Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography NAS, Armenia
Shirak Center for Armenological Studies NAS, Armenia
Ph.D. in philology, researcher
Erevan, Gyumri/ Armenia
hasmikgalstyan1979@gmail.com
Dakhanavar: The Specifics of the Vampire Figure in Armenian Lower Mythology
Abstract
In Armenian folk beliefs and lower mythological narratives, the figure of the vampire occupies a unique position, primarily embodied in the legend of Dakhanavar. While Armenian demonology is rich with various malevolent spirits—such as the gornapshtik, khordlakh, and shvot—Dakhanavar remains the most distinct representative of the "vampiric" type, though he differs significantly from the classical European archetype.
This study examines the character of Dakhanavar through a comparative lens, primarily utilizing the accounts of German ethnographer August von Haxthausen (1854) and the later classifications by Theresa Bane. Dakhanavar is described as an inhabitant of the caves of Mount Ararat, acting as a territorial guardian who prevented outsiders from counting the valleys of the land. His primary method of attack—sucking blood from the soles of the victims' feet—aligns him typologically with the Persian Palis (the "foot-licker").
The core semantic layer of the Dakhanavar myth revolves around the concepts of number and secrecy. In Armenian tradition, "counting" is often viewed as an act of possession and control; thus, knowing the exact number of valleys (366, corresponding to the days of the leap year cycle) symbolizes the domestication of the wild landscape. Dakhanavar's existence is functionally tied to the preservation of this secret. When two travelers outsmart him by sleeping head-to-foot—creating the illusion of a two-headed, footless monster—the creature is paralyzed by the paradox. Once the secret of the valleys is revealed, the guardian's functional purpose is exhausted, leading to his disappearance.
Furthermore, the study highlights that blood-drinking in Armenian mythology is often a secondary or functional trait rather than a primary biological necessity. This is seen not only in Dakhanavar but also in the Shvot, a temporal spirit occasionally attributed with blood-drinking in specific regions like Dersim.
In conclusion, Dakhanavar is not a mere "undead" creature seeking sustenance, but a landscape guardian spirit endowed with vampiric traits. His character represents a cultural synthesis where Iranian mythological influence (Palis) meets Armenian folk perceptions of territorial integrity and the magical power of numbers. The legend serves as a mythological explanation for the mastery of the geographical environment through knowledge and wit.
Keywords: Dakhanavar, Armenian mythology, Vampire, Lower mythology, Ararat, Palis, Demonology, Folk beliefs.