In Movses Khorenatsi’s account, Hayk son of Torgom had a child named Armanak while he was living in Babylon. After the arrogant Titanid Bel (Ba’al) made himself king over all, Hayk emigrated to the region near Mount Ararat with an extended household of at least 300 and settled there, founding a village he named Haykashen.
On the way he had left a detachment in another settlement with his grandson Kadmos. Bel (Baal) sent one of his sons to entreat him to return, but was refused. Bel decided to march against him with a massive force, but Hayk was warned ahead of time by Kadmos of his pending approach. He assembled his own army along the shore of Lake Van and
told them that they must defeat and kill Bel, or die trying to do so, rather than become his slaves.
In his writings Movses states that:
“Hayk was a handsome, friendly man, with curly hair, sparkling eyes, and strong arms. He was a man of giant stature, a mighty archer and fearless warrior. Hayk and his people, from the time of their forefathers Noah and Japheth, had migrated south toward the warmer lands near Babylon. In that land there ruled a wicked giant, Bel. Bel tried to impose his tyranny upon Hayk’s people. But proud Hayk refused to submit to Bel. As soon as his son Aramaneak was born, Hayk rose up, and led his people back to the land of his forefathers, the land of Ararat. At the foot of the mountains, he built his home, Haykashen.”
The Battle of Giants and Defeat of Bel
Hayk defeats Bel with an arrow:
At Dyutsaznamart “Battle of Giants”), near Julamerk southeast of Lake Van, on August 11, 2492 BC (according to the Armenian traditional chronology) , Hayk slew Bel with a nearly impossible shot using a long bow, sending the king’s forces into disarray.
The hill where Bel with his warriors fell, Hayk named Gerezmank meaning “tombs”. He embalmed the corpse of Bel and ordered it to be taken to Hark where it was to be buried in a high place in the view of the wives and sons of the king.
Soon after, Hayk established the fortress of Haykaberd at the battle site and the town of Haykashen in the Armenian province of Taron. He named the region of the battle Hayk, and the site of the battle Hayots Dzor.
In comparative mythology, Hayk is likened to the constellation Orion.
Vocabulary
1․Arrogant – ամբարտավան
2․Household – տնային տնտեսություն
3․To settle-բնակեցնել
4․Settlement-բնակավայր
5․To found- հիմնել
6․Detachment-ջոկատ
7․To refuse – մերժել
8․To decide- որոշել
9․To march against sb.- ինչ-որ մեկի դեմ գնալ, արշավել ինչ-որ մեկի դեմ
10․To warn-զգուշացնել
11․Aheat of time – ժամանակից շուտ, առաջ
12․To approach – մոտենալ
13․To assemble- հավաքել
14․To defeat- պարտության մատնել
15․Slave – ստրուկ
16․Handsome – գեղեցիկ, վայելչակազմ
17․Curly – գանգուր
18․Archer- նետաձիգ
19․Warrior – զինվոր,ռազմիկ
20․Forefather – նախահայր
21․To impose – պարտադրել
22․Tyranny – բռնակալություն
23․Disarray – խառնաշփոթ
24․Tomb- գերեզման
25․To embalm – զմռսել
26․Corpse – դիակ
27․To bury – թաղել
28․To establish – հիմնել
29․Fortress – բերդ
30․Province – նահանգ
31․Region – մարզ
32․Site- տեղ
33․Comparative- համեմատական
34․Constellation – համաստեղություն
35․To liken – նմանեցնել
Անիտա Գևորգյան 