As with several of my research questions, Facebook groups have provided invaluable answers and encouragement. One of my latest discoveries came from a post in the Armenian Pride group, where I asked why an Etsy shop owner titled a puzzle "Armenian Blue Birds." The group admin, Donnarose Russian, shared insights that introduced me to an unfamiliar aspect of our culture.
"Those are peacocks," she explained. "In Armenian culture, as well as in other cultures across Anatolia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East, the peacock has long symbolized the sun, holiness, the earth, grace and beauty, protection, wisdom, and eternal life. Armenian carpets, art, and architecture often feature symbolic peacocks.
She elaborated, "When the tail is fanned out, the peacock resembles the sun rising in the east above Mount Ararat. The Urartians worshipped the sun, just as the Kurds, Persians, Hindus, and Yazidis do. Additionally, peacocks have the unique quality of not decomposing when they die at a very old age; in death, they appear just as they did in life. In all of these interconnected cultures, it is a sin, and possibly even illegal, to annoy or mistreat a peacock. You certainly may not kill or eat a peacock!"
As an avid puzzle-maker, I couldn't resist purchasing the "Armenian Blue Birds on a Stunning Gold Background Puzzle." As the intricate images came together, I was both fascinated and surprised that I hadn't known about these blue birds as part of my culture. However, it makes sense. A peacock, symbolizing a long life and depicted in art to last forever, reflects the resilient spirit of the Armenians in preserving our culture and heritage. The more I write, piece together, and read, the more engaged I become. The learning never stops.
Comments