Journal or Publication Title:

Բյուրականի աստղադիտարանի հաղորդումներ: Երևանի աստղադիտարանի բյուլետեն = Сообщения Бюраканской обсерватории. Бюллетень ереванской Астрономической обсерватории = Contributions from the Burakan observatory. Bulletin of the Erevan astronomical observatory

Date of publication:

2026

Volume:

73

Number:

1

ISSN:

2579-2276

Coverage:

76-91

Abstract:

The Universe, celestial bodies and luminaries, and the sky have been reflected in Armenian petroglyphic art and mythological conceptions since the earliest times. Throughout millennia, representations of the Universe, embodied in depictions of the Milky Way, the Sun, stars, and other celestial luminaries and bodies, have found vivid expressions in Armenian petroglyphs. Numerous rock carvings dating from the VII-III mill. BC, discovered on the slopes of the Aragats, Geghama, Vardenis, Syunik, and Vayots Dzor Mountain ranges, as well as at other sites throughout Armenia, depict solar, lunar, and astral motifs. The Universe found expression in Armenian rock carvings not only through depictions of celestial bodies but also through ritual scenes reflecting the veneration of higher supernatural powers. Cults of gods and goddesses personifying the Sun and the Moon, planets of the solar system, and constellations, myths about the Milky Way, and many archeological artifacts, prove the high level of interpretation of the Universe in Ancient Armenian culture. Mythological representations of the Universe were further embodied in images of Patriarch Gods and in cosmogonic narratives connected with the Sun, the Moon, the Milky Way, and the stars. Over the millennia, a rich corpus of solar, lunar, and astral deities emerged within Armenian mythological thought, traces of which have been preserved in the Armenian epic “Sasna Tsrer”. Certain cosmological beliefs and mythological motifs have also survived in transformed forms within Armenian ethnographic traditions, remaining part of popular culture and folk belief up to the present day.

Format:

pdf

Identifier:

oai:arar.sci.am:439341

General note:

Communications of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (ComBAO) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal, which publishes research in observational and theoretical astronomy/astrophysics and presents recent advances in these fields. It is being published by the NAS RA V. Ambartsumian Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) in English in electronic form. The journal publishes original papers, review papers, brief reports, book reviews, special communications, observational and theoretical results in various fields of astronomy and related sciences, and some editorial notes, including anniversaries and obituaries. Under the heading “Legacy”, the renewed magazine will republish some old articles of high value in English. The heading “Guest articles” will bring to the attention of readers the articles of researchers who are not employees of BAO. ComBAO was founded in 1946 and regularly published in 1946-1990. However, the publication was interrupted because of the economic situation after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Location of original object:

ՀՀ ԳԱԱ Հիմնարար գիտական գրադարան