| The
book: |
| This
"coffee table" book essentially shines a light on
the history of Armenia and Armenians through references to periods
dating to early biblical times. The book, however, focuses on
the and art of those western travelers in the XVIIIth and XIXth
centuries who documented their journeys in Armenia and areas
of the Ottoman Empire, through text and drawings. Engraving
was the technique used to publish those drawings. |
| |
| Background: |
|
Armenia
was the first nation as such to convert to Christianity (301
AD), and the invention of the Armenian Alphabet in 405 was
followed in the translation of the bible only 10 years later.
This was the basis for the creation of various types of art,
religious and profane included.
In the
aftermath of the Crusades and at the end of the Mongolian
invasions, the West's interest in the East had reemerged and
was aided by the establishment of the trading routes to India
and China (dubbed "The Silk Route"). Those Travelers
and artists who documented their travel experiences in both
text and drawings became known as The
Orientalists.
Voyagers,
by their thousands, and those Orientalists among them descended
on those lands despite the many obstacles and difficulties
in moving about at that period. Most often they would arrive
by sea and spend most of their time traversing the territory
escorted by a caravan. They lodged in monasteries, "khans",
or under a tent, and had recourse to translators...
|
| Chapters: |
Concise
text in English, French, and Armenian accompany the pictures
of 39 engravings and 181 plates,
in the following chapters that make up the book:
|
|
Chapter
1:
|
Noah
and Mount Ararat
|
|
Chapter
2:
|
Haig
and Princes from Hagacian Race: First Dynasy
|
|
Chapter
3:
|
Archades
I and Zariadres: The First Kings of Armenia
|
|
Chapter
4:
|
Kings
Tigrane The Great, Artavasde: 2nd Arsacide Dynasty
|
|
Chapter
5:
|
Ardaches
and Youtapee
|
|
Chapter
6:
|
Angora
and Emperor August Caius
|
|
Chapter
7:
|
The
Coming of Christ, Illumination of Manuscripts
|
|
Chapter
8:
|
Christianization
of Armenia/Saint Gregory The Illuminator
|
|
Chapter
9:
|
Khatchkars
(Cruciform Tombstones) and Ani
|
|
Chapter
10:
|
St.
Gregory of Naregvigour of Armenian Architecture and Litterature
|
|
Chapter
11:
|
Genealogies
of the Mamikonians, Pahlavounis,
Arzrounis, Siounides and Aghouanis
|
|
Chapter
12:
|
St.
Gregory Magister, Nerces Chnorhali, and Vartanes
|
|
Chapter
13:
|
Kings
Thoros The First, Leo The First,
and Saint Nerces of Lampron
|
|
Chapter
14:
|
King Leo II & His Successors
|
|
Chapter
15:
|
The
Crusades
|
|
Chapter
16:
|
King
Heithouni and The Town of Sis
|
|
Chapter
17:
|
Etchmiazzine:
Catholicos & Armenian Churches
|
|
Chapter
18:
|
Van
& Akhtamar
|
|
Chapter
19:
|
Erivan
|
|
Chapter
20:
|
Erzerum
|
|
Chapter
21:
|
Kars & Bayazid
|
|
Chapter
22:
|
Armenian
Emigration and Genocide
|
|
Chapter
23:
|
The
Armenians in Lwow (Poland) -
Beit Khachbao & Bzoummar (Lebanon)
|
|
Chapter
24:
|
The
Abbot Mekhitar
|
|
Chapter
25:
|
Armenian
Architecture
|
|
Chapter
26:
|
Art
and Craft
|
|
Chapter
27:
|
Costumes, Ways and Customs
|
|
Chapter
28:
|
Music and Dance
|
|
Chapter
29:
|
Maps
|
