Lilith was a beautiful young woman, full of life. She wandered through the fragrant valleys of Ararat, drank from cold mountain streams, and listened to the enchanting songs of nightingales. She regarded herself as one of the wonders of creation.

“Who are you, beautiful maiden?” Ari, the first earthly god, asked her with emotion.

“I am Lilith,” she replied softly. “The Creator made me from fire.”

The flame of love illuminated their faces. Hand in hand, the lovers began to wander through the lands of Ararat.

But one day Lilith looked into the waters of a beautiful lake and saw her reflection beside Ari’s face. She laughed.

“Ugh, how unattractive you look beside me. You should bow before my beauty.”

But Ari did not move.

Lilith ran away from him, trampling flowers and grasses beneath her feet. She reached the very kingdom of darkness, ruled by Vishap. The lord of darkness immediately took her into his arms.

Lilith began to reign in his kingdom. Yet the smell of clay that came from Vishap troubled her more and more. She shuddered at every touch. Neither the brilliance of diamonds nor the precious stones of the mountains could overcome her revulsion.

Lilith returned to Ararat and found Ari sitting beneath the sacrificial tree.

“O earthly god, I have understood that my beauty is worthy only of you.”

But Ari silently led her to a mountain lake, where she once again saw herself reflected in the water.

Lilith leaned over the surface and was horrified. Her once-beautiful appearance had faded; pride and vanity had extinguished her beauty.

She covered her face and fled into the mountains.

And since that day, Lilith has hated perfection in people.