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The Blacksmith
In the Ararat valley, about seventeen miles from Armenia's capital of Yerevan, archaeologists discovered one of the oldest metallurgic centers of the Caucasus and Middle East, dating back to the third millennium BCE and demonstrating that inhabitants of the present-day and historical territory of Armenia have used metals intensively through the ages.
In a nineteenth-century village, the blacksmith worked in a central craft workshop and was often the only one housed in a separate building. Because blacksmiths "tamed the fire" and -- like demiurges -- could create the most important things for the people, the community greatly respected them. The blacksmith was called "craftsman of craftsmen," since he was creating all other craftsmen's tools.
The sound of the smith's hammer on the anvil was the sign for other craftsmen to start their day's work, which lasted until the smithy fell silent. According to legend, when the chains of the dragonish prince Artavazd, who was imprisoned in a cave on the peak of the Masis (Ararat) Mountain, were getting dangerously thin, the blacksmith delivered several heavy blows on the anvil to strengthen the chains. This and other magical actions related to his craft positioned him close to the mythological thunder god and inspired the expression, "The blacksmith is the only man whom the devil is afraid of." This explains why the blacksmith led the communal circle dances during the most important festivals and ritual events.
With the proliferation of industrial tools today, the blacksmith no longer plays the role of Fighter against Evil. However, communities still respect their blacksmiths, whose traditions still pass from father to son. When it becomes necessary to create something creative, safe, and beautiful, Armenians still turn to their local blacksmith. |