Who was Hayk in Armenian tradition?
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In Armenian tradition, Hayk is a legendary folk hero from whom the Armenian people derive their endonym, Hayq (singular: Hay), and the name of their country, Hayastan.1
It is important to clarify that Hayk is a figure of cultural and national identity, distinct from historical monarchs such as Hayton, who reigned as king of Little Armenia during the 13th century. Hayk serves as a foundational ancestral figure in the Armenian national consciousness, representing the origins and heritage of the Armenian people.21