All’ombra del melograno: l’antica mitologia armena tra ellenizzazione e sopravvivenze medioevali

This paper explores the roots and evolution of ancient Armenian mythology, analyzing the delicate balance between the historical processes of Hellenization and subsequent Christianization, and the persistence of native folklore into the Middle Ages. Despite Greek and Roman historiography often portraying Armenia as a remote and "barbarian" country, archaeological and literary evidence proves it was a deeply sophisticated cultural crossroads. The peak of political and cultural splendor in the 1st century BC under Tigranes II demonstrated a profound absorption of Hellenistic models, including Greek theatrical traditions. However, beneath this refined veneer lay an ancient oral literature and a national heroic mythology rooted in early Mesopotamian and local motifs. Following the country's Christianization in the 4th and 5th centuries AD, much of this pagan heritage was deliberately suppressed by the intellectual elite. Through a careful reading of historical sources - most notably the foundational History of Armenia by Moses of Khorene - this study investigates the survival and transformation of these ancient myths. Notable examples include the assimilation of the dragon-slaying god Vahagn into the Christian figure of Saint George, the rich legendary traditions surrounding the sacred and inviolable Mount Ararat, and the archaeological significance of the višapner (monolithic dragon-stones). Ultimately, the paper highlights how Armenia's early mythological identity managed to withstand radical cultural shifts, adapting and surviving within the medieval Christian landscape.