History of Armenia, by Father Michael Chamich; from B. C. 2247 to ...

22 HISTORY OF ARMENIA.
buildings were erected by him, and so great
was the content of the people residing near
it, that by common consent that part of his
dominions was called after him, Ararat or
Ayrarat. The administration of public affairs,
at that period, was so highly appreciated,
that, by way of excellence it was named the
3432'
Ayraratian government. Some years after
the accession of Arab to the throne, his queen
Nuardus was delivered of a son, who was
^^"^^^ Cardiis. Ninus died about this period,
and was succeeded in
the government of
Assyria by his wife Semiramis, who was the
first woman invested with sovereign power.
She was of extremely loose principles, and
having heard of the personal beauty of Arab,
she sent him an offer of her hand and crown ;
or if he did not choose to marry her, she besought
him to visit her at Nineveh to gratify
her sensuality, when she
would load him with
riches, and permit him to return in safety to
Armenia. Arah, disgusted at the grossness of
the offer of the lustful queen, drove her ambassadors
with disgrace out of his country.
'^J'Jj This brousfht on a war; Semiramis invadmsr
S456. ^ ^
Armenia with a powerful army, Arah hastened
at the head of his troops to oppose her. On
the opposite armies joining battle, the Assyrian
soldiers were charged by their queen to
spare