page_title: Vishapakar
section_title: Mythology
hierarchical_section_title: Vishapakar / Mythology
caption_attribution_description: Հայերեն: Վահագնի արձանը Երևանի մոտակայքում, քանդ.` Կառլեն ՆուրիջանյանEnglish: Statue of Vahagn the Dragon Slayer near Yerevan, sculptor:Karlen Nurijanyan This is a photo of a monument in Armenia identified by the ID 1.7/10
context_page_description: A vishapakar also known as vishap stones, vishap stellas, "serpent-stones", "dragon stones", or simply as vishaps, are characteristic menhirs found in large quantities in the Armenian Highlands, in natural and artificial ponds, and other sources of water. They are commonly carved from one piece of stone, into cigar-like shapes with fish heads or serpents. Supposedly they are images of vishaps, mystical creatures.
  The word’s etymology is disputed, either meaning a poisonous water-living creature or a creature of prodigious size. There are currently 150 vishaps in existence, of which 90 are found in Armenia.
context_section_description: Certain studies believe Vishap is foremost worshipped as water, rain and a rich-giving soul, whose tail is capable of creating canals and paths when it hits the Earth. Vishap is also seen as an eerie monster who is a water source and guards treasure. Almost all the mythology explains divinity or god's hand as the cause of Vishap's death, which absorbed the water, the treasures that were guarded, and released the sacrificial virgins. Thus, old Egyptian myth regards Vishap as a power of darkness, who is defeated by the sun goddess Rán. As for Armenian myth, Vahagn, the dragon slayer, fights and wins the battle against Vishap. The Vishap battle myths have spread across the Armenian population as an old folk tale (for example, Dikran and Aztahag, Daredevils of Sassoun). They have also had an influence in Christian literature. According to legend, Vishap's death and virgin sacrifice saves Saint George. Other legend says Vishap is presented as a Sun, who is a bad and destructive force, that the angels fight with (thunder as a symbol of the fight, the lightning as Archangel Gabriel's flashing sword, the sparks as a fiery arrow, and the rainbow as the bow).
  According to Manuk Abeghian, Vishaps have been donated to Pantheon's beloved goddess, Astghik. As for Grigor Ghapantsyan, they symbolize the dying and resurrecting god, Ara the Beautiful.
caption: Vahagn the Dragon Slayer
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