…«From the reed pipe, smoke ascended,From the reed pipe, fire blazed,And out of the flames emerged a golden-haired young boy.»…
With the genius insight of Khorenatsi, the few lines of the hymn “The Birth of Vahagn” carry within them an extraordinary depth of ancient philosophical thought.
Flame and Smoke, Sacred Fire (Sun, Light), revered as life-sustaining forces and sources of vitality by our ancestors, were also personified in the chief deity of the pantheon—Thunderer, Lightning Bearer (known as Teshub or Tork, the God of Thunder and Lightning akin to Zeus and Jupiter, later evolving into Aramazd, Mihr, and Vahagn).
Through the currents of millennia, these beliefs, though slightly colored by time, have endured, reappearing during festivals and sacred rituals…
Even today, the blessing “May your hearth be prosperous,” often heard in traditional households, resonates with us. It conveys the timeless message to “keep the hearth’s flame alive,” passed as a sacred duty to future generations.
The Land of Nairi (Mitanni, later evolving into Urartu or Biainili, with territorial changes), referred to in cuneiform as the “Land of Fire,” still reflects the glow of its fiery temples. This can be seen today in rituals of candle-lighting, Chragaluyts (lamp-lighting ceremonies), and torches ignited on special occasions.
Although slightly altered, the essence remains…
What was once the Celestial Fire of ancient reverence is now symbolized by the “Lantern,” which inspired this reflection.
The ceremonial torch lit from the “Lantern” during the Pan-Armenian Games reaches back to antiquity, to Mount Olympus, the site of the legendary Olympic Games.
Prometheus, the son of Iapetus and forefather of Armenians, as well as a descendant of the Giants, stole Fire from Olympus and brought it to mankind—a source of divine wisdom and enlightenment.
For this, he was condemned, bound to a rock.
Thus, the quest for knowledge is a path born of toil and suffering.
By bestowing the Sun’s fire upon mortals, Prometheus enabled the development of many disciplines—metallurgy, architecture, astronomy… (In Sumerian mythology, it was Enki who spread Light, Wisdom, and Magic through Oannes, a mythical amphibian figure).
The sacred Eternal Fire of ancient temples was symbolically “harnessed” from the Sun using a parabolic mirror (skaphia).
Athletes would then carry torches lit from this celestial fire from Hestia’s sacred hearth to the games, paying homage to the Old Gods.
In homage to these ancient traditions, torch-lighting ceremonies are sometimes performed by white-robed “priestesses.”
As the great Varuzhan once sang, “…Through the reed pipe, Light arose…”
Below: A refined seven-branched lamp from Metsamor, bearing the weight of 4-5 millennia of history.
The Byzantine Sources – About Armenia and Armenians
Over the centuries, numerous enemy invasions into Hayk brought about profound changes, shattering the political stability of the powerful Armenian World, diminishing Armenia’s dominant role, and weakening the strength of its noble houses.
The Roman-Persian treaty of 387 AD resulted in significant changes to the borders of the Kingdom of Greater Armenia.
“Procopius of Caesarea stands as one of the most prominent historians of Byzantium. He was born either at the end of the 5th century or the beginning of the 6th century in Caesarea, Palestine.” … “Procopius lived during the era of Emperor Justinian, a time regarded as both one of the brightest and darkest chapters in Byzantine history. When Justinian ascended the throne in 527, he was determined to restore the ancient borders of the Roman Empire and revive its former glory. For this reason, his long reign saw continuous wars—against the Persians in the East, the Goths in the West, and the Vandals in Libya,” writes Hrach Bartikyan, who translated and published Procopius’s works concerning Armenia and the Armenians (Foreign Sources on Armenia and the Armenians, Vol. 5, Yerevan, 1967).
Here are selected excerpts from this work…
“…Corruption had reached staggering levels. It was possible to buy one’s way into the highest political and military offices, as well as the most exalted positions within the clergy.” “…Even the judiciary, an institution meant to safeguard justice, had succumbed to corruption. Through bribes, one could even gain access to the royal guard.
Procopius of Caesarea, in his Secret History, laments bitterly that the royal guard—once composed solely of individuals selected for their exceptional military and physical abilities, a guard that historically admitted only Armenians—had, under Justinian’s reign, become open to anyone who could pay. Even slaves could join if they had the means. These flaws in the Byzantine state extended to Byzantine-controlled Armenia as well.
Historical documents reveal that corruption was rampant in First Armenia, Second Armenia, and Greater Armenia. Popular discontent against Justinian’s regime often manifested through the rise of various sects, which proliferated across the empire during this period.”
“…Justinian’s reign was a calamity for the Armenian people. It delivered the final blow to the remnants of Armenian independence, particularly the hereditary satrapies in southern Armenia, and sought to dismantle the Armenians’ ancient rights.”
“Within the Roman army, there was a commander of Persian-Armenian descent named Artavan. A long-time deserter, he had joined Roman-controlled Armenia voluntarily but in an extraordinary way—by slaughtering 120 capable Persian soldiers. This act was seen as proof of his loyalty to the Romans.
Artavan approached the Roman commander Valerian and requested 50 soldiers from his forces. His request was granted, and he proceeded toward a fortress in Persarmenia (Persian Armenia).
The Persian garrison, numbering 120 men, welcomed Artavan and his soldiers into the fortress, unaware of his betrayal of the Persian state and his plans to rebel. Artavan killed the entire garrison, seized the fortress’s immense wealth, and returned to Valerian and the Roman army.
This act cemented his reputation as a reliable ally to the Romans, and he participated in their subsequent campaigns. During one notable battle, Artavan, accompanied by two Roman soldiers, ventured into the enemy ranks.
A group of enemies approached, but Artavan immediately struck, using his spear to kill one of the fiercest and most powerful Persian warriors, unseating him and ending his life. A nearby barbarian retaliated, striking Artavan on the head with a sword, though the wound was not fatal.
One of Artavan’s companions, of Gothic origin, managed to strike the barbarian on his left side as he raised his weapon against Artavan, killing him. Terrified, the remaining thousand enemy soldiers retreated, awaiting the arrival of Khoryanes, who was advancing with the remaining Persian and Alan forces and soon joined them.”
Nerses the Armenian – Byzantine General
An excerpt from Procopius (On the Wars, Book 8, Chapter 31):
“…The armies were aligned for battle as follows: both forces stood face-to-face, forming a front line as wide and deep as possible. On the Roman left flank, near a hill, Narses and John commanded, leading the finest Roman fighters… On the right flank were Valerian, John Fagas, and Dagistheus, overseeing the remainder of the Roman forces…
In the center of the line, Narses placed the Lombards, Heruls, and other barbarian troops. He instructed them to dismount and form an infantry unit to prevent them from fleeing immediately in case of cowardice or betrayal during the battle.
…For a while, neither side made a move; both armies waited patiently for the other to attack first.
Eventually, from the Gothic forces, a man named Cocas, famed for his courage, rode his horse forward, stopping in front of the Roman army to issue a challenge for single combat. This Cocas had once been a Roman soldier but had defected to Totilas.
Without hesitation, one of Narses’ spear-bearers, an Armenian named Anzalas, mounted his horse and rode out to confront him.
Cocas struck first, aiming his lance at Anzalas’ abdomen. However, Anzalas quickly maneuvered his horse to the side, rendering Cocas’ charge ineffective. Taking advantage of his position, Anzalas drove his lance into Cocas’ left side.
Cocas fell lifeless from his horse to the ground. The Roman forces erupted in a triumphant cheer…”
