Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/145

 100 HISTORY OF ARIIEKIA.

enloginms liave been passed on Abgar by both Latin and Greek historiana. His Annenian subjects gave him the surname of ** Ayag-ayr that is, '' excellent in wisdom and estimable in manners." The Assyrians and Greeks not being ' able to pronounce these words correctly, some called him Avagar, others varied it to Apacar» but the general term into which this prince's surname sunk is Abgar. The Assyrians gene- rally designated him Agpar, which signifies emi* nent or great. His original name after a short period ceased to be in use. This need not asto* nish our readers when they reflect that a variety of words in every language are sadly altered by the vulgar, through their incorrect pronuncia- tion. Thus in Armenian for instance, instead of Astwazatoor, it is pronounced Astoor; instead of Mukhithar, Mukhik ; for Martirose tbey say Mirto; for Carapiet, Curpo, &c. Again, a few more examples of the same kind are shewn in the words Valarsakert, called Alashkert; Arkori, Akori ; Manavazakert, Manazkert ; &c. Hence, with respect to the just surname Avag-Ayr; this was corrupted into Abgar. 4000 1 In the second year of the reign of Abgar, a ' decree was issued by the Emperor Augustus to tax all the kingdoms and states that acknow- ledged the Roman dominion, and also to erect statues of him in the religious temples of every

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