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Sculpture in the Armenian Highland
Vishapakar (Dragon Stone)
Stone statues in the shape of dragons can be found in the vicinity of mountain springs and the canals, water reservoirs, and artificial lakes that arise from them. The majority of the ancient dragon statues date back to the 3rd century B.C. and have the shapes of snakes, bulls, rams, storks, and other animals. It is presumed that the statues were representations of animals who were believed to have godly powers that contributed to fruitful agriculture and irrigation.
Two dragon stones were preserved in Sevan Lake (Geghama Mountains), where the largest is 3.5 m high. These stones were also found on the slopes of Aragats and are considered unique sculptural specimens.
In the Christian era, numerous dragon stones were transformed into khachkars.
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