What Does Ararat Really Mean?
Bible scholars agree that the word Ararat actually means the Urartu region, which was a large area, not a specific mountain. However, Mount Ararat has become the traditional place where people believe Noah’s Ark landed after the flood.
The Tradition of Mount Ararat
The idea that Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Ararat started in the 11th century AD when Armenians began to connect the mountain with the ark. Greater Ararat, the tallest peak in Turkey at 5,173 meters (16,854 feet), is considered the first mountain that would have appeared above the floodwaters. This is why many people think the ark would have landed there Private Tour Guide Istanbul.
Search for the Ark
Because of this tradition, there have been many archaeological expeditions to find the ark on Mount Ararat. Some people believe there are still pieces of the ark hidden under the snow that covers the mountain. Since 1856, over 200 people from more than 20 countries have claimed to see the ark on the mountain. There is also a museum in Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia that is said to have a piece of the ark.
The Armenian Connection
An Armenian historian, Movses Khorenatsi (410-490 AD), wrote in his History of Armenia that Noah and his family first lived in Armenia before moving to Babylon. His son Japheth returned to the area around Mount Ararat and started the Armenian nation. Many Armenians believe Japheth is their founding father. Since 1918, Mount Ararat has been shown on the Armenian coat of arms.
Mount Ararat’s Political History
In 1923, Mount Ararat became part of Turkey, but it used to be within the Armenian borders. After the Armenian genocide in 1915, when 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire, Mount Ararat became a symbol of the suffering and loss of the Armenian people. Some Armenian groups still argue about the border between Turkey and Armenia Mount Ararat A Mountain of Mystery.
Mount Ararat in Literature
Mount Ararat is mentioned more in literature than any other mountain. For example, the poet William Wordsworth imagined seeing the ark on the mountain in his poem Sky-prospect.
Is the Ark on Mount Ararat?
It’s impossible to know for sure if Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Ararat or somewhere nearby. Still, most Christian teachings continue to believe that Mount Ararat was the final destination of the ark.
