Pre-Christian Polytheism in Ancient Armenia: A Syncretic World of Faith during the Orontids, Artaxiads and Arsacids

Abstract

Pre-Christian Armenia’s religious landscape was a diverse blend of polytheistic beliefs shaped by its position at the crossroads of various civilizations. The Armenian pantheon and religious practices incorporated elements from Ancient Persia, Asia Minor, Phrygia, Greece, Rome, Syria, and Mesopotamia, with a significant Iranian influence due to ruling dynasties like the Orontids, Artaxiads and Arsacids. Early chroniclers such as Agatʿangełos and Movsēs Xorenacʿi describe this syncretism, highlighting key figures like Aramazd, Anahita, Mihr, and Vahagn as representations of both local and Zoroastrian belief. This paper delves into the intricate syncretic nature of Armenian polytheism, focusing on the interplay between temples, mythology, and societal customs. It also examines how cultural continuity allowed ancient religious traditions to influence Armenia’s spiritual identity long after its Christianization, highlighting the enduring legacy of pre-Christian beliefs in the formation of Armenian religious and cultural history.

Keywords

• Syncretism
• Polytheism
• Zoroastrianism
• Armenian mythology
• Pre-Christian Armenia

Project Number

123K172

Antik Armenia’da Hristiyanlık Öncesi Çok Tanrıcılık: Senkretik Bir İnanç Dünyası

Abstract

Hristiyanlık öncesi Armenia’nın dini görünümü, çeşitli medeniyetlerin kavşağındaki konumuyla şekillenen çok tanrılı inançların çeşitli bir karışımıydı. Armenia panteonu ve dini uygulamaları antik Pers, Küçük Asya, Phrygia, Hellen, Roma, Suriye ve Mezopotamya’dan unsurlar içermekle birlikte, Orontidler, Artaksiadlar ve Aršaklılar gibi hüküm süren hanedanlar nedeniyle İran etkisi taşımaktaydı. Agatʿangełos ve Movsēs Xorenacʿi gibi erken dönem yazarları bu senkretizmi betimleyerek Aramazd, Anahita, Mihr ve Vahagn gibi kilit figürlerin hem yerel hem de Zerdüşt inancın temsilleri olduğunu vurgulamışlardır. Bu makale, tapınaklar, mitoloji ve toplumsal gelenekler arasındaki etkileşime odaklanarak Armenia çoktanrıcılığının karmaşık senkretik doğasını incelemektedir. Ayrıca, kültürel sürekliliğin eski dini geleneklerin Armenia’nın ruha¬nî kimliğini Hristiyanlaşmasından çok sonra bile etkilemesine nasıl izin verdiğini analiz ede¬rek Armenia dini ve kültürel tarihinin oluşumunda Hristiyanlık öncesi inançların kalıcı mirasını vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Senkretizm
• Çoktanrıcılık
• Zerdüştlük
• Armenia mitolojisi
• Hıristiyanlık öncesi Armenia.

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK

Project Number

123K172

Ethical Statement

This article is the development of a part of the doctoral dissertation entitled “Armenia between the Romans and the Sasanians in the Late Antiquity (224-451)”, which was prepared as a result of research carried out at Oxford University with the support of TUBITAK 2214A Scholarship Programme.

Thanks

The map used in the text was produced within the scope of TUBITAK project no 123K172. We would like to thank TUBITAK for its support to the project

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