CHIEF DEITIES
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a high rank among the Armenian nobility.[5] Even to-day Spandanotz means “a slaughterhouse” and Spananel, “to slay.” No other Armenian word has come down to us in the sense of “priest,” seeing that Kurm is of Syriac or Asianic origin. Besides the Spandunis there were also the Vahunis attached to the temples of Vahagn, probably as priests. The Vahunis also were among the noble families.
The priesthood was held in such high esteem that Armenian kings often set up one or more of their sons as priests in celebrated temples. The burial place for priests of importance seems to have been Bagavan (“the town of the gods”). Whatever learning the country could boast was mainly in the possession of the sacerdotal classes.
