Movses Khorenatsi's History of the Armenians: Chapter 17
Movses Khorenatsi's History of the Armenians
(Translated by Robert Bedrosian)
Genealogy of Greater Armenia
About Shamiram: why she killed her sons, and how she fled to Armenia [escaping] from the mage Zoroaster. And how she died at the hands of her son, Ninuas
Now since [Shamiram] was continually going to spend the summers in the northern regions, [travelling] to the summer residence that she had built in Armenia, she left as her governor and overseer for Assyria and Nineveh the mage Zoroaster. [Zoroaster] was a mage and also patriarch of the Medes. And Shamiram, having made this arrangement over a long period of time, entrusted him with the whole government of her realm.
Since she was often reproached by her sons for her extremely lewd and prostitute-like behavior, she killed all of them. Only the youngest, Ninuas, was spared. With no concern for her own sons, [Shamiram] bestowed all her power and treasures on her friends and lovers. Her husband Ninus had not, as is said, died and been buried by her in the palace at Nineveh. Rather, [Ninus] had abandoned his kingdom and fled to Crete, since he had become aware of her diseased and malevolent lifestyle. But when her sons attained maturity and understanding, they reminded her of all this—thinking that they would reduce her demonic passion, and that she would hand over the power and treasures to her sons. This [reproach] made her even more furious, and she killed all of them. Only Ninuas remained, as we said above.
Then, due to some errors [committed] by Zoroaster toward the queen, strife arose between them. Shamiram waged war against him, because the Mede planned to tyrannize over everyone. When the war intensified, Shamiram fled from Zoroaster, going to Armenia. Ninuas, finding the time appropriate for his revenge, killed his mother and then he himself ruled over Assyria and Nineveh. So we have now explained the cause and circumstances of Shamiram's death.
ԳԻՐՔ ԱՌԱՋԻՆ
Ծննդաբանութիւն Հայոց Մեծաց
Գլուխ ԺԷ
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