2. Returning to the broader signification we have assigned to the term "the mountains of Ararat," as co-extensive with the Armenian plateau from the base of Ararat in the north to the range of Kurdistan in the south, we notice the following characteristics of that region as illustrating the Bible narrative: (1.) Its elevation. It rises as a rocky island out of a sea of plain to a height of from 6000 to 7000 feet above the level of the sea, presenting a surface of extensive plains, whence, as from a fresh base, spring important and lofty mountain-ranges, having a generally paral- lel direction from east to west, and connected with each other by transverse ridges of moderate height. (2.) Its geographical position. The Armenian plateau stands equidistant from the Euxine and the Caspian seas on the north, and between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean on the south. "With the first it is connected by the Acampsis, with the second by the Araxes, with the third by the Tigris and Euphrates, the latter of which also serves as an outlet toward the countries on the Mediterranean coast. These seas were the high roads of primitive colonization, and the plains watered by these livers were the seats of the most powerful nations of antiquity, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Medes, and the Colchians. Viewed with reference to the dispersion of the nations, Ar- menia is the true centre (cp^aXuc) of the world; and it is a significant fact that at the present day Ararat is the great boundary-stone between the empires of Russia, Turkey, and Persia. (3.) Its physical forma- tion. The Armenian plateau is the result of volcanic agencies: the plains as well as the mountains supply evidence of this. Armenia, however, differs material- ly from other regions of similar geological formation, as, for instance, the neighboring range of Caucasus, inasmuch as it does not rise to a sharp, well-defined central crest, but expands into plains or steppes, sepa- rated by a graduated series of subordinate ranges. Wagner (Reise, p. 263) attributes this peculiarity to the longer period during which the volcanic powers were at work, and the room afforded for the expansion of the molten masses into the surrounding districts. The result of this expansion is that Armenia is far
ARARATH
360
ARBELA
more accessible, both from -without and within its own limits, than other districts of similar elevation : the passes, though high, are comparatively easy, and there is no district which is shut out from communication with its neighbors. The fall of the ground in the centre of the plateau is not decided in any direction, as is demonstrated by the early courses of the rivers — the Araxes, which flows into the Caspian, rising west- ward of either branch of the Euphrates, and taking at first a northerly direction — the Euphrates, which flows to the south, rising northward of the Araxes, and tak- ing a westerly direction. (4.) The climate is severe. Winter lasts from October to May, and is succeeded by a brief spring and a summer of intense heat. The contrast between the plateau and the adjacent coun- tries is striking : in April, when the Mesopotamian plains are scorched with heat, and on the Euxine shore the azalea and rhododendron are in bloom, the Armenian plains are still covered with snow ; and in the early part of September it freezes keenly at night. (5.) The vegetation is more varied and productive than the climate would lead us to expect. Trees are not found on the plateau itself, but grass grows luxuriant- ly, and furnishes abundant pasture during the sum- mer months to the flocks of the nomad Kurds. Wheat and barley ripen at far higher altitudes than on the Alps and the Pyrenees : the volcanic nature of the soil, the abundance of water, and the extreme heat of the short summer bring the harvest to maturity with won- derful speed. At Erzrum, more than G000 feet above the level of the sea, the crops appear above ground in the middle of Juno, and are ready for the sickle before the end of August (Wagner, p. 255). The vine ripens at about 5000 feet, while in Europe its limit, even south of the Alps, is about 2G50 feet. See Arme- nia.
The general result of these observations as bearing upon the Biblical narrative would be to show that, while the elevation of the Armenian plateau consti- tuted it the natural resting-place of the ark after the Deluge, its geographical position and its physical character secured an impartial distribution of the fam- ilies of mankind to the various quarters of the world. The climate furnished a powerful inducement to seek the more tempting regions on all sides of it. At the same time, the character of the vegetation was remark- ably adapted to the nomad state in which we may conceive the early generations of Noah's descendants to have lived. — Smith, s. v. See Ethnology.
Ar'arath (ApapciS v. r. 'Apapar), another form (Tobit i, 21) of the name Ararat (q. v.).
Aratus ("Aparoc), the author of two astronomical poems in Greek, about B.C. 270, fragments and Latin translations of which are alone extant (Fabric. Bill. (,'rmc. iv, 87; Schaubach, Gesch. d.ffriech. Astronomic, p. 215; Delambre, Hist, de I'Astron. Ancienne). (For an account of his works and their editions, see Smith's Diet, of < 'fuss. Bioff. s. v. ) From the opening of one of these poems, entitled Pkeenomena (<i>cui'6i.uva), the Apostle Paul is thought to have made the quotation indicated in his speech at Athens (Acts xvii. 28), "As certain also of your own poets have said, 'For we are also his offspring ;' " since the words precisely agree (Tor yap Kai yevog lopkv). Others, however (see Kuindl, Comment, in loc), adduce similar senti- ments from Cleanthes Qk aov yap yivoq ia/iev, Hymn. in Jov< m. :< | and Pindar («, :-u7>v ykvoc, M in. 6). A few brief and casual quotations of this kind have been made the foundation of the hasty conclusion that Paul was well read in . 'lassie poetry; but. this, from his Jew- ish education, is extremely improbable. See Paul. In this, the most direct instance, lie appears rather to refer to the general sentiment of the Creek mytholo- gy, of which tin- passages adduced (alluded to in a ^en- oral way by Paul, as if taken second-hand and by recollection merely) are the frequent expression