Sakhurak 3

Name: Sakhurak 3
Monument type: Stele
Region: Ararat Province
Periods: Prehistoric

Name: Sakhurak 3

Other nomination: Azhdaha-Yurt

Monument type: Vishapakar (dragon stone)

Province/ Community: Geghama Mountains, Ararat (province), Goght (nearby community in Kotayk)

Type: Bull-type

Material: Light gray porous basalt with white lichen.

Preservation:

Monument. Good (almost fully preserved, lower small part missing).

Image. Good (all the details are preserved).

Context. Sufficient (it is in its original place, put aside and dug into the structure causing a funnel to be appeared. In Mar and Smirnov’s pictures, first it is on the ground with the back part, and the front part is completely visible on the surface; then it is semi-erected on a pile of stones, later turned on its side on, which indicates that the monument was already partially cleaned/excavated by Mar and Smirnov, and the serious funnel has appeared in front of the monument recently: the current funnel is not in the photos dating to the 1970s (V. Saroyan), 1980s (E. Khanzadyan) and 1994 ( H. Martirosyan).

Size: 250x170x47 sm.

Original Location: Azhdaha-Yurt (nowadays it is called Kati punkt – the Milk Point).

Current location: In the original location

Coordinates: N 40.128459°, E 044.882614°

Altitude: 2510 m

Era and chronology: Middle and Late Bronze Ages, XXIV-XIII centuries BC.

Sakhurak 3: The Majestic Dragon Stone of the Geghama Mountains

As you stand before Sakhurak 3, you are transported back in time to an era when myth and reality intertwined.

Much like its fellow dragon stones exclusive to the Armenian Highlands, Sakhurak 3 occupies a revered position in Armenian folklore, intertwined with natural wonders, water, and the colossal inhabitants of the mountains.

This specific dragon stone, with its resplendent carvings and unyielding presence, invites you to unravel the mysteries of the Geghama Mountains and the civilizations that once called this rugged terrain home.

In the heart of the rugged Geghama Mountains, nestled amidst the breathtaking landscape of Armenia’s Ararat province, an ancient enigma awaits discovery — Sakhurak 3, known locally as “Azhdaha-Yurt” and often referred to simply as a “Vishapakar” or dragon stone.

This remarkable monument, a bull-type Vishapakar, bears witness to the rich tapestry of history that blankets the region.

Sakhurak 3 stands as a sentinel from the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, dating back to the XXIV–XIII centuries BC. Its existence in the realm of world archaeology is a testament to the enduring allure of the Armenian highlands, where Vishapakars like this are as endemic as the iconic khachkars.

These dragon stones, intricately carved and often associated with natural phenomena and mythological giants, possess a mystique that transcends time.

This extraordinary dragon stone, crafted from light gray porous basalt adorned with the ethereal touch of white lichen, stands at an altitude of 2,510 meters, whispering tales of ancient civilizations that once thrived in these highlands.

Sakhurak 3 boasts remarkable preservation, with almost all its intricate details fully intact, save for a small missing portion at its base.
Its dimensions, measuring 250×170×47 cm, exude a sense of grandeur and mystery.

Sakhurak 3’s archaeological context hints at its significance. It appears to have been part of a cromlech or platform, surrounded
by enigmatic stones that speak of ancient rituals and gatherings.

The dragon’s immediate vicinity is rich with the presence of other dragons and cromlechs, suggesting a deeper connection to a complex and sacred landscape.

🔍 Research history

It was discovered by N. Mar and Y. Smirnov expedition on July 19, 1909. According to the photographic records, the next visit was made in 1911 and 1912.

🧱 Archaeological context description

Immediate. The surrounding stones indicate that it was in a cromlech/platform.

Related. Other dragons, cromlechs.

🌍 Significance

Vishapakar (dragon stone) is characteristic only of the Armenian highlands and is an endemic phenomenon like khachkar. It appears at an altitude of up to 3200 m from the sea level, which is an exceptional phenomenon according to the world archeology.

📜 Traditional legends

Dragon stones carry a high level of symbolic weight. Their name is related to the ancient and new voluminous and similar legends of the population of the Armenian Highlands, where dragons are elemental characters associated with natural phenomena (especially water) and their regulation. Dragons are often associated with mountain-dwelling giants. On one hand the name could have arisen as a result of the size of the statues, and an allegorical interpretation of their iconography on the other hand.

📚 Sources

Literature

Barseghyan L.A. 1967, The “dragons” of the Geghama Mountains, Historical Journal 4, 181-188.
Karapetyan S. (ed.) 2014, Armenia. Illustrated album, Yerevan, “Zangak”, 89 pages.
2. Marr N.Ya., Smirnov Ya.I. 1931, Vishaps, Leningrad, Ogiz, 108 p.

🕰️ Archive

Mar, Archive 25, pic. Q 560-2, Q 560-7, Q 560-12; Khanzadyan, Archive 1, pic. 60, 62, 146, 147 (photo), 61, 63 (drawing); Saroyan,
Archive 1 pic. 9. Martirosyan, Archive 1, pic. 10.
Mar, Archive 25 – Geghama Mountains, 1908-1912, 83 photographs, 21 negatives, Photo archive of the Institute of the History of Material Culture of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, fund 23 – N.Ya. Marr.
Khanzadyan, Archive 1 – Materials related to Vishapakars, 1967-1987, 152 photos, 3 drawings, 1 map (in Armenian, Russian and English), “Service for the
Protection of Historical Environment and Cultural Museum Reservations” SNCO E. Khanzadyan fund, Maps: Hamlet Sargsyan’s personal archive (Institute of
Archeology and Ethnography of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia), Yerevan.
Saroyan, Archive 1 – Materials from the personal photo archive of photographer Vladimir Saroyan