Armenian Myths and Legends and their Impact on Armenian Beliefs and Literature

Abstract

Objective : Remnants and light sediments and reflections of the beliefs of Animistic and Totemistic ideological systems that have been dominant among clans and tribes residing in Armenian lands during very distant periods, that is Palaeolithic periods are still recognizable in some life habits and behaviours, social norms, popular beliefs, various folkloric fields, tales, mythological narratives, customs and traditions, folk songs, and proverbs of contemporary Armenian people. Methodology: This paper through studying beliefs and legends of Armenian people tries to prove their relationship with folkloric literature. Results: Animisim or spirit worshipping existed before totemism, but the characteristic of inanimate and animate phenomena such as: different animals, stones, rocks, earthquake, lightning, fire, plants, etc. have helped the creation of animism. Nature worship has been a general phenomenon among ancient people that had existed before all religions, such as Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam. Totemism among Armenians has been expressed with different degrees of progress and development in all material and spiritual fields.. Conclusion: In Armenians great celebrations after Christianity there is also a trace of celebrations of infidelity or Pagan times. Of course the extensive and deep role of Assyrians in the religious beliefs of Armenians should be noted too. Armenians of Western regions of Armenia had worshiped gods such as Naneh, Astgic, Barshamina that were Assyrian.