REFERENCES TO WINE AND WINE DRINKING IN MOVSES KHORENATSI’S “HISTORY OF ARMENIA”

Movses Khorenatsi and His Era. Movses Khorenatsi was a fifth-century Armenian historian who is regarded as the “father of Armenian historiography.” His most renowned work, the History of Armenia, was among the earliest attempts to present the complete history of a single nation, from its origins to the historical present of the author’s time. His work is not only a primary historical source, but also provides valuable information about the region, demonstrating Armenia’s connections with the great powers of the era. Beyond its historical significance, the work is distinguished by its literary style and profound ideological layers. Khorenatsi sought to articulate the identity of the people and preserve the memory of their past.

Wine in Khorenatsi’s Work. Movses Khorenatsi’s monumental work, the History of Armenia, is also a unique primary source for the study of Armenian viticultural culture. Throughout his narrative, the Historian repeatedly employs the word “wine,” thereby allowing not only an understanding of the viticultural traditions of the given period, but also the possibility of broader analytical observations. In at least two episodes, Khorenatsi explicitly refers to developed winemaking traditions. The first concerns Goghtn province, regarded as one of the cradles of Armenian viticulture, described as the “wine-abundant Goghtn” (Khorenatsi 1961, 133). The second reference appears immediately after the death of Ara the Beautiful, when Shamiram is said to have planted in Armenia “numerous fertile and wine-bearing vineyards” (Khorenatsi 1961, 114). Both references testify to the existence of a highly developed viticultural culture in Armenia.

In addition to mentioning wine itself, Khorenatsi clearly refers to the contexts and modes of its consumption, thereby offering insight into the lifestyle, conduct, and social behavior of the people of that era. He describes episodes in which wine causes individuals to lose their sense of reality and commit actions that ultimately prove fatal. Among such accounts are the stories concerning King Arshak and Gnel, Trdat Bagratuni and the concubine of Bakur, prince of Syunik, as well as Khosrov of Gardman and the Persian king Shapur.

The Story of King Arshak. The Armenian king Arshak went hunting in Gogovit province, located in the vicinity of Mount Masis (Ararat), where he successfully slaughtered numerous deer. After the hunt, during a feast, the king, while drinking, boasted that no ruler before him had managed to kill so many deer within a single hour. Taking advantage of Arshak’s intoxicated state, Tirit and Vardan, who harbored hostility toward the king’s nephew Gnel, deceived the king by claiming that Gnel had recently killed even more deer on Mount Shapihavan (Khorenatsi 1961, 287). As a consequence, Arshak began plotting against him and eventually had Gnel killed by the very same Vardan (Khorenatsi 1961, 287).

The Story of Trdat Bagratuni and Nazenik. Particular attention in Movses Khorenatsi’s History of Armenia should be given to the story of Trdat Bagratuni and Nazenik. According to the Historian, Trdat was a brave and powerful man, though physically unattractive, and the son-in-law of King Tiran. His wife, Eranyak, however, constantly treated him with contempt because of her own exceptional beauty. Enraged by this behavior, Trdat beat her, cut off her hair, and expelled her. Thereafter, he rebelled and fled toward Media, but upon hearing of King Tiran’s death on the way, he remained in Syunik.

Khorenatsi recounts the episode as follows:

“One day Bakur, the patriarch of Syunik, invited him to a banquet. While they were making merry with wine, Trdat saw a woman of remarkable beauty named Nazenik, who was performing with graceful hand movements. Trdat desired her and said to Bakur: ‘Give me that concubine.’ Bakur replied: ‘I shall not give her, for she is my concubine.’ Then Trdat seized the woman, drew her toward himself, and before the guests embraced and kissed her like an uncontrollably infatuated youth. Bakur, overcome with jealousy, rose to take the woman from him. But Trdat stood up and, using a flower vase as a weapon, drove the guests away from the table. It seemed as though a new Odysseus had appeared, slaughtering the suitors of Penelope, or as if the battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs at the wedding of Peirithous were taking place anew. Having thus reached his residence, he immediately mounted a horse and departed for Sper together with the concubine. Yet it was truly unnecessary to recount the exploits of such a lustful man” (Khorenatsi 1961, 221–222).

