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The Armenite

Armeniaca Person

Hayk

HistoryCultureAlso: Haik, Hayk Nahapet, Haik Nahapet and 2 more

Armenian
Հայկ Նահապետ

Hayk is the ancestor of the Armenians and the founder of the nation. In the History of Movses Khorenatsi he is a descendant of Japheth, the son of Noah, and a skilled archer.12 He rebelled against Bel, the tyrant of Babylon, and went with his people to the land around Mount Ararat. Bel pursued him and was killed in the battle that followed. The descendants of Hayk became the Hay, the Armenian people.1

The same story opens the Primary History of Armenia, a short collection of early accounts. Its first chapter tells of Hayk, the ancestor of the Armenian people, his departure from Babylon, his revolt against Bel and his settlement in the Armenian highlands.3 It goes on to tell of his descendant Ara the Beautiful.3

Armenians call themselves Hay, the name of the people who descend from Hayk.1

Sources

  1. “Armenian Mythology.” World History Encyclopedia. link. ↩
  2. “Movsēs Xorenac‘i.” Encyclopaedia Iranica. link. ↩
  3. “The Primary History of Armenia.” attalus.org. link. ↩

Further reading

  • Movses Khorenatsi. History of the Armenians. Classical Armenian text with parallel English, searchable concordance. ARAK29 Educational and Cultural Foundation. link