Astghik
The rose-fingered goddess of love, water and Vardavar
Astghik was the beloved of Vahagn — goddess of love and water among the Armenians, whose cult was associated with the planet Arusyak (Venus). Her temple at Ashtishat was known as “the Chamber of Vahagn,” where Astghik would meet her beloved. The union of Astghik and Vahagn was considered sacred: it was believed that their coming together brought rain upon the earth, caused the land to blossom, and granted people abundance and prosperity.
Astghik was depicted as a naked woman of breathtaking beauty, often shown bathing. Each night she bathed in the waters of the Euphrates. Young men of Taron, captivated by her beauty, would light bonfires on Mount Daghonats, hoping by their glow to catch a glimpse of the bathing goddess and marvel at her radiant beauty. But each night Astghik would drape the plain of Taron in mist, so that no uninvited eye could behold her.
According to a later tradition, Astghik was the daughter of Noah (Xisuthros). After the flood and Noah's arrival in Armenia, dominion over the world passed to his three sons — Zrvan, Titan, and Habetosten. When they divided the earth among themselves, Zrvan sought to subjugate his brothers and place his own sons on the thrones of their lands. Titan and Habetosten rose against their eldest brother and went to war with him. Titan seized part of Zrvan's lands. Their sister Astghik then intervened in the strife, imploring her brothers to end the conflict. Titan and Habetosten agreed to acknowledge Zrvan's rule, on a single condition: all male children born to him would be put to death, so that Zrvan's kingdom would not pass to his descendants from generation to generation. They reached agreement and sealed a pact. Titan and Habetosten appointed watchmen from among their most trusted men to oversee the births of all Zrvan's wives.
When two of Zrvan's newborn sons had been killed, Astghik was overcome with pity and, together with Zrvan's wives, persuaded several of the Titans to spare his remaining sons and send them in secret to the west — to the mountain called Olympus, or in Armenian, Dyutsınkets (“the place where gods fell”).
In Taron, Astghik had the fortress of Astghnabert (shortened to Asghnabert) built for the safety of her brother Zrvan. In later times it was also known as Mokats Berd.
Apart from Ashtishat, temples dedicated to Astghik were located in the village of Artamet near Lake Van, in the province of Andzevatsik, in Artashat, and elsewhere. Roses and doves — considered sacred — were offered to the goddess. The custom of offering roses appears to be the origin of Astghik's epithet “Vardamatn” (“rose-fingered”).
The festival of Astghik was celebrated in midsummer with great public festivities and ceremonies. Known as Vartavar, it is observed among the people to this day. During the celebration, roses were offered to Astghik, doves were set free, people splashed one another with water, and all gave themselves over to joyous merrymaking.