A 5-Thousand-Years-Old Dragon Sculpture on Mount Aragats

In the Neolithic, in the so-called Mountain Island on the slopes of Mount Aragats, the oldest object of worship, water, became increasingly associated with the likeness of a fire-spewing dragon.

The consequence of this interpretation was the formation of the tradition of Armenian dragons. In archaic Armenia, they were called vishaps.

Stone sculptures of vishaps designed to protect the spring from possible threats were installed throughout the water area of high-mountainous watercourses and lakes.

The three-meter vishap sculpture on the southern slope of Mount Aragats is more than five thousand years old. During its existence, it protected Lake Kari located at an altitude of 3,190 meters.