ArmHistory.com

A tale of loyalty, healing, and divine compassion in ancient Armenia In the rich world of Armenian mythology , the Aralezs hold a unique and moving role. These mythical beings—depicted as winged dog-spirits—were not gods of vengeance or war, but celestial healers. Revered for their ability to revive fallen heroes by licking their wounds, the Aralezs represent an ancient Armenian belief in divine mercy and second chances. A Legendary Tale: Ara the Beautiful and the Aralezs The most enduring legend involving the Aralezs comes from 5th-century historian Movses Khorenatsi . In his work History of the Armenians , he recounts the story of Ara the Beautiful , a noble Armenian king who died in battle after refusing the love of the Assyrian queen Semiramis . Refusing to accept his death, Semiramis laid Ara's body on a sacred mountain and prayed for the Aralezs to descend from the heavens and restore...

The 5th century occupies a distinguished place in Armenian intellectual history. Often referred to as the Golden Age of Armenian literature , this period gave rise not only to the Armenian alphabet but also to the birth of Armenian historiography . The works of the 5th-century Armenian historians laid the foundation for a national historical consciousness and continue to shape the collective memory and identity of the Armenian people. These historians— Agathangelos , Koryun , P’awstos Buzand, and Movses Khorenatsi —were not mere chroniclers of events. They were nation-builders, theologians, moralists, and literary stylists, each weaving together fact, tradition, and theology to construct narratives that linked Armenia’s past to its Christian present. Agathangelos: The Chronicler of Conversion Agathangelos is traditionally credited with writing The History of the Armenians , which details the conversion of Armenia to Christianity in the early 4th century under King Tiridates III an...