The Dragonslaying Thundergod of Armenia: Vahagn

First real video/vlog where I MAKE AN ATTEMPT to cover Vahagn; the stormgod in Armenian mythology.
Sadly not much is known of him in detail due to the turbulent centuries following conversion to Christianity. However through comparative mythology and scraps of lore left behind by Movses of Khorene, a decent picture can be constructed.

EDIT:
After making this video I started reading the Avesta and noticed a lot of parallels to Armenian mythology. For one thing: I should've mentioned the Goddess Astlik.
There is no official narrative about this, but I suspect the Vishap is connected to Astlik since both are connected to wellsprings and water sources.
The way the Vishap would've withheld water from humanity was through the abduction of Astlik. Something like this is attested in the Avesta where a river/dawn goddess(Aramati) is abducted by a dragon(Azi Dahaka), and rescued by a fire god (Atar).
Given the close relation of Armenian to Iranian myth the same story structure was likely used in Vahagn's legend. IMO a plausible motive that Vahagn slew the dragon rather than the Greek Theseus example I used. Again there is no official narrative, and this is my own speculation. But definitely something I ought to have put in the video in hindsight. It really boils down to the very ancient 'Masculine hero slays dragon to rescue princess' trope.

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#thundergod #armenia #mythology #travelvlog

[janki]

In Armenian, the "a" is often a connector. The words for vishapakar are vishap (dragon) and kar (stone)
Nice video!

[neriodante]

Ottimo lavoro. Sono stato in Armenia nel 1988, una terra mistica e ancestrale. Saluti dall'Italia.
Good job. I was in Armenia in 1988, a mystical and ancestral land. Greetings from Italy.

[vahagnhambardzumyan]

can't believe I learned so much about my name's origin from a Dutch guy. Thank man!

[michielartz]

CORRECTIONS:
Vishap - a - kar* 3:32
Chthonic* 1:07 (the punishment for using hard Greek loanwords)

[Yahana-du]

Vishap akar - you are talking in Hindi