Armenian stamp with the image of the cast bronze head (1th century BCE), larger than life-size, once belonging to a statue. It was found in the 19th century near Satala, located close to the Armenian district of Erez/Yerznka. It is usually interpreted as representing the Armenian Anahit (or Aphrodite) and is now held in the British Museum.
Anahit (Armenian: Ô±Õ¶Õ¡Õ°Õ«Õ¿) was the goddess of fertility and healing, wisdom and water in Armenian mythology. In early periods she was the goddess of war. By the 5th century BCE she was the main deity in Armenia along with Aramazd.
The Armenian goddess Anahit is related to the similar Iranian goddess Anahita. Anahit's worship, most likely borrowed from the Iranians during the Median invasion or the early Achaemenid period, was of paramount significance in Armenia. Artaxias I erected statues of Anahit, and promulgated orders to worship them.
