Akhtamar Sweater
The legend of Akhtamar is a tragic love story. Tamar, an Armenian princess who lived on a small island in Lake Van met a commoner boy. Every night, Tamar would light a torch and the boy would swim to her. They quickly began to fall in love. This story has one ending but as it’s been passed on from generation to generation, the reason behind the tragic ending differs. One version states that, unaware of a quickly approaching storm, Tamar lit her torch and her love began to swim towards it. The winds became stronger yet her love pushed through the waves. Suddenly, the wind and rain blew out the torch and Tamar’s love lost his way and drowned.
The other version of the story recalls that Tamar’s father became aware of this commoner boy and was furious about the relationship that was building between him and his daughter. One night, as Tamar stood waiting with her torch, her father tossed the torch into the lake below. Tamar’s love swam in various directions, attempting to find her, but drowned from exhaustion.
In both scenarios, legend has it that Tamar’s love cried out “Tamar, akh Tamar (Tamar, oh Tamar)” throughout the night. Some say that his cries can be heard still, in the night, near Akhtamar Island.
Available in youth and adult sizes.