Vahagn

Vahagn
  • Warrior God
  • God of Sun and fire
Statue of Vahagn the Dragon Slayer choking a dragon in Yerevan by Karlen Nurijanyan
Other namesVahagn Vishapakagh
Gendermale
Ethnic groupArmenian
FestivalsNavasard
ConsortAstłik
Equivalents
GreekApollo or Heracles

Vahagn or Vahakn (Armenian: Վահագն), also known as Vahagn Vishapakagh (Վահագն Վիշապաքաղ, 'Vahagn the Dragon-reaper'), is a warrior god in Armenian mythology. Scholars consider him to be either the thunder, or sun and fire god of the pre-Christian Armenian pantheon, as well as the god of war, bravery and victory. He formed a triad with Aramazd and Anahit. Vahagn is etymologically derived from *Varhraγn, the Parthian name for the Iranian god Verethragna, although there are key differences between the two deities.

Vahagn was worshipped at a tripartite temple complex together with his bride Astghik and the goddess Anahit in the district of Taron, on the slopes of a mountain called Karke near the settlement of Ashtishat. After Armenia came under Hellenistic influence in antiquity, Vahagn was identified with the Hellenic deity Heracles, but also rarely with Apollo.