# յուշկապարիկ
## Old Armenian
### Alternative forms

* ուշկապարիկ (uškaparik), վշկապարիք (vškaparikʻ)

### Etymology

The textual evidence and the etymology point to յուշկապարիկ (yuškaparik) being a donkey-like demon. Borrowed from an Iranian compound, whose first part means "ass, donkey" (compare rare Persian وشک (vošk, “donkey”), Khotanese [script needed] (jūṣḍa-), Wakhi yukš (“wild goat, ibex”)), and the second part is the etymon of պարիկ (parik). Compare also Old Georgian ვირდევი (virdevi) referring to the same concept.

### Noun

յուշկապարիկ • (yuškaparik)
* a kind of demon haunting ruins
** 5th century, Bible, Isaiah 13.22:Եւ յուշկապարիկք [translating ὀνοκένταυρος (onokéntauros)] բնակեսցեն ի նմա, եւ ոզնիք ձագս հանցեն յապարանս նորա։Ew yuškaparikkʻ [translating ὀνοκένταυρος (onokéntauros)] bnakescʻen i nma, ew oznikʻ jags hancʻen yaparans nora.Translation by Brenton Septuagint Translationand satyrs shall dwell there; and hedgehogs shall make their nests in their houses
** 5th century, Eznik Kołbacʻi, Ełc ałandocʻ [Refutation of the Sects] 122: […] զյուշկապարկաց ասեն բնակել յաւերակսն, զոր յոյն լեզու իշացուլս ասէ։[…] zyuškaparkacʻ asen bnakel yaweraksn, zor yoyn lezu išacʻuls asē.Translation by Blanchard & Young […] they say concerning the yuškaparik, which in the Greek language are called "իշացուլ (išacʻul)" [onokentauros], that they live in ruins.
* siren
** 5th century, with changes and additions in later centuries, Baroyaxōs [Physiologus] Earliest recension (TR).16.2:Բարոյախաւսն ասաց զուշկապարկաց [translating Σειρήν (Seirḗn)], էթէ մահաբերք են եւ ի ծովու ենBaroyaxawsn asacʻ zuškaparkacʻ [translating Σειρήν (Seirḗn)], ētʻē mahaberkʻ en ew i covu enTranslation by Gohar MuradyanPhysiologus says about the Sirens that they cause death and are in the sea.

#### Related terms

* պարիկ (parik)

#### Descendants

* → Armenian: հուշկապարիկ (huškaparik) (learned)

### See also

* իշացուլ (išacʻul)

### References

* ↑ Angelus à S. Joseph (1684) “asino”, in Gazophylacium linguae Persarum, Amsterdam, page 33
* ↑ Astuacašunčʻ matean Hin ew Nor ktakaranacʻ əst čšgrit tʻargmanutʻean naxneacʻ merocʻ hamematutʻeamb ebrayakan ew yunakan bnagracʻ [Bible. Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments]‎, Constantinople: G. Paġtatlean, 1895, page 716a
* ↑ Blanchard, Monica J., Young, Robin Darling (1998) A Treatise on God written in Armenian by Eznik of Kołb (floruit c.430-c.450). An English translation, with introduction and notes (Eastern Christian texts in translation), Leuven: Peeters, page 91
* ↑ Muradyan, Gohar (2005) Physiologus: The Greek and Armenian Versions with a Study of Translation Technique (Hebrew University Armenian Studies; 6)‎, Leuven – Paris – Dudley: Peeters, pages 113, 150

### Further reading

* Ačaṙean, Hračʻeay (1977) “յուշկապարիկ”, in Hayerēn armatakan baṙaran [Armenian Etymological Dictionary] (in Armenian), 2nd edition, a reprint of the original 1926–1935 seven-volume edition, volume III, Yerevan: University Press, page 410ab
* Asatrian, Garnik (2013) “Armenian Demonology: A Critical Overview”, in Iran and the Caucasus‎, volume 17, number 1, page 14 of 9–25
* Awetikʻean, G., Siwrmēlean, X., Awgerean, M. (1836–1837) “յուշկապարիկ”, in Nor baṙgirkʻ haykazean lezui [New Dictionary of the Armenian Language] (in Old Armenian), Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy
* Hübschmann, Heinrich (1897) Armenische Grammatik. 1. Theil: Armenische Etymologie (in German), Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, page 199
* Petrosean, Matatʻeay (1879) “յուշկապարիկ”, in Nor Baṙagirkʻ Hay-Angliarēn [New Dictionary Armenian–English], Venice: S. Lazarus Armenian Academy