The scene is set in Armenia, within sight of Khor Virap: a family stops to rest against khatchkar, and as Mother (Mayrig) falls asleep, the kids pilfer some of those delicious-looking pomegranates... [Details]

Khatchkar are, literally, "stone-crosses". They are a uniquely Armenian art form, far older than Christianity, displaying complex knotwork and/or stylised floral motifs. They are memorial stones: "The most common reason for erecting a khachkar was salvation of the soul, but they were also erected to commemorate a military victory, construction of a church, unfulfilled love, or as a form of protection from natural disasters." They can be found free-standing or incorporated in the architecture, or even as miniatures carved in wood and given as gifts. They're the kind of thing you might find around a curve in the path, like Celtic crosses or "mazar" shrines, alone ut sometimes in clusters. I wanted the effect of a field of these spiritual markers. So this is not meant to be a cemetary, although it does no harm to see it as such, since the motifs on the cross-stones often represent the Tree of Life, hence appropriate additional symbolism The pomegranates themselves, another national Armenian symbol to the Armenians, represent fertility and prosperity – or the blood of Christ when carved on a khatchkar.

Khor Virap, in the background, is a monastery with particular significance for two reasons: St Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned there for 13 years, up until 301 when he cured the king and Armenia became the first Christian nation as a result; and it is the closest one can get to Ararat on the Armenian side, as the mountain is today in Turkey and off-bounds.

Mount Ararat is, of course, the Armenians' sacred mountain, besides being, in Biblical lore, the summit on which Noah landed.

It was difficult to find reference for the dress of that exact area, so I drew upon the nearest I could find: the costumes are from Sassoun for the mother and boy, and from Garabagh for the girl.