How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

[bell-the-cat]

Re: How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

A few more images. "Mother Armenia", with Ararat in the background. A postcard from the 1900s

[bell-the-cat]

Re: How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

The top line looks like it says "Mayis 28 (23?)" or May 28 (23). Not sure about the bottom line or the people.

May 30th 1918 was the date of the declaration of Armenian independence. (according to Wikipedia anyway)

The figure at the top left is similar to a well-known photo of one of the Armenian generals on horseback, (can't remember which right now, Andranik maybe?). I'm sure everything in the image has some specific meaning.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

Bell isn't an Armenian though, I don't know if he went to Armenia either, did you Bell?

From what you said in your earlier post, I can say I have been there three times more than you have.

And I have seen Ararat on hundreds of separate occasions from Turkey and Iran and Azerbaijan.

[jgk3]

Re: How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

Bell isn't an Armenian though, I don't know if he went to Armenia either, did you Bell?

[SweetAngessa]

Re: How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

Most of the people here aren't particularly literate, or knowedgeable, and - most importantly for your question - they are not in Armenia. So you probably aren't going to get the answers you hope for.

Such is the small size of the country and the height of the mountain, most of the population of Armenia can see Ararat and, with that seeing, there is always the pain of knowing that it is not part of Armenia's territory, that it is now part of a country which tried to exterminate the Armenian nation, and that they cannot visit it. So even though most of the cultural reasons that once gave such mountain peaks significance (the abode of the Gods, and such like) are no longer applicable, on a basic level the physical presence of Ararat guarantees its continuing cultural importance.

Symbols such as those in yerazhishda's post are important for reflecting and reinforcing that cultural importance. Last year, it was proposed to drop the image of Ararat from Armenia's national football logo. The strength of the protests against the proposal were enough for the plan to be abandoned.

I don't think it is an ancient symbol - but it became a very important symbol during the cultural and intellectual processes that led to the rebirth of Armenia. Starting in the 18th century Ararat often appeared in pictures associated with Armenian history or patrotic imagery and it culminated with Ararat as the central element of the badge/seal of the Armenian Socialist republic (even though it was by then not part of the Republic's territory).

Thank you very much Bell-the-cat you answer what i was asking. I did not want to read a history book or see a picture. I wanted a armernian personally tell me the history and what it means to him. I wanted to know what it evokes in a heart, soul and mind.

[yerazhishda]

Re: How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

Thank you.

There is also writing on a scroll held by one of the men, but it is too small and blurry to make out. Are any of their faces recognisable as real people?

The top line looks like it says "Mayis 28 (23?)" or May 28 (23). Not sure about the bottom line or the people.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

Another detail of the same postcard. The figure is holding a flag - presumably that of Armenia - and it looks like he has been injured. There is blood seeping onto the flag and he is being supported by a nurse.

[bell-the-cat]

Re: How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

Azad, Angakh, Miatsial Hayasdan = Free, Independent, United Armenia

Thank you.

There is also writing on a scroll held by one of the men, but it is too small and blurry to make out. Are any of their faces recognisable as real people?

[yerazhishda]

Re: How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

Here is a close-up of the winged female figure. Can someone translate the words on her flag?

Azad, Angakh, Miatsial Hayasdan = Free, Independent, United Armenia

[bell-the-cat]

Re: How do Armenian feel about Mount Ararat?

Here is a close-up of the winged female figure. Can someone translate the words on her flag?

BTW, I think the card is Bulgarian in origin (though it has the stamp of "Photo Arax, Buenos Aries" on the back).