Pages: 135-147

The study of the history of money circulation in ancient Armenia indicates the presence of mythological images, which can be seen on the coinage of Orontid and Artaxiad dynasties. The mythological aspect of those images has not yet been the subject of a special study, despite the fact that many specialists have noted their presence on ancient Armenian coins. Our study provides an opportunity to state that mythological images and themes on coins intended to emphasize the majesty of the ruler, and therefore, they depicted mostly the supreme god, the mother goddess, the god of courage and mighty, the goddess of victory, animals and plants, symbolizing royal power and king’s victory in battles. The mythological images on coins inherently have a number of manifestations, among which particularly significant are the presentations on the divine origin of the royal family, on the protection of the king by gods, and many other ideas characteristic for mythological thinking in ancient societies. The results of our research in future may be useful for studying certain aspects of the history of culture of ancient Armenia.

Keywords: Ancient Armenia, coins, mythological images, god, king, money circulation

Information about author:

Gohar Vardumyan (Yerevan, Armenia). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Armenia. Marshal Bagramyan Ave., 24g, Yerevan, 0019, Armenia
E-mail: [email protected]