HISTORY OF ARMENIA. Page 22
buildings were erected by him, and so great was the content of the people residing near it, that by common consent that part of his dominions was called after him, Ararat or Ayrarat. The administration of public affairs, at that period, was so highly appreciated, that, by way of excellence it was named the Ayraratian government. Some years after the accession of Arah to the throne, his queen Nuardus was delivered of a son, who was named Cardus. Ninus died about this period, and was succeeded in the government of Assyria by his wife Semiramis, who was the first woman invested with sovereign power. She was of extremely loose principles, and having heard of the personal beauty of Arah, she sent him an offer of her hand and crown; or if he did not choose to marry her, she besought him to visit her at Nineveh to gratify her sensuality, when she would load him with riches, and permit him to return in safety to Armenia. Arah, disgusted at the grossness of the offer of the lustful queen, drove her ambassadors with disgrace out of his country. This brought on a war; Semiramis invading Armenia with a powerful army, Arah hastened at the head of his troops to oppose her. On the opposite armies joining battle, the Assyrian soldiers were charged by their queen to spare
