Another amazing song from Sevak Amroyan. This time it’s Yarkhushta / Յարխուշտա The Armenian folk dance Yarkhushta has very ancient origins. As such it has been mentioned in the works of early medieval scholars such as Movses Khorenatsi, Faustus of Byzantium, and Grigor Magistros. Yarkhushta has traditionally been danced by Armenian soldiers before combat...
How a 5th century history book led to the discovery of a forgotten kingdom
Armenia is so old that its early history only survived in the form of legends and myths. It often reminds me of the following line: And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. ― Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien A...
Dogs in Ancient Armenia
It is not a secret that the Armenian Highlands have played a vital role in the spread of agriculture and domestication of animals. Among the many animals that have accompanied the early inhabitants of the Armenian Highlands, the dog in particular has a special place in Armenian history and culture. As the inhabitants of the highlands...
The Enigmatic Stars of Artsakh
It’s well known that Artsakh (a.k.a. Nagorno-Karabakh) is a magical place. From the heaven reaching mountains to the unexplored caverns that hold secrets to human evolution and countless archaeological sights, Artsakh is unique in many ways. But not many have probably heard of the little star-shaped stones that, according to a local legend, are raining...
“Luys i Luso” Multimedia Art Project with Tigran Hamasyan
Recently I was made aware of an awesome art project called Luys i Luso featuring the internationally renowned jazz pianist Tigran Hamasyan. For the commemoration of the centennial year of the Armenian Genocide, last year Armenia’s musical prodigy Tigran Hamasyan, along with the Yerevan State Choir embarked on a special journey through music and history. They...
Illustrations from Daredevils of Sassoun by Yervand Kochar 1939
These beautiful illustrations were created by Yervand Kochar in 1939 for the Armenian national epic “Daredevils of Sassoun“. Yervand Kochar was a prominent sculptor and artist of the twentieth century. He gained fame and recognition in Paris when he settled there in 1923 and invented a genre called “Painting in Space” (click the bar...
Before Romeo and Juliet there was Khosrow and Shirin
So we’ve all heard the Shakespearean love tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, but how many in the western world are familiar with the ‘most beautiful love story ever written’ in Persian literature; Khosrow and Shirin (also known as Shirin and Farhad)? The story of Shirin and Khosrow is one of the most popular ancient stories in the middle...
Could this mysterious deity be the Armenian God Vahagn?
A mysterious sculpture of an unknown deity was discovered in southeast Turkey, last year. The sculpture shows an enigmatic bearded deity rising from out the stalk of a plant. Scholars seem to be baffled about the identity of the deity and Live Science reported that “More than a dozen experts contacted by Live Science had no idea who the...
Adana by Maria Cozette
Beautiful performance of Adana by Maria Cozette.
Animated Film about the Brilliant Architect Momik [TRAILER]
A full-length animated movie is being created in Armenia about the genius, 13th-14th century, architect Momik. All of the artwork is created with aquarelle (watercolors) painted on a blank canvas by one artist Hayk Sayadian who also wrote the script, directs, animates and does voice-overs in the film. Hayk describes his endeavor: “This is my canvas, I’m an artist, and I...
