sumer

One of the symbols of ARmenia ARyuts (Eagle) also starts with sacred AR root

As we have seen earlier, King David of the Hebrews, in order to indicate the nationality of the Armenian king Adrazar of Dzopk‘, calls him “son of Ara”, which corresponds exactly to the meaning of the word Armen (Ar-me[-ni]), ‘sons of Ar’ or ‘s…ons of Ara’.

M. Kavoukjian’s
Armenia, Subartu and Sumer

Sculptor Hayk Edilyan, “Queen Parandzem”

Daughter of Nakharar Andovk Siwni. One of the
most outstanding heroine queens in the millenia span of
Armenian history. As contemporary and later historians described her
as beautiful, proud, virtuous and patriotic with all her being.
An archetypical ideal symbol of a true caucasian Armenian lady.

She married prince Gnel of the Arsacid royal house
and after his death in a battle, became the wife of king
Arshak II – the Queen of Greater Armenia and Tiknants Tikin (lit. lady of Ladies)

After treacherous imprisonment of Arshak II in the Persian capital of
Tisbon by the Shapuh II in 368, Queen Parandzem became the
rallying symbol and leader of Armenian nobles and the people in
the fight to defend the nation. The focal point of the defence of the
kingdom became the castle of Artagers – where between
368-69 Queen Parandzem led heroic 14 month defence of the
stronghold only to be overrun by numerically overwhelming
forces of Shapuh.

Painting by Vardges Surenyants

The beautiful queen fought alongside with the Armenian
warriors with a sword and shield to the very end telling her men
that surrender is not an option…

She was wounded and captured as all of her bodyguard was wiped out as they fell while trying to protect her from the spears and swords of the enemy.

Like a wounded lioness she was taken to the capital Tisbon in 369,
where the Persian shah told of his amazements of the level of her courage and dedication to her nation and her people.

Painting by Rubik Kocharian

Queen Parandzem was an important symbol of Armenia and as long as
she was alive she served as a beacon of light and freedom urging the
Armenian people to continue the fight of resistance against foreign tyranny.
Shapuh II albeit unwillingly ordered the execution
od his “beloved” captive lioness as the historians of the time
noted with great deal of  personal remorse and regret.

By Gevork Nazaryan

Sun symbolism with slight variation in the number of rays has been included in the seals, frescoes and coat of arms of various Armenian kingdoms, sta…rting at least since the time of the kingdoms of Mitanni and Ararat (Urartu). The solar symbolism was continued by the succeeding dynasties (Orontids, Artaxiads, Arsacids etc.) that ruled the Kingdom of Greater Armenia.

Mitanni

Erebuni/Yerevan, Fresco in Fortress-City.

The Imperial Crown of the King of Kings Tigranes the Great features the Artaxiad Coat-of-Arms. Two eagles flanking the eight-pointed star symbolic of the Sun. The solar symbolism featured on the national Mithraic crown of the King of Kings goes back to the dawn of Armenian History and was also included in the royal insignia of the earlier Armenian kingdoms of Mitanni and Ararat (Urartu).

Artist Robert Hazarapetyan

Written By Gevork Nazaryan, Historian,Armenologist.