Page:The History of Armenia - Avdall - Volume 1.djvu/88

48

CHAPTER VII.

The period between the Reign of Vahagn and the Conquest of Armenia by Alexander the Great.

Vahagn, although the youngest son of the late Monarch, took possession of the throne at the decease of his faxher; his two elder brothers being of a less warlike disposition, quietly relinquishing their claims. This prince proved a virtuous and magnanimous character. His personal strength and courage were so great, that he was usually called by his subjects Hercules the Second. He performed many gallant exploits, and became so renowned that songs in his praise were composed and sung by the Armenians and Georgians; wherein, amongst a variety of other valiant actions, he was said to have fought and conquered dragons. This alluded, no doubt, to his wars with the Medes, the descendants of Ahasuerus, who, as we have related, were called the Dragons. These songs were current in Armenia even in the days of the most flourishing state of Chris-