ARARAT, a mountain in Armenia, upon which the ark of Noah rested after the deluge. With respect to the particular situation of this mountain, there arc very different opinions. It is considered by some authors, as one of the mountains which divide Armenia on the south from Mesopotamia ; and as the same with the mountain Al Judi, which is situated near the city of Man sel. These mountains border upon that part of Assy ria, which is inhabited by the Curds ; and from this cir cumstance were called the Curdu or Cardu mountains, or according to the Greek and Latin writers, the Car dydi or Gordydi. The Armenians to this day give them the names of Ararat, Arasad, Arar, &c. The Onkelos, Jonathan, Syriac, and Arabic versions of scripture ren der the original words, "the Gordydian mountains." Abydenus and Berosus mention a report, which was pre valent in their time, that the remains of the ark were to be seen upon one of these mountains. The Emperor Heraclius is said to have gone from the town of The manin, and to have seen the place of the ark upon the mountain Al Judi. And there was formerly a monastery of the Nestorians, called the monastery of the ark, upon the Cardu mountains, which was destroyed by lightning in the year 776.
The opinion, however, which is most generally re ceived, is that of Jerom, who places mount Ararat to wards the middle of Armenia, near the river Araxes, or Aras, about 280 miles north-east of Al Judi, and about 12 leagues south-east of Erivan. It is called by
the Armenians mount Masis, from Amasia, the founder of their nation; and by the Turks Agri dash, the heavy or great mountain. It is detached from the other moun tains in its neighbourhood; and stands in the midst of a very extensive plain. It is in the form of a sugar loaf, and has two distinct summits, the largest of which is of a very considerable height, and may be seen at an immense distance. The upper half of this mountain is perpetually covered with snow. The surface of the lower part is composed of loose sand, or large masses of freestone. Nothing is to be seen growing upon it but some juniper, goat's thorn, and mouse ear. There is on one side, a large opening or gulf, of immense depth, and of a very frightful appearance; and the whole of the mountain, indeed, is described by travellers, as having a very gloomy and disagreeable aspect. See Anc. Univ. Hist. vol. i. p. 240, and vol. xx. p. ill, tcc. D'Herbelot, Bib!. Orient. Art. Giondi. Tavernier, Volt age de Perse, tom. iv. p. 39. Cartwright's Travels, p. 30, Ste. Chardin. Voyage en Perse, torn. i. p. 150, Sce. Tournefort's Travels, letter 7. v. 2. p. 269. (q)