The Girl’s Fortress

Legend has it that during the Mongol-Tatar invasions, the people of Atradzor and the inhabitants of Achanan fortified themselves in the Aghjka fortress. They were led by Prince Sahak of Syunik. It is said that Sahak had a beautiful daughter named Anush. The fame of Anush’s beauty reached the Mongol khan and whetted his appetite. The khan wanted to take possession of Anush, but Anush defended herself within the impregnable walls of the fortress. The defenders pelted stones and arrows at the Mongols. At that time, the khan resorted to cunning: he sent a representative to Prince Sahak and asked for Anush’s hand in marriage, promising in return not only to leave the fortress, but also not to disturb the Armenians at all. Otherwise, the khan threatened to capture the fortress and put everyone to the sword. Prince Sahak found himself in a desperate situation. The bread supply was running out, people were dying of hunger. However, she rejected the offer, hoping for a miracle from God, preferring to fight and struggle. Anush herself fought among the defenders of the fortress. But hunger was all-powerful: people died more often not in battle, but from hunger.

“And I am the cause of all these deaths,” the girl thinks. And one day, at dawn, she climbs to the top of the cliff and throws herself down in front of everyone. The enemy also sees this, the news reaches the khan, and he orders to find the girl’s body. The Mongol soldiers search, but do not find Anush’s body. Disappointed by the long siege and the loss of Anush, the khan abandons the siege and leaves Achan.

But the dense forest of the motherland, which spreads below the cliff, kept the girl safe in its foliage. Legend has it that from that day on, the fortress was called Girl’s Fortress. Since then, many newborn girls in the vicinity were named Anush.