In which I become a warrior woman

from the Armenian History Museum:

12th – 11th centuries BC, Sevan Basin, bronze

The chased bronze plate represents a model of geocentric solar system. In the centre of the lower part is the planet Earth, depicted as a semicircular battle-axe blade with a cruciform base (the image reminds of the sign for Earth accepted in modern astronomical literature). It is surrounded with two rings, marking the layers of water and atmosphere. Comparatively larger radiant disc above symbolizes the Sun. Five planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and the Moon was considered an independent luminary closest to the Earth. Such an arrangement of geocentric system is also found in medieval Armenian manuscripts. According to astronomers B. Toumanian, as far back as the Bronze Age, the inhabitants of the Armenian Highland had assumed the round nature of the Earth, probably, in resemblance with luminaries visible in the firmament.

The main purpose of my trip to Armenia is to conduct oral history interviews with women who are connected to the women’s centers in Armenia. Some of these centers work with domestic violence or sexual assault victims; some help women develop job skills and economic independence; some provide safe havens for LGBTQ people. I am meeting some amazing women, including young women who are students or recent university graduates. I am so impressed by the intelligence, insight, and commitment of these women — and of a couple of wise men I have met as well.

In their honor, I got a temporary tattoo. It looks like a warrior symbol, but as you see from the description above, it’s actually the design of a very ancient graphic of the solar system. The ancient Armenians were sun worshippers, and when the country adopted Christianity as its national religion, priests used metaphors of the sun and illumination to describe their beliefs. So light is a central metaphor for this nation.

Armenia is an ancient nation and has many wonderful traditions — of art, craft, intellect, philosophy, hospitality, foodways, dance, music. Many Armenians don’t want to talk about domestic violence and other social ills, and they perceive those who do talk about those social ills as anti-patriotic. We have this phenomenon in the U.S. as well. But it is my belief that constructively criticizing one’s society is actually the deepest form of patriotism, because it means that you want to make your society the best and most just that it can be.

So: let my tattoo stand for all the light that Armenian feminists and progressive activists are bringing to the social problems of their country. They are the warriors of love and justice, and I want to stand with them.