high mare Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 (edited) I am glad I found this forum for many reasons!! I hope there is someone that can clear this mystery. When I was very young, about 10, I met a U.S. Marine SGT. in Rochester, Michigan. We struck up a conversation at a bakery while my parents shopped. We were well into the conversation when the nationality topic came up. I told him I was 1/2 Armenian and the conversation continued. He was talking about being stationed in the Armenian region of the USSR near Turkey and told me about a group or cult that were marked by a spider charm or necklace. Remember, I was just a kid so the exact conversation is a little sketchy. He had my total attention when he mentioned the spider and to this day I am trying to put the pieces of the story back together. As the conversation neared it's end, he opened his topcoat to reveal his uniform and name badge. His name was an Armenian name which I cannot remember and he gave me the name badge which has since been lost. I have always wondered about the "SPIDER CULT" and the one thing that keeps popping up is the British rock band THE WHO. The band had a very early hit recording called ARMENIA, CITY IN THE SKY. The bass player in the band wore what looked to be the exact charm necklace the Marine SGT. had told me about. Any info or direction would be much appreciated. You can mail me at MUSTONA@AOl.COM Edited October 5, 2004 by high mare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Sorry, this is the first I hear of it - welcome BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high mare Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Sorry, this is the first I hear of it - welcome BTW. style_images/master/snapback.png Glad to get such a quick response! I hope I find out something about it. I know there have been a lot of secret ways to maintain tradition through secret signs and codes so perhaps it is along those lines??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominO123 Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 I am glad I found this forum for many reasons!! I hope there is someone that can clear this mystery. When I was very young, about 10, I met a U.S. Marine SGT. in Rochester, Michigan. We struck up a conversation at a bakery while my parents shopped. We were well into the conversation when the nationality topic came up. I told him I was 1/2 Armenian and the conversation continued. He was talking about being stationed in the Armenian region of the USSR near Turkey and told me about a group or cult that were marked by a spider charm or necklace. Remember, I was just a kid so the exact conversation is a little sketchy. He had my total attention when he mentioned the spider and to this day I am trying to put the pieces of the story back together. As the conversation neared it's end, he opened his topcoat to reveal his uniform and name badge. His name was an Armenian name which I cannot remember and he gave me the name badge which has since been lost. I have always wondered about the "SPIDER CULT" and the one thing that keeps popping up is the British rock band THE WHO. The band had a very early hit recording called ARMENIA, CITY IN THE SKY. The bass player in the band wore what looked to be the exact charm necklace the Marine SGT. had told me about. Any info or direction would be much appreciated. You can mail me at MUSTONA@AOl.COM style_images/master/snapback.png Seems to me a story invented that people tell to kids. Welcome unboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Glad to get such a quick response! I hope I find out something about it. I know there have been a lot of secret ways to maintain tradition through secret signs and codes so perhaps it is along those lines??? style_images/master/snapback.png There's a wealth of knowledge here. If it exists, I'm pretty confident that someone here knows about it. We'll see.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high mare Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Seems to me a story invented that people tell to kids. Welcome unboard. style_images/master/snapback.png maybe, but that darn bass player from The Who. Pretty funny if the whole thing stemmed from him and his spider necklace. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high mare Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 There's a wealth of knowledge here. If it exists, I'm pretty confident that someone here knows about it. We'll see.... style_images/master/snapback.png Thats what I was hoping to hear!! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominO123 Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 maybe, but that darn bass player from The Who. Pretty funny if the whole thing stemmed from him and his spider necklace. Thanks! style_images/master/snapback.png When I was a kid, there was a man that wanted to sell me a pieces of wood he claimed was from Noes Ark... he made a long story, I wondered about it for quite some time. Your story is possible, it is just the fact that you were a kid when it was told to you that make me believe it was a story told to a kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high mare Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 When I was a kid, there was a man that wanted to sell me a pieces of wood he claimed was from Noes Ark... he made a long story, I wondered about it for quite some time. Your story is possible, it is just the fact that you