Hayk

Hayk (Armenian: Հայկ), also known as Hayk Nahapet (Հայկ Նահապետ, "Hayk the Patriarch"), is the legendary founder and patriarch of the Armenian nation. His story appears in the History of Armenia attributed to Movses Khorenatsi and in the Primary History traditionally attributed to Sebeos. Additional fragments of his legend are preserved in other historical works and Armenian folk traditions.

According to these historical accounts, Hayk battled against and defeated the tyrannical Babylonian king Bel (also known as Belos or Belus). Depending on the mythological tradition, Bel represents either a symbolic Babylonian/Akkadian war deity or the mythical founder of Babylon. Movses Khorenatsi identifies Bel with the biblical Nimrod and provides a genealogy drawing from biblical sources and Abydenus via Eusebius's works.

In Khorenatsi's narrative (which he claims comes from Mar Abas Catina's writings), Hayk, son of Torgom, had a son named Aramaneak while living in Babylon. When the arrogant Titanid Bel proclaimed himself king over all, Hayk migrated to the region near Mount Ararat with his extended family, servants, followers, and approximately 300 warriors, establishing a village called Haykashen. During this journey, he stationed a detachment with his grandson Kadmos in another settlement. Bel sent his son to persuade Hayk to return, but Hayk refused. When Bel marshaled a massive force against him, Kadmos warned Hayk of the approaching threat.

Hayk assembled his army along Lake Van's shore, declaring they must either defeat Bel or die trying rather than become his slaves. The armies clashed in "a plain between very high mountains" near Lake Van. During the battle, Bel retreated to a hilltop to await reinforcements. Seeing this, Hayk killed Bel with an extraordinary shot from his long bow, throwing the king's forces into disarray. Hayk named the hill where Bel fell Gerezmankʻ ("tombs"). He had Bel's body embalmed and ordered it displayed in a high place visible to the king's wives and sons. Hayk subsequently established a fortress called Haykʻ or Haykaberd at the battle site, which is why, according to Khorenatsi, the district is called Hayotsʻ Dzor ("The Valley of the Armenians") and the Armenian country is called Hayk'.

Scholars Ghevont Alishan and Mikayel Chamchian calculated the date of this legendary battle (known as Dyutsaznamart or "Battle of the Giants") between Hayk and Bel to be August 11, 2492 BCE or 2107 BCE, respectively.