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

HISTORY OF ARMENIA^ 43
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CHAPTER VII.
Conquest of Armenia hy Alexander the Great.
Vahagn, although the youngest son of the 348°
The period between the Reign of Vahagn and the
late Monarch, took possession of the throne at
the decease of his father ;
his two elder brothers
being of a less warlike disposition, quietlyrelinquishing
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, a-
mongst 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 Chrisg2