were a kid when it was told to you that make me believe it was a story told to a kid. style_images/master/snapback.png When I was very, very young my Armenian grandmother told me a great story. She was born and raised in Armenia till the age of 16 when she was forced to Canada. The story was of a man that was too lazy to work so he went out to find a shade tree where he was to rest. He found a tree and ate his lunch washing it down with fresh milk. He rested againsted the tree and nodded off to sleep. As he began to snore with his mouth open a snake nearby could smell the fresh milk that the lazy sleeping man had just drunk. The snake crawled into the mans mouth and dissappeared into his stomach but not before the man caught a glimpse of the snakes tail passing below his nose! He ran home in a panic and the only thing he could think to do was put a pan of warm milk under his ass hoping that the snake would smell the milk and come out! I always knew this was a made up story but as many times as I heard it, it still makes me laugh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 (edited) Peter Townshend of The WHO is of Armenian heritage! As to the spider cult...One time as a child I tried to kill a spider in our apartment. My grandpa stopped me and said that the Spider is a God-loving creature. Here is the story. One time the Roman soldiers were searching for Jesus to arrest him in the forest. The only place he found refuge was a big hole into an old oak tree. Once he got inside the tree, a Spider started to knit his net and covered Jesus from the Roman soldiers’ eyes. That is the story my grandpa told me about the Spiders. I also strongly recommend seeing the movie with Roger Daltrey called “McVicar”! Check out "Free me" from this page! It Rocks! http://www.mp3.com/albums/17477/summary.html Edited October 5, 2004 by gamavor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DominO123 Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 When I was very, very young my Armenian grandmother told me a great story. She was born and raised in Armenia till the age of 16 when she was forced to Canada. The story was of a man that was too lazy to work so he went out to find a shade tree where he was to rest. He found a tree and ate his lunch washing it down with fresh milk. He rested againsted the tree and nodded off to sleep. As he began to snore with his mouth open a snake nearby could smell the fresh milk that the lazy sleeping man had just drunk. The snake crawled into the mans mouth and dissappeared into his stomach but not before the man caught a glimpse of the snakes tail passing below his nose! He ran home in a panic and the only thing he could think to do was put a pan of warm milk under his ass hoping that the snake would smell the milk and come out! I always knew this was a made up story but as many times as I heard it, it still makes me laugh! style_images/master/snapback.png You rember me the stories I was told about snakes. One of those, A big ferious snake comming to bite a child that was learning how to eat "Pilav and Mazoun." The baby saw the snake, took it very hard, and pull it in the "Pilav, Mazoun, Pilav, Mazoun, Pilav, etc..." Untill it killed the snake. I always believed that story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 (edited) I just wanted to add that there is nothing turkish in this cult, and hardly it is a cult...it is just man made story about Spiders. But thank you High Mare for reminding me for one of the best Rock bands ever! Edited October 5, 2004 by gamavor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high mare Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 I just wanted to ad that there is nothing turkish in this cult, and hardly it is a cult...it is just man made story about Spiders. But thank you High Mare for reminding me for one of the best Rock bands ever! style_images/master/snapback.png Good info!! Don't you think it is strange though with the story, The Who, the Armenian connection and the spider necklace that THE OX (John Entwistle) used to wear??? Have you seen his necklace?? Nice talking to you, I will check out the Daltry movie too!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high mare Posted October 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 You rember me the stories I was told about snakes. One of those, A big ferious snake comming to bite a child that was learning how to eat "Pilav and Mazoun." The baby saw the snake, took it very hard, and pull it in the "Pilav, Mazoun, Pilav, Mazoun, Pilav, etc..." Untill it killed the snake. I always believed that story. style_images/master/snapback.png Good one!!! Those are great stories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosJan Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 http://members.lycos.co.uk/carl2knight/upload/spiderweb.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THOTH Posted October 5, 2004 Report Share Posted October 5, 2004 Welcome High Mare - nice little story/nice posts. Never heard of the spider cult sorry (but I'm certainly no expert...)