Hayk – Legendary Patriarch And Founder Of Armenia Who Defeated King Bel Of Babylon

Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com – People in Armenia say they are descendants of Hayk (Haic) who was their Patriarch and founder of the nation.

“Hayk” by Mkrtum Hovnatanian (1779–1846). The legendary founder of the Armenian nation, standing next to the tomb of Bel, with Hayk’s arrow still in Bel’s chest. The map depicts the Lake Van region and Mount Ararat, with Noah’s ark. Credit: Public Domain

Knowledge about the fascinating legend of Hayk comes from Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi (410 – c. 490). Khorenatsi documented the events in the life of the legendary Patriarch in the book History of Armenia which contains unique material on ancient Armenian legends and historical information on the nation’s contact with Sassanid, Byzantine Arsacid empires.

Legend tells Hayk was as beautiful as the gods and strong as a giant. He was the son of Torgom, one of Noah’s descendants, and he lived in Shinar, the land of modern-day Iraq where he was a director of the famous Tower of Babel.

When Hayk was still a young man, the patron god of Babylon was Bel, often referred to as God Bel Marduk.

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