Armazi or Armaz (Georgian: არმაზი) was the King of the Gods in the pagan Georgian religion.
Mythology[]
Etymology[]
The origin of the name Armazi is unclear, but presumably his name has an Indo-European origin, so Armazi could be cognate with Aramazd and therefore with Ahura Mazda or the Luwian lunar god Arma.
Saint Nino[]
In the Life of Nino (9th or 10th century) a statue of Armazi is described as "a man of bronze standing; attached to his body was a golden suit of chain-armour, on his head a strong helmet; for eyes he had emeralds and beryls, in his hands he held a sabre glittering like lighting, and it turned in his hands". In the same account asserts that its subject, a 4th-century female baptizer of Georgians Saint Nino, where the aforementioned witnessed a pagan festival dedicated to Armazi.
In the Conversion of Kartli briefly mentions an age long strife between Armazi and "the God of Chaldeans - Itrushana" and that Armaz was responsible for using the sea as his weapon in their conflict. The character that mentions this fact, also credits the same Chaldean God for the destruction of the idol.
Luwian Religion[]
Possibly the Armazi cult has Luwian influences, because in the Caucasus, interaction between Europe and Asia was very common. Therefore presumably that Armazi has influences in the cult of a Luwian god more specifically Arma.
Popular culture[]
Pop games[]
- Armazi is a car in Gods and Monsters.
Places[]
- Armazi is a place in modern Georgia.