HISTORY OF ARMENIA. Page 21
then considered as a peculiar mark of honour, and giving him the title of his brother and colleague. Aram swayed the sceptre of Armenia for a period of 58 years, when he died and left the kingdom to his son Arah. During the reign of Aram, it appears, that the Armenians first became conscious of the extent of the resources of their country, and under the conduct of a wise and warlike sovereign made the surrounding nations sensible of their weight as a political body. National glory also first sprung into existence in the time of Aram; for, previous to the warlike operations, offensive and defensive, performed under his directions, the Armenians had not been accustomed to distinguish between private and public enmity. This era may be regarded as the dawn of that greatness which the Armenian nation afterwards attained, and which beamed with such lustre during the sway of the Arsacidae.
Arah ascended the throne of Armenia after the death of the late monarch. He was surnamed the Handsome, from the extreme beauty of his person. Ninus, who had entered into such an intimate league with Aram, continued to distinguish his son with marks of regard no way inferior to those which be had shewn his father. Arah considerably improved the kingdom; and about Armavir, the capital, so many
