Mythical king “Lion Mher”
King Lion Mher artwork by Arman Akopian
Lion Mher (Armenian: Aŕiwc “Lion” or Aŕiwcajew “Lion-shaped”) is a mythical king from an ancient pagan Armenian folk epic of the “Daredevils of Sassoun“, who slew a lion with his bare hands earning the title of “lion-like”. Lion Mher is the father of David (also known as Mher the younger), the hero of the epic. He is the epitome of the noble, wise, fair and self-sacrificing father-king. Approaching old age, he accepts with gentility the passing of his generation as the price of the next generation. As the reading from the Armenian requiem states, “except a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears fruit.” Lion Mher represents the strength of nature and rectitude of character that bears fruit in his son, David.
He is also associated with the ancient deity Mithra. As his name suggests Mher/Mihr…
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