A Note On the Garni Inscription

Abstract

This short Aramaic inscription, with its title of son of Wologesus is of certain historical importance, as title MLK RB ZY 'RM[NYNJ found in its Aramaic form helps to solve an old problem. The Iranian title RB' MLK' 'rmn'n of pre-Christian kings of known long time ago,' caused a controversy regarding its translation. This title in its Iranian fonn is a very ambiguous one, because *wazurg Armenan gah,2 or *wazurg gah Armenan3 could have been interpreted as the of Armenia, or the great of Annenia, while Aramaic form of title exludes this possibility.4 The problem, however, is complicated by fact that Armenian form, known only from much later period, being a calque from Iranian, t'agawor Hayoc' Mecac', has only one possible meaning, namely the of Armenia[ns]. In previous literature, there were polemics about this question, without referring to our Aramaic inscription, known only since 1964. The title wazurg Armenan gah' was compared to wazurg K-Uan gahan ?ah, generally rendered as Great of Kings of Kagans,6 or King of Kings of KnSans. It is perhaps of interest in this context that Armenian authors and only they, as Frye 1983, 142, had observed mentioned relationship between Arsacids of and Ktians. Henning 1952, 517, wrote: was in where he held office of Vazurg Armenan gah king of Armenia; ibid., n. 4: not Great king of Armenia (as has often been translated); title equals Arm. t'agawor Hayoc' Mecac', similarly, king of Kushan is preferarble to king of Kushan.' These words were written by Henning in 1952; some years later, Maricq 1958, 318-9, translated du Grand roi d'Armenie Hormizd-Ardachir8 for Greek of 9KZ 48 xcc-L f2ppu8apcpaExpou geycaXXo am)X,co Apgvitac Ka-L... and Middle Persian W 'w(w)xrmzd 'rtx?tr ZY LB' MLK' 'Imn'n W....9 Nevertheless, Lang 1983, 517 n. 2, stated: not King of Armenia... during 1st and 2nd centuries A.D., Armenian throne was regularly reserved for Parthian King's nearest kin, who was known as Great king of Armenia rather as their heir apparent to British throne is called Prince of Wales. This custom, political conditions allowing, continued into early Sassanian times: thus, prior to 293, futue King. Narseh was viceroy of with title of Vazurg Armenan Bah (great of Armenia).10 Historically, was a part of Parthia rather that of Persia; it was after rise of Persianl Sassana dynasty in first half of 3rd century CE that thie Armenians, with their Parthian Arsacid royal family, broke up with Iranian monarchy of Sasanians who were seen by Armenian Arsacids as usurpers, and only after