Vahagn
| Vahagn | |
|---|---|
| |
| Other names | Vahagn Vishapakagh |
| Day | 27th day of each month in the Armenian calendar |
| Gender | male |
| Ethnic group | Armenian |
| Festivals | Navasard |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | Aramazd |
| Siblings | Anahit, Nane and Mihr |
| Consort | Astłik |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek | Heracles |
| Roman | Hercules |
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 *Warahraγn, 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.