The Armenian Wheel Of Eternity

[gamavor]

[Yervant1]

The Six Pointed Star of Armenia Filed under: Architecture, Art,

Crafts, Culture, History, Religion, Science

 

- March 7, 2012

 

Marble tombstone of the Armenian Grand Prince Hasan Jalal Vahtangian (1214-1261)

 

A few months ago, I made a YouTube video about the history of the

Armenian Wheel of Eternity. Maybe the most iconic among many ancient

Armenian symbols. As expected people started to ask questions and post

comments. Among the commentators a keen observer noticed that in some

cases Armenians depicted the Wheel of Eternity inside a six pointed

star. Because of the many questions I received since, I've decided to

finally grant this symbol attention in a manner of a blog post.

 

Most people today associate the six pointed star (hexagram) with the

JewishStar of David (Magen David), as it is the modern symbol of

Jewish identity and Judaism. In 1948 it was even adopted on the

official flag of Israel. According to Wikipedia: `Its use as a symbol

of the Jewish community dates to the 17th century.' However, like many

other aspects of Armenian culture, not much has been written about the

Armenian usage of the hexagram. Even though its usage in science, art,

architecture, decorations and even for religious purposes has been

extensive throughout the history.

 

Historically Armenians are skilled mathematicians, architects and

craftsman. As such geometry has always been very special to the

Armenians. The ancient Armenians had a refined knowledge of astronomy

and were able to predict astral events. The oldest known observatories

are located inArmenia. Dated as early as 4200 BCE, Karahunj and the

ca. 2800 BCE observatory at Metsamor allowed Ancestral Armenians to

develop geometry to such a level they could measure distances,

latitudes and longitudes, envision the world as round, and were

predicting solar and lunar eclipses about 1000 years before the

Egyptians began doing the same. Armenian architecture is often

geometrically sound with straight linesconnecting columnsand

mathematical precision.The geometry of the Armenian architecture has

stood the test of time bypreserving many ancient buildings in a

region dominated by war, poverty and natural disasters. The fortress

cities and temples that have been excavated in Armenia (some going

back as far as 7000 years) show a remarkable awareness of using

geometry in constructing sacred buildings, using a complex system of

squares, rectangles, circles, polygons with intersecting patterns.

 

Geometry emerges from the study of natural laws. With such knowledge

one can build structures, create devices and predict astral events. As

such geometrical shapes have been considered magical by the ancients.

For without geometry, you cannot build anything, and its knowledge was

the key to survival, and believed to be a key to unlocking the secrets

of the universe. This love for creation/construction has enabled the

early Armenians to value geometrical shapes and symbols giving them a

prominent place in the Armenian Culture.

 

Floor plan of a Medieval Armenian Church of the Shepherd

 

Among many symbols Armenians used the six pointed star for

architectural purposes. Early Armeniansbelieved the symbol to hold

magical powers and incorporated it in architecture, astronomy and

sacred art. Attesting to that are the numerous Armenian churches that

are constructed in the shape of a six pointed star, the usage of

hexagrams to support the dome or simply as sacreddecoration

protecting the Church like magiccharms.

 

The first and the most important Armenian Cathedral ofEtchmiadzin

(303 AD, build by the founder of Christianity in Armenia) is in fact

decorated with many types of ornamented hexagrams.Another example is

seen on the tomb of an Armenian prince of the Hasan-Jalalyan dynasty

of Khachen (1214 A.D.) in the Gandzasar Church of Artsakh(see above).

Maybe the most famous example of architectural usage of ahexagramcan

be admired in the12th century Armenian Church, the Cathedral of St.

James in Jerusalem.Where the hexagram shaped arches aresupporting

the dome. Similar dome arches in the shape of a six pointed star can

be foundthroughout ancient Armenia. To name a few; theexcellent

craftsmanship of the Khorakert monastery dome, or the 13th c.

Khoranashat monastery

 

That the Armenians are acquainted with this symbol from the times of

the immemorial became once again clear when the oldest known depiction

of a six pointed star (dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.) was

excavated in the Ashtarakburial mound in `Nerkin Naver'(in

Armenia). This was confirmed by a series of radiocarbon analysis of

artifacts, conducted in laboratories in Germany and the USA.The

handle of a dagger depicts the worlds earliestdecoration of a

six-pointed starburiedin aburialmound containing over 500 graves.

 

As people who love to build and create Armenians have always valued

science. Geometry in particular has a long history in Armenian arts,

religion as wellas sciences. While the usage of hexagrams (as I have

demonstrated) has been significantthroughoutthe course of Armenian

history, there exist many othergeometrical shapes and symbols

prominentin Armenian culture. Geometry is after all bound to Armenian

culture.The (eight pointed)ArmenianStarfor exampledeservesit's

own entry and will be covered next time around.

 

In closing the following are a few more examples of hexagram usage in

ancient Armenia.

 

http://www.armenianlife.com/2012/03/07/the-six-pointed-star-of-armenia-filed-under-architecture-art-crafts-culture-history-religion-science/

[gamavor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1vsvuYBjLM

 

just to repost the new link. the old one doesn't seem to work.

[onjig]

That is very good! And such music: Edited March 25, 2013 by onjig

[ED]

who can tell me where I can buy a the Armenian wheel of eternity nekclase?????

[MosJan]

Edjan ->> Mamikon Mkhitaryan

https://www.facebook.com/mamikon.mkhitaryan.7