Rituals and Customs of Yazidi Herding (Pastoralism) from the 19th to the 21st Century

Abstract

It has been a common practice since ancient times for tribes to adopt animal

names or trace their origins to animals considered sacred. In discussing the

practice of naming tribes after animals, it is noteworthy that in ancient times,

among the Armenians, the kinship and origin of human tribes were often linked to

animals and plants. This is reflected in Armenian mythological stories, such as the

bull origin of Yervand and Yervaz, the water origin of Sanasar and Baghdasar, the

serpent (or dragon) origin of the Mars, and the descent of the Artsruni clan from

an eagle. These mythologies also include tales of persecuted and oppressed

peoples, as well as transformations of humans into various animals and birds