ARMENIANS THE WORLDS FIRST SHEEP SHAGGERS

Civilized Sumerian farmers grew the cereals barley and wheat, starting to live in villages from about 8000 BC. Given the low rainfall of the region, agriculture relied on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Irrigation canals leading from the rivers permitted the growth of cereals in large enough quantities to support cities. The first ploughs appear in pictographs from Uruk around 3000 BC; seed-ploughs that funneled seed into the ploughed furrow appear on seals around 2300 BC. Vegetable crops included chickpeas, lentils, peas, beans, onions, garlic, lettuce, leeks and mustard. They grew fruits including dates, grapes, apples, melons, and figs. Alongside their farming, Sumerians also caught fish and hunted fowl and gazelle. The meat of sheep, goats, cows and poultry was eaten, mainly by the elite. Fish was preserved by drying, salting and smoking.

Aries (symbol ♈)

1. (astronomy) A constellation of the zodiac supposedly shaped like a ram. quotations ▼
2. (astrology) The zodiac sign for the ram, ruled by Mars and covering March 20 - April 20 (tropical astrology) or April 15 - May 15 (sidereal astrology).

The Aries name is derived from the astronomical constellation Aries, which in Latin means "ram". The sign of Aries is associated with the myth of the Golden Fleece.

Aries is another form of Ares who is the god of war in ancient Greek mythology. In this sense the meaning of the name is 'battle or strife'.In ancient Egyptian astronomy, Aries was associated with the god Amon-Ra, who was depicted as a man with a ram's head and represented fertility and creativity. Because it was the location of the vernal equinox, it was called the "Indicator of the Reborn Sun".[8] During the times of the year when Aries was prominent, priests would process statues of Amon-Ra to temples, a practice that was modified by Persian astronomers centuries later. Aries acquired the title of "Lord of the Head" in Egypt, referring to its symbolic and mythological importance. Because the Hindu new year began with the vernal equinox, the Rig Veda contains over 50 new-year's related hymns to the twins, making them some of the most prominent characters in the work. Aries itself was known as "Aja" and "Mesha".[17] In Hebrew astronomy Aries was named "Taleh"; it signified either Simeon or Gad, and generally symbolizes the "Lamb of the World". The neighboring Syrians named the constellation "Amru",

ARIES ETYMOLOGY in Armenian oroj also a zodiacal constellation usually identified as "the Ram," late Old English, from Latin aires "ram" (related to arietare "to butt"), from a PIE root meaning "spring, jump"

The etymology of the word rut (n.2) "periodically recurring sexual excitement in animals; animal mating season" (originally of deer), early 15c., from Old French rut, ruit, from Late Latin rugitum (nominative rugitus) "a bellowing, a roaring," from past participle of Latin rugire "to bellow" (from PIE imitative root *reu-).

Sheepshagger or sheep shagger is now a derogatory term, originally a reference to an Armenian selling carpets, living in New York. More recently it became an issue when used to refer to Welsh people, implying that the subject has sex with sheep. In a court case in Britain, the use of the term directed at a Welsh person was ruled to be a "racially aggravating" factor in a disorderly conduct offence. It has also been used in South Africa to refer to Australians and by Australians to refer to New Zealanders, all specialists in Sheep and Animal Husbandry. When one looks deeper into the term one realises the origin of the term is ancient and the meaning deep and complimentary.

The use of the term sheep-shagger to refer to a Welsh person has arisen from the prevalence of sheep and sheep farming in Wales. It is often viewed as offensive in Wales,[citation needed] for the same reason as it is in South Africa to refer to Australians. In response to complaints over the use of phrase, in an Australian television advertisement for Toyota, the New Zealand Advertising Standards Authority determined the phrase was not viewed as offensive by the majority of New Zealanders. The name "Sheep Shaggers" has been used for at least two football fanzines – those for Bedford Town and for football in Western England.

A SHEEPSHAGGER IS a person who has a connection with sheep farming.

