Karapet ( Arm. Կարապետ - forerunner, predecessor, forerunner) - a character in Armenian mythology , after the adoption of Christianity by the Armenians identified with John the Baptist (John the Forerunner) .
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Most of the plots and motives associated with it are of pre-Christian origin; the character himself took over the functions of the ancient gods . Karapet in myths , tales, beliefs and songs, like Mihr, conquers all the devas : he puts them in prison, but one of them, Lame Dev, asks Karapet to save him from prison, promising to serve until the day of judgment in the monastery dedicated to Karapet, sweeping out him ash.
Karapet is the keeper of the Armenians. When the enemy approaches, thanks to his help, the Armenians defeat and destroy the enemy troops. He was named Msho Sultan (Sultan of Musha-Taron - the place of his monastery) or Sultan of St. Karapet. Karapet (like the archaic god Tire ) is a patron of the arts, who bestows people with the ability to music, poetry, brings good luck in sports (Surb Karapet is a twat, “gifted with St. Karapet”). Folk musicians ( ashugs ), rope dancers , acrobats and wrestlers addressed their prayers to him.
Appearance
In the medieval epic “ Taron War ” and mythologized legends, Karapet is like a thunder god - a long-haired husband rattling in the clouds with a purple crown on his head, with a cross , in clothes shining like fire.
Notes
Literature
- Harutyunyan S. B. Karapet // Mythological Dictionary / Ch. ed. E. M. Meletinsky . - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia , 1990. - S. 274. - 672 p. - ISBN 5-85270-032-0 .
- Karapet / Harutyunyan S. B. // Myths of the world : Encycl. in 2 t / hl ed. S. A. Tokarev . - 2nd ed. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia , 1988. - T. 2: K — Ya. - 719 p.