Religion in ancient Armenia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Religion in ancient Armenia
A bronze head of Aphrodite from Satala identified as Armenian Anahit
Created	1st centuries BC

The ancient religions in Armenia are not very well known. Historians believe that early Armenians, like their Aryan relatives, first worshipped nature. Over time, this belief changed into worshipping national gods. Many of these gods were similar to those found in Roman, Greek, and Persian cultures.

One writer, Georg Brandes, described the Armenian gods. He noted that when Armenia became Christian, not only were temples destroyed, but also songs and poems about the old gods were lost. Only small parts of these songs remain. These parts show that the Armenian people had a rich spiritual life and were very creative. Brandes felt these old gods were unique. They were not like the gods from Asia or Greece. Instead, they showed the special qualities of the Armenian people: ambitious, wise, and kind-hearted.

What Did Ancient Armenians Believe?

Early Armenian beliefs started with nature worship. This means they respected and honored things like the sun, moon, rivers, and mountains. They believed these natural elements had spirits or powers.

How Did Their Beliefs Change?

Over many years, these nature beliefs grew into worshipping specific gods. These gods often represented different aspects of nature or human life. For example, there might have been a god of the sun or a goddess of fertility.

Gods Like Other Cultures

Many Armenian gods were similar to gods in other ancient cultures. This is because different cultures often shared ideas and beliefs. For instance, an Armenian god of war might have been like the Roman god Mars or the Greek god Ares. This shows how connected ancient civilizations were.

Other Pages

• Ancient Armenia

Images for kids

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  Side view of the Temple of Garni.

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  Aralez on the battlefield.