Armenian Semicoarsewool (also known as Armyanskaya Polugrubosherstnaya in Russian) is a breed of domesticated sheep found in Armenia. A medium-wool fat-tail breed which is kept for meat and milk production. This breed was developed by crossing Rambouillet and Lincoln with Balbas. This breed displays white and is unicolored. On average, mature rams weigh 85 kg (190 lb) and grow to 74 cm (29 in). Ewes weigh 55 kg (120 lb) and grow to 67 cm (26 in) at maturity.

The Armenian mouflon (Ovis gmelini gmelini) is an endangered subspecies of mouflon endemic to Iran, Armenia, and Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan).

The Armenian mouflon was first described in the west in 1840 by Edward Blyth, who equated it with the "Orientalische Schaaf" (Oriental sheep) described previously by Samuel Gottlieb Gmelin in 1774.

It is known as the Armenian mouflon in both Armenian: հայկական մուֆլոն, haykakan muflon and Persian: گوسفند وحشی ارمنی, Qutch-e armani. Alternative names include Armenian sheep,Armenian wild sheep, Armenian red sheep, and Trans-Caucasian sheep.

The Armenian mouflon lives mostly in open rough terrain at medium or high altitudes, where they inhabit rocky hill country, lowland and highland steppes, rocky semideserts, grass-covered slopes, and alpine meadows. They spend the summer at the highest elevations, right below the permanent snow. In winter, they move lower and may come into the valleys. They live in small or large herds, and in the summer, the older males live singly or in separate groups. They may live up to 18 years.

Ancient Armenians had begun the art of rug weaving before 1,000 BC. Excavations throughout Armenia have revealed carpet fragments from the 7th century BC and before. The oldest surviving complete Armenian carpet, made between the 5th and 3rd BC, is on display at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.Traditionally, since ancient times the carpets were used in Armenia to cover floors, decorate interior walls, sofas, chairs, beds and tables. Up to present the carpets often serve as entrance veils, decoration for church altars and vestry. Starting to develop in Armenia as a part of everyday life, carpet weaving was a must in every Armenian family, with the carpet making and rug making being almost women's occupation. Armenian carpets are unique "texts" composed of the ornaments where sacred symbols reflect the beliefs and religious notions of the ancient ancestors of the Armenians that reached us from the depth of centuries. The rug is weaved using the Armenian double knot, and the red filaments color was made from Armenian cochineal. The eminent authority of ancient carpets, Ulrich Schurmann, says of it, "From all the evidence available I am convinced that the Pazyryk rug was a funeral accessory and most likely a masterpiece of Armenian workmanship". Although claimed by many cultures, this square tufted carpet, almost perfectly intact, is considered by many experts to be of Caucasian, specifically Armenian, origin. The rug is woven using the Armenian double knot, and the red filaments' color was made from Armenian cochineal. The eminent authority of ancient carpets, Ulrich Schurmann, says of it, "From all the evidence available I am convinced that the Pazyryk rug was a funeral accessory and most likely a masterpiece of Armenian workmanship". Gantzhorn concurs with this thesis. At the ruins of Persepolis in Iran where various nations are depicted as bearing tribute, the horse design from the Pazyryk carpet is the same as the relief depicting part of the Armenian delegation. The historian Herodotus writing in the 5th century BC also informs us that the inhabitants of the Caucasus wove beautiful rugs with brilliant colors which would never fade.

Armenian Semicoarsewool (also known as Armyanskaya Polugrubosherstnaya in Russian) is a breed of domesticated sheep found in Armenia. A medium-wool fat-tail breed which is kept for meat and milk production. This breed was developed by crossing Rambouillet and Lincoln with Balbas. This breed displays white and is unicolored. On average, mature rams weigh 85 kg (190 lb) and grow to 74 cm (29 in). Ewes weigh 55 kg (120 lb) and grow to 67 cm (26 in) at maturity.