smith's bible dictionary 1884 - Salt Lake Bible College

Smith's Bible Dictionary
A
See Alpha
Aarat
(high or holy ground), a mountainous district of Asia mentioned in the Bible in
connection with the following events:— (1) As the resting-place of the ark after the
deluge. (Genesis 8:4) (2) As the asylum of the sons of Sennacherib. (2 Kings 19:37;
Isaiah 37:38) Authorized Version has “the land of Armenia.” (3) As the ally, and
probably the neighbor, of Minni and Ashchenaz. (Jeremiah 51:27) [Armenia] The
name Ararat was unknown to the geographers of Greece and Rome, as it still is to the
Armenians of the present day; but it was an ancient name for a portion of Armenia.
In its biblical sense it is descriptive generally of the Armenian highlands—the lofty
plateau which over looks the plain of the Araxes on the north and of Mesopotomia on
the south. Various opinions have been put forth as to the spot where the ark rested,
as described in (Genesis 8:4) (but it is probable that it rested on some of the lower
portions of the range than on the lofty peak to which exclusively) Europeans have
given the name Ararat, the mountain which is called Massis by the Armenians, Agri-
Dagh, i.e. Steep Mountain, by the Turks, and Kuh-i-Nuh, i.e. Noah’s Mountain, by
the Persians. It rises immediately out of the plain of the Araxes, and terminates in two
conical peaks, named the Great and Less Ararat, about seven miles distant from each
other; the former of which attain an elevation of 17,260 feet above the level of the sea
and about 14,000 above the plain of the Araxes, while the latter is lower by 4000 feet.
The summit of the higher is covered with eternal snow for about 3000 feet. Arguri,
the only village known to have been built on its slopes, was the spot where, according
to tradition, Noah planted his vineyard. “The mountains of Ararat ” are co-extensive
with the Armenian plateau from the base of Ararat in the north to the range of Kurdistan
in the south, we notice the following characteristics of that region as illustrating
the Bible narrative; (1) its elevation. It rises to a height of from 6000 to 7000 feet above
the level of the sea. (2) Its geographical position . Viewed with reference to the dispersion
of the nations, Armenia is the true centre of the world; and at the present day
Ararat is the great boundary-stone between the empires of Russia, Turkey and Persia.
(3) Its physical character . The plains as well as the mountains supply evidence of volcanic
agency. (4) The climate . Winter lasts from October to May, and is succeeded
by a brief spring and a summer of intense heat. (5) The vegetation . Grass grows luxuriantly
on the plateau, and furnishes abundant pasture during the summer months
to the flocks of the nomad Kurds. Wheat, barley and vines ripen at far higher altitudes
than on the Alps and the Pyrenees.
2