Ararat, Mountain

1693. A geographical dictionary representing the present and ancient names by Edmund Bohun.

Ararat, Arat, by the Armenians call'd Mesesousar, or the Mountain of the Ark, by the Persians Agri; is a part of the Caspian Mountains near Erivan in Armenia, and the most renowned of all others, for sustaining the Ark of Noah, after the Universal Deluge. It exceeds in height Caucasus and Taurus, carrying its head into the temperate Region, whilst some of the lower part of it is covered with continual Snow. Every 5 Leagues upwards, the Christians have built a little Hermitage, where the curious Traveller may be refreshed. They will tell you there is a Cell, and ordinarily a Hermite in it, upon the highest Top, who lives as a Recluse for his Life. But the story of Noah's Ark remaining uncorrupted and entire to this day, by reason of the temperature of the Air, which the said Hermite shews you, I suppose is grounded upon as good an Authority.

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

Ararat, a Mountain of Armenia, near the City of Erivan, upon which the Ark of Noah rested after the Deluge, so high, that a Dutch Traveller assures us, that in the year 1670. he was seven days a going up to the top, at five Leagues a day; That before he got thither, he came into the 2d Region of the Air, where the Clouds are thickn'd into Rain, Snow, &c. which renders it so cold, that he was ready to perish; that afterwards, when he got higher, the Air was more tempe•ate. He adds these other particularities, That he is satisfied this Mountain is higher than either Caucasus or Mount Taurus; That at every five Leagues distance he found a Hermit's Cell; That these Hermits gave him Guides to lead him the right way; That a Hermit which liv'd on the very Simmet, told him, that for 20 years that he liv'd there, he neither felt Heat or Cold, nor saw a drop of Rain; he would also make him believe, that Noah's Ark was still entire in a certain place of the Mountain, the Temperateness of the Air hindring it from rotting away, and gave him a Cross which he pretended was of that Ark. Mallet discriptien de Lunivers.