Astłik[1] (Armenian: Աստղիկ) was the Armenian goddess of fertility and love, and consort of Vahagn. In the later pre-Christian period she became the goddess of love, maidenly beauty, and of water sources and springs.[2]
The Vardavar festival devoted to Astłik that was celebrated in mid July became the Christian holiday of the Transfiguration of Jesus, and is still celebrated by Armenians. As in pre-Christian times, people release doves and throw water on each other.
One tradition says she was Noah's daughter, born after his flood.[3]
Astłik was originally the goddess creator of heaven and earth, and was later demoted to the position of "maiden". This change in the pantheon occurred as Aramazd became creator and Anahit became known as Great Lady and Mother Deity (the moon being worshipped as her personification). They form a trinity in the pantheon of Armenian deities. In the period of Hellenistic influence, Astłik became similar to the GreekAphrodite and the MesopotamianIshtar.
Etymologyedit
Her name is the diminutive of the Armenian աստղastł,[4] meaning "star". The word is from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr and is cognate with Sanskrit stṛ́, Avestan star, Pahlavi star, Persian setār, Ancient Greek: astḗr.
Cultic localesedit
Her principal seat was in Ashtishat (Taron), located to the North from Muş, where her chamber was dedicated to the name of Vahagn and known as "Vahagn's bedroom". Vahagn was the personification of a sun-god, her lover or husband according to popular tales.
Other temples and places of worship of Astłik had been located in various towns and villages, such as the mountain of Palaty (to the South-West from Lake Van), in Artamet (12 km from Van),[5] etc.
The unique monuments of prehistoric Armenia, vishap ("dragon stones")[a] spread in many provinces of historical Armenia (i.e., Gegharkunik, Aragatsotn, Javakhk, Tayk, etc.), and are additional manifestations of her worship.
^p. 107, "The Pantheon of Armenian Pagan Deities", Gagik Artsruni, Yerevan, 2003
Bibliographyedit
Ačaṙean, Hračʿya (1971). Հայերեն Արմատական Բառարան [Dictionary of Armenian Root Words] (2 ed.). Yerevan University Press.
Petrosyan, Armen (2002). The Indo‑european and Ancient Near Eastern Sources of the Armenian Epic. Washington, D.C.: Institute for the Study of Man. ISBN9780941694810.
Petrosyan, Armen (2007). "State Pantheon of Greater Armenia: Earliest Sources". Aramazd: Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 2: 174–201. ISSN 1829-1376.
Petrosyan, Armen (2015). Problems of Armenian Prehistory. Myth, Language, History. Yerevan: Gitutyun. ISBN9785808012011.
February 16, 2024
astłik, armenian, Աստղիկ, armenian, goddess, fertility, love, consort, vahagn, later, christian, period, became, goddess, love, maidenly, beauty, water, sources, springs, vardavar, festival, devoted, that, celebrated, july, became, christian, holiday, transfig. Astlik 1 Armenian Աստղիկ was the Armenian goddess of fertility and love and consort of Vahagn In the later pre Christian period she became the goddess of love maidenly beauty and of water sources and springs 2 The Vardavar festival devoted to Astlik that was celebrated in mid July became the Christian holiday of the Transfiguration of Jesus and is still celebrated by Armenians As in pre Christian times people release doves and throw water on each other One tradition says she was Noah s daughter born after his flood 3 Contents 1 Mythology 2 Etymology 3 Cultic locales 4 See also 5 Footnotes 6 References 7 BibliographyMythology editAstlik was originally the goddess creator of heaven and earth and was later demoted to the position of maiden This change in the pantheon occurred as Aramazd became creator and Anahit became known as Great Lady and Mother Deity the moon being worshipped as her personification They form a trinity in the pantheon of Armenian deities In the period of Hellenistic influence Astlik became similar to the Greek Aphrodite and the Mesopotamian Ishtar Etymology editHer name is the diminutive of the Armenian աստղ astl 4 meaning star The word is from Proto Indo European h stḗr and is cognate with Sanskrit stṛ Avestan star Pahlavi star Persian setar Ancient Greek astḗr Cultic locales editHer principal seat was in Ashtishat Taron located to the North from Mus where her chamber was dedicated to the name of Vahagn and known as Vahagn s bedroom Vahagn was the personification of a sun god her lover or husband according to popular tales Other temples and places of worship of Astlik had been located in various towns and villages such as the mountain of Palaty to the South West from Lake Van in Artamet 12 km from Van 5 etc The unique monuments of prehistoric Armenia vishap dragon stones a spread in many provinces of historical Armenia i e Gegharkunik Aragatsotn Javakhk Tayk etc and are additional manifestations of her worship See also edit nbsp Mythology portalArmenian mythology Armenian Native Faith Anahit Aramazd Hayk Ishtar VahagnFootnotes edit Armenian visap serpent dragon derived from Persian References edit Petrosyan 2015 p 100 Lurker Manfred The Routledge Dictionary Of Gods Goddesses Devils And Demons Routledge 2004 pp 22 23 ISBN 978 04 15340 18 2 Astghik armeniaculture am Acaṙean 1971 p 278 p 107 The Pantheon of Armenian Pagan Deities Gagik Artsruni Yerevan 2003Bibliography editAcaṙean Hracʿya 1971 Հայերեն Արմատական Բառարան Dictionary of Armenian Root Words 2 ed Yerevan University Press Petrosyan Armen 2002 The Indo european and Ancient Near Eastern Sources of the Armenian Epic Washington D C Institute for the Study of Man ISBN 9780941694810 Petrosyan Armen 2007 State Pantheon of Greater Armenia Earliest Sources Aramazd Armenian Journal of Near Eastern Studies 2 174 201 ISSN 1829 1376 Petrosyan Armen 2015 Problems of Armenian Prehistory Myth Language History Yerevan Gitutyun ISBN 9785808012011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Astlik amp oldid 1174027587, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
