The legend of Ara Geghetsik (Ara the Beautiful), recorded in Khorenatsi's History, describes the Assyrian queen Semiramis desiring Ara; when he refused, she waged war and he died in battle. She then invoked the aralezner—mythological creatures said to lick wounds clean—to revive him. Khorenatsi uses this legend as the origin of Shamiramakert (Van) and the Lake Van plain's name.
1229Mythology
