ORIGIN: Armenian
TYPE: Astral Goddess
INFORMATION: Derived from the Mesopotamian model of Istar. Survived in Christian times as the mother of fairies.
In the earliest prehistoric period Astlik had been worshipped as the Armenian deity of fertility and love, later the skylight had been considered her personification, and she had been the consort of Vahagn. In the later heathen period she became the goddess of love, maidenly beauty, and water sources and springs.
The Vardavar festival devoted to Astlik that had once been celebrated in mid July was transformed into the Christian holiday of the Transfiguration of Jesus, and is still celebrated by the Armenians. As in pre-Christian times, on the day of this fest the people release doves and sprinkle water on each other with wishes of health and good luck.
One tradition holds her as Noah's daughter, born after the great flood.
MYTHOLOGY:
Astlik was originally the goddess creator of heaven and earth, and was later demoted to the position of "maiden". This change in the pantheon occurred as Aramazd became creator and Anahit became known as Great Lady and Mother Deity (the moon being worshipped as her personification). They form a trinity in the pantheon of Armenian deities. In the period of Hellenistic influence, Astlik became similar to the Greek Aphrodite and the Mesopotamian Ishtar.
ETYMOLOGY:
CULTIC LOCALES:
Her name is the diminutive of Armenian astl, meaning "star". The word stems from Proto-Indo-European root *h2ster. Hence, it is also cognate to Sanskrit str´, Avestan star, Pahlavi star, Persian setar, Ancient Greek: aster, etc. All star goddesses were originally called night goddesses, including the morning and evening star (Venus).
Her principal seat was in Ashtishat (Taron), located to the North from Mus, where her chamber was dedicated to the name of Vahagn and known as "Vahagn's bedroom". Vahagn was the personification of a sun-god, her lover or husband according to popular tales.
Other temples and places of worship of Astlik had been located in various towns and villages, such as the mountain of Palaty (to the South-West from Lake Van), in Artamet (12 km from Van), etc.
The unique monuments of prehistoric Armenia, vishap ("dragon stones") spread in many provinces of historical Armenia (i.e., Gegharkunik, Aragatsotn, Javakhk, Tayk, etc.), and are additional manifestations of her worship.