Armenian Legends and Poems Index

Sacred Texts Asia Myths/Legends | | Armenian Legends and Poems by Zabelle C. Boyajian [1916] | Contents Start Reading This is a collection of translations of Armenian literature from the middle ages, interspersed with poetry from the 19th century. In addition, there are a number of episodes from the chronicles of Moses of Khorene, a fifth century Armenian historian. These recount legendary incidents of ancient Armenian history. The anthologist and translator of many of these poems, Zabelle Boyajian, also created the luminous illustrations. The book concludes with a long essay by Aram Raffi which contextualizes the long history of Armenian literature. This essay also details the long religious history of Armenia, starting with an extended discussion of the ancient Pagan deities. Armenia is in a region which is a cross-roads between Asia and Europe, and has more often than not been conquered by the dominant regional power of the day, starting with the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Macedonians, through the Ottomans and finally the Russians. Nevertheless, Armenia has managed to hold onto a unique cultural and linguistic identity. Armenians have produced a substantial national literature, particularly in those short windows of time while not under foreign domination. Unfortunately, not much of this has been translated into English. This anthology is one of the few sources we have in the public domain. So please enjoy this little sampler of Armenian literature. Title Page Preface Introduction Contents List of Illustrations Armenia's Love To Shakespeare Reproaches A Trial of Orthodoxy The Exile's Song The Apple Tree My Heart is Turned Into a Wailing Child O Night, Be Long Black Eyes Yesternight I Walked Abroad Vahagn, King of Armenia Huntsman, That on the Hills Above Liberty I Beheld My Love This Morning The Fox, the Wolf, and the Bear Incense The Little Lake Spring Cradle Song Ara and Semiramis Lament Over the Heroes Fallen in the Battle of Avarair The Song of the Stork Ye Mountain Bluebells The Sun Went Down Birthday Song Morning The Founding of Van I Have a Word I Fain Would Say The Song of the Partridge The Lily of Shavarshan Cradle Song The Wind is Howling Through the Winter Night The Armenian Poet's Prayer The Chragan Palace The Dream The Sorrows of Armenia Artashes and Satenik My Death The Eagle's Love Concerning the Rose and the Nightingale The Arrival of the Crusaders Like an Ocean is This World The Rock The Crane The Hawk and the Dove Artavasd Charm Verses The Tears of Araxes The Eve of Ascension Day ''Thy Voice is Sweet'' Christ and Abgarus Araxes Came Devouringly The Parrot's Song Earth and Sky O’er the Mountains High He Went Complaints A Day After Without Thee What Are Song and Dance to Me? The Lake of Van Spring The Fox The Tale of Rosiphelee The Song of the Vulture Dance Song Ballad No Bird Can Reach the Mountain's Crest The Nightingale of Avarair Thou Art So Sweet The Wandering Armenian to the Swallow The Christ-Child The Castle of Anoush Happiness Concerning Death Love One Another Pasqua Armena ''Io Vidi'' Armenia: Its Epics, Folk-Songs, and Mediaeval Poetry Introduction Armenian Paganism Armenian Epics Moses of Khorene Adoption of Christianity Golden Age of Armenian Literature Middle Ages Bagratuni Dynasty The Crusades Silver Age of Armenian Literature End of Armenian Kingdom Renaissance Eighteenth Century and onward Characteristics of Armenian Poetry Russian Era Addenda and Corrigenda Chronological Index to Authors Index to First Lines