Portakar

Portakar, ritual ceremony, Armenia, 19th century

Portakar or navel stones (Armenian: պորտաքար) are traditional ritual stones in Armenia. They are bound up with cult of the fertility goddess, called in ancient Armenia, like the cult of the goddess Anahit.

History[]

According to Armenian mythology, women who wished to become pregnant must lean their stomach against the stone. Candle lighting was part of the cult. If a woman became pregnant she should come back and make a mark at the stone.^[1]^[2]

References[]

^ А.Е. Тер-Саркисянц // Армяне: история и этнокультурные традиции.// стр. 188(394) Восточная литература 1998 г. ISBN 5020180025, 9785020180024
^ В. Белый // Армения:Энциклопедия путешественника// Изд-во Армянской Советской энциклопедии; 1990 г. ISBN 5897000026, 9785897000029

[1] А.Е. Тер-Саркисянц // Армяне: история и этнокультурные традиции.// стр. 188(394) Восточная литература 1998 г. ISBN 5020180025, 9785020180024

[2] В. Белый // Армения:Энциклопедия путешественника// Изд-во Армянской Советской энциклопедии; 1990 г. ISBN 5897000026, 9785897000029

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