Arshak II was named in honor of his Parthian, Pontian and Armenian ancestors who ruled with this name as King, in particular he was named in honor of Arshak I, also known as Arsaces I, the founder of the Arsacid Parthian dynasty and the first ruler of the Parthian Empire.
He created the first Armenian opera, Arshak II (1868, partially staged in 1873), based on a historical fact about King Arsaces II (Arshak II).
After returning from Amida in 493, Vahan Mamikonian asked his friend to write a new history of Armenia, starting from where historian Faustus of Byzantium left off; that is, with the reign of king Arsaces II (Arshak II).