| Vahagn Վահագն | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
| Other names | Vahagn Vishapakagh |
| Gender | male |
| Ethnic group | Armenian |
| Festivals | Navasard |
| Consort | Astłik |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek equivalent | Apollo or Heracles |
Vahagn or Vahakn (Armenian: Վահագն), also known as Vahagn Vishapakagh (Վահագն Վիշապաքաղ, 'Vahagn the Dragon-reaper'), is a warrior god in Armenian mythology.[1] Scholars consider him to be either the thunder, or sun and fire god of the pre-Christian Armenian pantheon, as well as the god of war, bravery and victory.[2][3] He formed a triad with Aramazd and Anahit.[4] Vahagn is etymologically derived from *Varhraγn, the Parthian name for the Indo-Iranian god Verethragna, although there are key differences between the two deities.[5]
Vahagn was worshipped at a tripartite temple complex together with his bride Astghik and the goddess Anahit in the district of Taron, on the slopes of a mountain called Karke near the settlement of Ashtishat.[3][6][7] After Armenia came under Hellenistic influence in antiquity, Vahagn was identified with the Hellenic deity Heracles, but also rarely with Apollo.[1]
- ^ a b Petrosyan 2007, p. 6.
- ^ Petrosyan 2002, p. 36.
- ^ a b Katvalyan 1985.
- ^ Russell 1987, p. 192.
- ^ Petrosyan 2002, p. 35.
- ^ Petrosyan 2007, pp. 6–7.
- ^ Petrosyan 2018, p. 207.