18.03.2015 Views

Armenia and its sorrows

Armenia and its sorrows

Armenia and its sorrows

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

—<br />

CHAPTER II.<br />

HISTORY OF THE NATION.<br />

ACCORDING to the national traditions, the<br />

<strong>Armenia</strong>ns are the descendants of Haik, the<br />

son of Togarniah, the f^r<strong>and</strong>son of Japhet. The<br />

historians of the country frequently call the people<br />

by the appellation of " Torgoniian Doon," the house<br />

of Togarmali, <strong>and</strong> the same expression is used by the<br />

prophet Ezekiel. This tradition is regarded as highly<br />

probable by the best authorities.<br />

Professor Delitzsch, in his Commentary on Genesis,<br />

says: "The <strong>Armenia</strong>ns regarded Thorgom (Togarmah),<br />

the father of Haik, as their ancestor ; <strong>and</strong> even granting<br />

that the form of the name Thorgom was occasioned<br />

by Thorgama of the Septuagint, still the <strong>Armenia</strong>n<br />

tradition is confirmed by Tilgarimmu being in the<br />

cuneiform inscription the name of a fortified town<br />

in the subsequent district of Melitene, on the southwestern<br />

boundary of <strong>Armenia</strong>."<br />

Professor Rawlinson, whose authority on such<br />

sul)jects no one will dispute, says: "Grimm's view<br />

tliat Togarmah is composed of two elements Toka,<br />

which in Sanskrit means a tribe or race, <strong>and</strong> Ai^nah<br />

(Ai-moiiia)—may well be accepted. The <strong>Armenia</strong>n<br />

tradition whicli derives the Haikian race from<br />

Tliorgom, as it can scarcely be a coincidence, must<br />

Ix) regarded as having considerable value. Now, the<br />

existing <strong>Armenia</strong>ns, the legitimate descendants of those<br />

2J

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!