Throughout history, poets, artists, scientists, and everyday people have sought to unravel the profound mystery of relationships between men and women. It’s a topic as ancient as humanity itself, and no matter how many insights are gained, the full depth of this connection remains elusive. This endless pursuit to understand love and sexuality is, in a sense, as infinite as life itself.
One might argue that the truth behind relationships is not found in the future but in revisiting the forgotten wisdom of the past. A recent discovery in Armenia seems to affirm this idea. Nestled within the Geghama and Vardenis Mountains, a fascinating and unexpected testament to ancient human understanding of sexuality and love has been uncovered.
Suren Petrosyan, a Yerevan-based architect, discovered an impressive series of ancient rock carvings in these mountains. These carvings—systematized under the title “Karadaran,” meaning “stone encyclopedia”—form a collection that reveals humanity’s ancient wisdom about life, love, and the universe. What stands out is the significant number of images dedicated to the sexual sphere of human existence.
The Cult of Sex and the Ancient Mind
The presence of these images is not mere coincidence. The ancients, just like civilizations throughout history—from Egypt and Babylon to Greece and Rome—viewed love, marriage, and sexuality as sacred. In the pantheon of gods, deities of love and fertility held powerful roles. Even Zeus, the mighty ruler of the Olympian gods, was not immune to the whims of love and desire, as he was famously struck by the arrows of Cupid.
For these ancient civilizations, sexuality was deeply intertwined with the process of understanding the world. Rites of passage, ceremonies, and rituals that inducted young people into adulthood were laden with symbolism. These rites were not just performative; they were pedagogical. They imparted accumulated knowledge about sex, relationships, and life itself—codes of behavior that were passed from generation to generation.
Yet, when we look at these ancient depictions through our modern, often prudish lens, we might misinterpret their frankness as mere lust. The ancients, however, saw it differently. For them, the unity of souls and minds was as important as the unity of bodies. This understanding of the harmonious balance between male and female, physical and spiritual, formed the foundation of their worldview. According to ancient thought, this balance was essential for the creation of new life.
Armenia’s Ancient Erotic Art: A Window into a Lost Philosophy
The rock carvings found in Armenia date back to the 5th–3rd millennia BCE, and their meaning goes beyond mere sexual depiction. These ancient illustrations offer a glimpse into a sophisticated and respectful view of human sexuality. They represent a philosophy that embraced the full cycle of life, from chaos to creation, from birth to death, and beyond.
Researchers from the Poisk Center are currently engaged in a comprehensive computer analysis of these carvings. While some symbols have already been deciphered, many remain a mystery. However, even in their current state, the images clearly convey a profound reverence for the enigma of life and love. They reflect a deep connection with the cycle of life and the sacredness of sexual union, which was believed to be both a physical and spiritual journey.
These carvings are not just art; they are a philosophy compressed into visual form. They depict a universe where chaos gives way to order, where man and woman unite to create something greater than themselves—a new life, a new world.
Rediscovering the Lost Wisdom
In modern times, we often view sexuality as something separate from spirituality or intellectual pursuits. However, the ancient people of Armenia—and other civilizations like them—understood that the unity of body, mind, and spirit was crucial for a truly fulfilling existence. The rock art of the Geghama and Vardenis Mountains serves as a reminder of this holistic worldview, where the mysteries of love and life were honored and celebrated, not shunned or hidden away.
As we continue to study these ancient carvings, we are reminded of the timelessness of certain truths. The lessons embedded in these rocks offer a glimpse into a worldview that valued the sacred balance between love, sexuality, and the cosmos—truths that may help us reconnect with our own forgotten wisdom.
Artatsolum
Based on the article by Ashot Gareginyan
