Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/58

 REIGNS OF ARMENAC AND HARMA. Page 13

banks of the river before mentioned, which had received the name of Gihon. The new city, which afterwards became the capital of his kingdom, he called Armavir, after himself, and the name of the river he changed to Arax, after his son Arast. Aramais had several sons, one of whom Sharah, was the most ravenous glutton in the dominions of his father. Sharah had a numerous family, and on that account received peculiar marks of his father's favour. A portion of the most fertile land in the kingdom, situate near the river Akhoorian, was given him as a maintenance. Here he settled himself with his family, giving the country the name of Shirac. From the insatiable appetite of this prince, and the abundant fruitfulness of his lands, arose the ancient proverb, "If you have the craving stomach of Sharah, ours are not the granaries of Shirac!" Aramais having reigned about 40 years, or according to the Septuagint, 90 years, died, and was succeeded in his power by his son Amassia.

This Prince fixed the seat of his government in the city of Armavir. He had three sons, Gelam, Pharokh and Zolak. Shortly after he had assumed the supreme authority, he set out on a journey to Mount Ararat, accompanied by his sons. On his arrival there he built at the foot of it two villages, at the distance of a day's