Aralez (Aralezner)

Aralez appear in the pre-Christian layer of Armenian mythic thought and are described in the sources as among the oldest gods or sacred beings of the Armenian pantheon. The attested descriptions position them within the older strata of Armenian belief (described as Proto-Armenian heritage in summaries of Armenian mythic origins), where animal-associated spirits and deities played roles in the fate of warriors and the community. While one source explicitly calls them among the oldest gods of the Armenian pantheon, the provided material does not record any specific cosmogonic narrative or a detailed mythic genealogy for the Aralez; instead, they are presented as established, ancient supernatural helpers associated particularly with battle and the restoration of life.

Sources consistently describe Aralez as canine or dog-like creatures and at least one source characterizes them as "invisible spirits of dogs." No further morphological details — such as size, color, or anthropomorphic traits — are provided in the supplied excerpts. The material therefore supports a basic image of dog-like spiritual beings whose visibility may vary (sometimes characterized as invisible), but it does not furnish richer physical description.

The primary and repeatedly attested ability of the Aralez is to resurrect fallen warriors by licking their wounds. This restorative function is described as their defining role in extant summaries: they appear in contexts connected to warriors and battlefields and effect revivification through a licking action. Beyond this wound-licking resurrection, the supplied sources do not attribute additional powers or behaviors to Aralez, nor do they provide ritual formulas, limits to the power, or narrative accounts that elaborate further abilities.