This story resonated so deeply within Armenian literary tradition that even in the early twentieth century the poet Daniel Varoujan, who became a victim of the Armenian Genocide, composed the poem The Concubine inspired by it.

The Episode of Khosrov of Gardman and the Persian King Shapur. The Historian also recounts an incident involving the Persian king Shapur and Khosrov of Gardman, the ruler of the Gardman province of historical Armenia:

“On another occasion, during a festive banquet, Khosrov of Gardman, intoxicated with wine, pursued a woman in the presence of Shapur like a love-stricken admirer; she was playing the lyre with skillful fingers. Angered, Shapur ordered that he be seized and detained in the hall. But Khosrov, placing his right hand upon his sword, like Trdat Bagratuni, departed directly to his home, and none of the royal servants dared to arrest him, having previously experienced the character of that man” (Khorenatsi 1961, 329).

All three of the episodes discussed above — the first partially and the latter two entirely — are connected with wine and wine drinking. Through these narratives, the Historian appears to demonstrate the dangers of excessive drinking and the potential misfortunes arising from it. Equally noteworthy is the account concerning the origin of the noble Gnuni family name.

That the abuse of wine was not a rare phenomenon is also evident in the portrait of Tigran Yervanduni, where the Historian deliberately emphasizes the king’s moderation in food and drink:

“This fair-haired and curly-haired Tigran Yervanduni brought many such benefits to our land: rosy-faced, sweet in gaze, strong of calf, beautiful of foot, graceful in stature and broad-shouldered, moderate in food and drink, orderly in merriment. Our ancestors, who sang with pandirs, said that he was also restrained in bodily desires, wise, eloquent, and endowed with all the virtues befitting a man” (Khorenatsi 1961, 125–126).

Thus, gluttony and alcohol abuse appear to have been widespread phenomena, and the Historian specifically underlines that King Tigran was free from such vices.

In the most striking section of the History of Armenia, namely the “Lament,” while criticizing the deteriorating condition of Armenia during the described period, Khorenatsi refers to “wine-addicted” soldiers and “drunken” laymen (Khorenatsi 1961, 354).

Khorenatsi’s chronicle also informs us that in ancient Armenia drinking wine from a golden goblet was considered a great honor and privilege personally bestowed by the king. Thus, King Artashes granted Argam, among other rewards and distinctions, the right to drink wine from golden cups (Khorenatsi 1961, 203).

The Hypothesis Concerning the Origin of the Gnuni Noble House Name. The Historian writes that the name of the Gnuni princely house derived from their occupation, since at the royal court they were responsible for preparing and serving beverages worthy of the king:

“The Gnunis, as far as I know, were ‘wine-bearers’ (giniuni), who prepared drinks worthy of the king. Remarkably, their occupation coincided with their name, for he prepared royal beverages from select and delicious wines, and his name itself was Gin. Vologases, greatly amused by this, is said to have included him among the noble houses” (Khorenatsi 1961, 154–155).

It should also be noted that a grape variety known as Ginak was historically known in Armenia, which, according to Malkhasyants, was “a thin-skinned, white, small-berried variety” (Malkhasyants 1944, 435–437; Acharian 1971, 558).

Unlike Khorenatsi, however, Pavstos Buzand writes that the Gnunis occupied the office of hazarapet (grand steward or chief administrator) (Buzand). The domains of the Gnuni princely house extended across the districts of Aghiovit and Arberan, northeast of Lake Van. These territories remained rich in vineyards even into modern times, which makes Khorenatsi’s account entirely plausible, since a noble house possessing extensive vineyards would naturally have produced large quantities of wine as well.

Conclusion. The references to wine and wine drinking in Movses Khorenatsi’s History of Armenia testify not only to the existence of a highly developed viticultural culture in ancient Armenia, but also reveal important aspects of social behavior, values, and moral perceptions. Wine appears simultaneously as an element of everyday life, festivity, and royal honor; however, its abuse is portrayed as a dangerous phenomenon capable of leading to personal tragedies and fatal mistakes. Thus, through the motif of wine, Khorenatsi not only depicts the cultural reality of his era, but also conveys the idea of moderation and morality, emphasizing that human dignity is manifested not in the extent of indulgence, but in restraint toward it.