2375) "Goddess Astghik", Armenia: EUROPA - 2022: "Stories and Myths" Theme: HayPost CJSC (Armenian Post) has issued a EUROPA Stamp of 350 AMD (Armenian Dram) depicting the Legends/Myths: Date of Stamp issue: 27.05.2022:
About Europa 2022 - Stamps:
EUROPA Stamps are special stamps issued by European postal administrations.
They bear the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.
EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world and have been issued for over 60 years.
Every year a new theme is assigned by PostEurop and all participating countries issue stamps with their own interpretation of the theme. The theme for 2022 is "Stories and Myths".
More about EUROPA Postage Stamps:
EUROPA Postage stamps (also known as Europa - CEPT - European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations - until 1992) are special stamps issued by European Postal Administrations/Enterprises and bears the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.
EUROPA stamps underline cooperation in the posts domain, aimed at promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals.
As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.
Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe's desire for closer integration and co-operation.
In 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps.
When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the Europa issues. The CEPT logo was replaced by a new logo created by PostEurop i.e. the word "EUROPA" leaning towards the right hand side.
Each year, PostEurop's "Stamps & Philately Group" selects the EUROPA stamp theme:
1993 - Contemporary Art
1994 - Great Discoveries
1995 - Peace and Freedom
1996 - Famous women
1997 - Tales and legends
1998 - Festivals and National Celebrations
1999 - Nature Reserves and Parks
2000 - Common Design. Tower of 6 stars
2001 - Water - Treasure of Nature
2002 - The Circus
2003 - Poster Art
2004 - Holidays
2005 - Gastronomy
2006 - Integration through the eyes of Young People
2007 - Scout Centenary
2008 - Writing Letters
2009 - Astronomy
2010 - Children Books
2011 - Forests - International Year of Forests
2012 - Visit …. (for instance "Visit Finland" etc.)
2013 - Van of the Postman - Postal vehicles
2014 - Musical instruments - National musical instruments
2015 - Old Toys
2016 - Ecology in Europe - "Think Green". Common Design
2017 - Castles
2018 - Bridges
2019 - National Birds
2020 - Ancient Postal Routes
2021 - Endangered National Wildlife
2022 - Stories & Myths.
About Europa 2022 - "Stories and Myths" Stamps issued by Haypost CJSC (Armenian Post):
PostEurop stamp theme for 2022 is "Stories and Myths".
The EUROPA Stamps issued by Haypost CJSC (Armenian Post) feature the Legend of the "Goddess Astghik":
Haypost CJSC (Armenian Post) has issued on 27.05.2022, EUROPA stamps depicting the Legend of "Goddess Astghik".
The Legends/Myths - Background:
In the Armenian mythology, Astghik was the Goddess of Love, Beauty and Water. According to the Armenian myths, Astghik, an extraordinary beauty, bathed every night in the Euphrates River.
To admire the beauty of the Goddess, the young men lit big fires on Mount Daghonats of Taron region. Protecting herself from the eyes of others, every night Astghik covered the entire Taron Valley with fog.
In the earliest prehistoric period Astłik (Armenian: Աստղիկ) 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 Astłik 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.
Astłik 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, Astłik became similar to the Greek Aphrodite and the Mesopotamian Ishtar.
Her name is the diminutive of Armenian "աստղ" ("astł"), meaning "star". 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 Muş, 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 Astłik 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.
For more information on the Dragon stones, please visit the following link:
17) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Old Road Majstorska Cesta", Croatia: A Se-tenant of two Stamps of the values of 8.60 HRK issued by Croatian Post: Date of stamp issue: 08.05.2020
Links to other interesting posts from Armenia on this blog:
Links to other interesting posts on Noah's Ark on this blog:
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