The Tree of Life or a cosmic tree has pagan origins. It is a sacred tree that symbolizes the underworld or spirit world, the earth and heaven. According to thе legend, the roots of this tree dig deep into the earth, the trunk rises out of the earth and branches reach into the sky.
The Tree of Life had a great religious significance among the Armenians, as well as Ancient Egyptians, Sumerians and Akkadians, Persians , Assyrians, Babylonians. It was connected mainly to the traditions of settlement, agriculture and fertility. Various forms of Trees of Life appear in the mythologies of different nations. According to the Bible, the tree of life was a tree of knowledge of good and evil or a tree of wisdom. Adam and Eve both ate the fruit contrary to God’s will.
According to the Persian legend, the tree of life was planted by the Supreme God Ahura Mazda to rid the world of evil. The conception of the tree of life appears in many mythologies, but it is always portrayed as a same tree. The tree of life symbolizes human development with its roots going deep into the earth, and branches reaching up into the sky and bearing fruit. But the main symbol of the tree of life is eternity. In the ancient Eastern mythology, the tree of life bears twelve crops of fruit symbolizing the twelve months of the year.
The tree of life is portrayed in different mythologies as a willow or mulberry tree, apple or fig tree and apricot or pomegranate tree in Armenian mythology. The images of these trees have been preserved in Armenian manuscripts and other historical sources of the Ancient East. Grigor Narekatsi, Nerses Shnorhali, Grigor Tatevatsi and many different authors, historians and thinkers wrote about the tree of life.
The word (tsiran -apricot) appears to be of Armenian origin and means a «cosmic fruit» . Apricot tree was a symbol of the state and tsarism. Apricot color «tsiranaguyn» was considered to be the Armenian analogue of purple, inherent to the kings, a symbol of authority in the ancient world.
The derivative word «tsirananal» means to «become a king», «be crowned» or «be enthroned». «Tsiranacnund» or «tsiranacin» means «tsarevitch» or «prince». «Tsiranakir» means «king» «tsar», « tsirani goti » means « rainbow».
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