....but the Who - great band - agree...never heard that Pete was (part?) Armenian either - I guess its certinly possible - I mean look at that nose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 6, 2004 Report Share Posted October 6, 2004 The Armenian guitar player in the Who, eh. This is something extreme. I mean this is as far as it can get in terms of a hook up with something Armenian to take it from there. Let's see how far you will get High Mare Wecome to Hyeforum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high mare Posted October 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2004 The Armenian guitar player in the Who, eh. This is something extreme. I mean this is as far as it can get in terms of a hook up with something Armenian to take it from there. Let's see how far you will get High Mare Wecome to Hyeforum style_images/master/snapback.png I don't follow???? Get how far where??? I was trying to find a connection between an old Armenian story and a necklace worn by a member of The Who. Someone else thought that Peter Townshend was of Armenian decent. All I have to go on is The spider story, The same necklace as described in the story as worn by John Entwistle and the song Armenia, City in the Sky. Maybe there is no connection but thats what I am looking to find out. Even if there is no connection, I would still like to find info on Armenian spider stories. Someone else out there must have heard some before unless the guy that told it to me was some creepy weirdo that just made it up?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 6, 2004 Report Share Posted October 6, 2004 http://www.everythingsg.com/celebs/Pete%20Townshend%201.jpg I like his famouse hand move... Also, interestingly enough, the phrase "Armenia city in the sky" kind of reflects how the older generations of Armenian diasporans think about Armenia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 6, 2004 Report Share Posted October 6, 2004 I don't follow???? Get how far where??? I was trying to find a connection between an old Armenian story and a necklace worn by a member of The Who. Someone else thought that Peter Townshend was of Armenian decent. All I have to go on is The spider story, The same necklace as described in the story as worn by John Entwistle and the song Armenia, City in the Sky. Maybe there is no connection but thats what I am looking to find out. Even if there is no connection, I would still like to find info on Armenian spider stories. Someone else out there must have heard some before unless the guy that told it to me was some creepy weirdo that just made it up?????? style_images/master/snapback.png Sorry for my English. I just meant that, there are many people who have some Armenian connection or relation and at some point in there lives they start exploring it. This is the first time I see a person starting it from the Who's It was interesting. Peter Towshend has Armenian ancestry. I have heard it for many times for diferent sources. Don't know anything about the spider though. Peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high mare Posted October 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2004 Sorry for my English. I just meant that, there are many people who have some Armenian connection or relation and at some point in there lives they start exploring it. This is the first time I see a person starting it from the Who's It was interesting. Peter Towshend has Armenian ancestry. I have heard it for many times for diferent sources. Don't know anything about the spider though. Peace style_images/master/snapback.png And I never had any idea that he was any part Armenian!!! But its good news. Can you explain about Armenia, City in the Sky and how you think it relates to the older generations view of Armenia??? Thanks for your help and info, I appreciate the time and opinions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armen Posted October 6, 2004 Report Share Posted October 6, 2004 And I never had any idea that he was any part Armenian!!! But its good news. Can you explain about Armenia, City in the Sky and how you think it relates to the older generations view of Armenia??? Thanks for your help and info, I appreciate the time and opinions. style_images/master/snapback.png This is my personal opinion and many Armenia may not agree with it but... The first generations of diasporan Armenians (while Armenia was in the USSR) developed an imaginary notion of Armenia (like a heaven) that has been lost for ever. When the independent Armenia emerged after the collaps of the USSR many of them confronted with reality that Armenia is a real world state with many, many nasty problems. So, the song "Armenia in the sky" nicely reflects that first image of Armenia the disporans had. Although, the Who may have a very different explanation of this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high mare Posted October 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2004 This is my personal opinion and many Armenia may not agree with it but... The first generations of diasporan Armenians (while Armenia was in the USSR) developed an imaginary notion of Armenia (like a heaven) that has been lost for ever. When the independent Armenia emerged after the collaps of the USSR many of them confronted with reality that Armenia is a real world state with many, many nasty problems. So, the song "Armenia in the sky" nicely reflects that first image of Armenia the disporans had. Although, the Who may have a very different explanation of this... style_images/master/snapback.png Thank you very much, that makes a lot of sense even if it is not related to the song. I understand what you are saying and never thought of that. I am glad you pointed it out!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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