Flaming of the rose
"Nané" mixed media on canvas by Datevig Kouyoumdjian
Nané
The wise warrior
Goddess of War, Fertility, Wisdom, and Protection
FESTIVALS
Unknown
MAGICAL & RITUAL ASSOCIATIONS*
Colors: Red & White
Animal: Horse
Botanical: Yarrow
Mineral: Carnelian
Metal: Iron
Nané is the goddess of War and Wisdom in the Armenian pantheon. She was originally a goddess of motherhood and war, with powers of fertility and protection, and is described as a fierce warrioress wielding a sword and shield. She is the daughter of Aramazd and sister to Anahit, and in the Hellenic culture she was equated with Athena. It's possible that Anahit and Nané were once known as the same goddess, their cults diverging with the introduction of Zoroastrianism. The neighboring Mesopotamian goddess Inanna (also known as Ishtar) was also known to be a powerful deity of fertility and war, and had great influence over the pagan religions of the Near East in the 3rd and 4th millenia BCE. Nané may be related to or originated from this goddess.
It is said that the ancient kings of Armenia would consult with the eldest woman in the royal family before making any major political or military decisions, as they were thought to embody the power and wisdom of goddess Nané. Even today the variations on the name Nané are related to those we use for "grandmother", such as Nanna, Nani, Nonna, etc.
Nané had a temple located in the ancient city of Thil, west of Erez. The temple was destroyed by King Trdat along with most of the other pagan temples and sanctuaries when he proclaimed Christianity the state religion of Armenia.
*Magical and Ritual Associations are based on my own research and devotional practice.