'The travels of Sir John Chardin into Persia and the East Indies, through the Black Sea, and the country of Colchis. Containing the author's voyage from Paris to Ispahan. To which is added, the coronation of the present King of Persia, Solyman the III.' [‎248] (287/594)

The T navels of Sir John Ghardin Perfia,
bifliop, who takes upon him the Title of Patriarch, refufing
to acknowledge the Grand 'Patriarch. Our Maps take no Cog
nizance of this Lake j a wonderful thing tome, that among
all our Travellers into Perfia, not one fhould make any men
tion of it. By which defeft it may be judg'd that thofe Au
thors were little curious after the Rarities of the Countries
through which they pals'd. The River takes its fource
from this Lake, and crofling one part of meets with
the River Jraxes near the Cafpian Sea, into which at length
they both difcharge themfelves
Erivan, by the report of the is the mo ft Anci
ent inhabited place in the World. For they affirm that
and all his Family dwelt there, both before the Deluge, and
after he defcended from the Mountain where the Ark refted;
and that here was alfo the Terreftrial Paradife. But all this
is a Story without Foundation, and reported by Perfons equally
ignorant and vain-glorious. Some Authors there are who af
firm Erivan to be the City which calls and
makes to be the Capital City of Others hold it to
be the Royal Jrtaxate The Hiftory of calls it
Erit%e : but that of Armenia, which is to be feen in the famous
Monaftery of the Three Churches, aflerts, That this City was
formerly-call'd Vagar-Shapat, which fignifics ("word for word)
Vagar-s City. But that which renders thefe Pieces of Anti
quity very much fufpeded, is, That the fame Hiftory, fpeak-
ing of the Etymology of Erivan, derives it from an
word which fignifies To fee ; and fays farther, that that fame
Name was giv'n to this City, becaufe the Territory belonging
to-it was the firfl; Place that Noah difcover'd when he defcend
ed from the Mountain of Ararat. And yet it is well known
that the Armenian is a Modern Language, that has not been in
life above thefe Seven Himderd Years. Nor do we find any
thing in the Hiftory concerning the Original of
Nekhet do I believe it to have been built before the Conquefts
of the Arabs in Armenia-, and that which makes me believe it
is this, for that neither in the Oity, nor in any parts adjoymn^
round about it, there are any Footfteps of great Antiquity to
be feen. The Tar/y became Mafters of it in the Year 1582.
and built the Fortrefs ftill to be feen. The retook it
in the Year 1 604. and fortify'd it againft the Violence of Can-
non-Shot. In the Year 16115. it held out a Siege of four
Months 5 at what time the Rampart withftood the Batteries
of the Tur\ with that Impregnable Refiftance, though but of
+ > Earth,