User:Nare Adams/Qochari

Kochari is the most popular and currently the most preserved Armenian dance in the Armenian highlands. On December 6, 2017, it was included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity ։

The word "Koch" appears to be linguistically related to names such as "Goch," "Ghoch," and "Khoch," which are used to describe uncastrated male sheep (rams). The adjective "ghochagh" derives from the noun "ghoch," meaning brave or courageous.

The following terms related to the worship of the ram as a totem cult also incorporate the name of the ram:

[1] refers to the architectural element placed at the top of a column or pillar.

"Khoyak" is a capital[1] used on top of a pillar and often took the form of a ram's head with a curved horn. Later in Khoyak, only the horns remained in the capital, and they were gradually stylized into a winding shape.

Totemic pillar head-From the image of a ram, the adjective "khoyakap" originated, originally connoting "bound by a ram," and subsequently transformed to connote magnificence, beauty, wonder, as well as a connection to power and the sacred ancestral power of a ram.

It is highly probable that "Hoi," representing the founder of the Armenian nation and a forefather, shares a connection with the name of the totemic animal image of the ram, just as the plant-based image characterizing the name of his father, "Bazouk," is associated with the totemic branch, "Bazouk."

The name "Hoi," which signifies "ruler" or "chief leader," aligns with the role of the Ram totem in the herd, which often serves as a leader or the dominant figure within the group.

Khoy – hoy (khoy) -For breaching castle walls (ramming), a specialized type of equipment known as a "battering ram" is used.

Khoy- Aries constellation.

Khoy - city

Uncircumcised male sheep, also called "ghoch," and uncircumcised goats, known as "magh," "kosh," "kal," or simply "nokhaz," often assume leadership and sub-leadership roles within their herds. The term "goat sieve" gave rise to the verb "to sift," which is synonymous with the action of shaking or swaying with the hips and chin.

The ancestors of Armenians, for whom livestock farming held a prominent economic and production role over an extended period, likely, had their own traditional celebrations and holidays associated with this practice. Regrettably, the old names of these celebrations in the less-documented languages of those ancestors remain undiscovered. Nevertheless, among the Armenians of ancient times, the following terms and traditions are known to have existed.

1)      ‘’Kaghenvag’’ - (kagh - goat, angag originally means singing, and then playing on musical instruments), which means goat song (Greek tragedy - trag - goat) - tragedy in its primary sense. The dances were performed in honor of the Armenian and Asia Minor gods, Spandaramet and Saragios, and the Greek god, Dionysus. In the festival of Dionysus, symbolizing harvest and winemaking, a goat was sacrificed, the destroyer of grapes, and the choir sang their songs around the altar: tragedies.

1)      ‘’Nokhazergutyun’’- (nokhaz - goat, song) - which also meant goat singing - tragedy in its original sense, and not theatrical, literary;

Of course, all this is related to totemism, the remnants of which have been preserved in some Armenian words.

Although the dancers no longer remember the former "Aries - Goat" content of one of their favorite dances, such as Kochari. Time and subsequent stratification could not completely flatten its original (vulcanized) form.

In the correct form of the ’’ Kochari’’ dance, the mobile roots of the ancient movements, occasional behavior, leaping and jumping, fighting, rams and goats, posing, goatman movements have been preserved, just as the ancient roots of the Armenian language have been preserved until now.

The simulation of movements is most vividly expressed in the forward thrusting movements and shifts of the weight support, as if to take a sharp momentum and straighten the knees sharply, bending the torso forward, as if to strike a pose for the ՛՛ahoyan՛՛ (enemy).