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THE POETRY IN EDGAR ALLEN POE’S SYSTEM OF AESTHETICS – 2012-1

Summary

Mariam H. Gevorgyan
Writer, poet, and critic Edgar Allen Poe (1809-1849), a notable representative of late period American romanticism, holds a unique place in the history of world literature.

Poe was an exceptional lyricist and theoretician. He created a complete poetic review of American literature.

Poe’s aesthetic goals were complied in the articles, ‘’The Philisophy of Composition,’’ (1846) and “The Poetic Principle,” (1850).

In the sphere of aesthetics, he developed the concept of beauty, the close bond between lyricism and music, the study of the principles of poetic structure of European romanticism, and through his theories discriminated between the concepts of Beauty and Truth. The concept of superlative Beauty was at the foundation of Poe’s poetry.

By moving on to the revelations of lyrical functions, Poe considered it important to have limits and characterizations, which determine the place of poetry in man’s consciousness.

THE ARMY OF THE ARSACID KINGDOM OF GREAT ARMENIA ACCORDING TO “ZORANAMAK” (MILITARY LIST) – 2012-1

Dedicated to the 20th Anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Armenia’s Armed Forces

Summary

Babken H. Harutyunyan
We have received a very interesting document, conditionally named by researchers “Zoranamak” (Military list), since it has preserved detailed information about armed forces of the principalities (in Armenian – nakhararutyun) of the kingdom of Great Armenia.

The Armenian Army was comprised of 120 thousand soldiers and this number most probably represented the 120 strategies (or generalships) in the kingdom of Great Armenia, as stated by roman author Plinius Secundus. In other words, each strategy which corresponded to an Armenian gavar or province has brought to battlefield an average of 1000 soldiers.

The Armenian royal forces was divided into four flanks and formed a group of forty thousand combatants who then formed four military units, which operated under the command of Bdeshkhs or royal frontier-keeper leaders. From these, the Bdeshkhs of Aghdznik and Gugark had their own proprietorships from quite ancient times. The Bdeshkhs of New Shirakani (Նոր Շիրական) joined them after the year 298, and the forth whose name has not been preserved, owned no proprietorships.

To the number of royal armed forces belonged the Royal guard regiment or Malkhazyan guard regiment, which was comprised of 10000 combatants, out of which 6000 were always deployed for the king during wars or other circumstances. 4000 soldiers of this regiment were permanently stationed in the kingdom’s capital to ensure the safety of Royal Court.

The Mardpetakan regiment who protected the country’s domestic rule and order was also considered to be royal armed forces, comprised 15000 combatants. The regiment’s commander was also responsible for protecting the queen, the Women’s quarters and the safety of most royal treasures. The rest of the treasures were protected by prince of Angeltoun.

Thereby, the royal armed forces were made up of 65000 combatants who made it possible for the king to restrain possible princely actions or rebellions.

The number of combatants in the princely detachments was actually 55 thousand, however it is hard to determine the distribution of those forces into four flanks because the “Zoranamak” example we have is a literary document subjected to a series distortions. It is simply impossible to completely restore it in its original form.

The information regarding the 19400 cavalry or soldiers of the principality of Syunik bears on it the influence of a period when there was a Marzpanate (administrative unit in Sassanid Persia) in Eastern Armenia being under the rule-ship of Sassanid Persia and Marzpan or leader of the Marzpanate was the prince of Syunik – Vasak Syuni. The armed forces of the Syunik principality included the power of 15 thousand soldiers of Armenian Marzpanate, which coincide with the Mardpetakan regiment numbers.

Among the 13200 soldiers that made up the forces of the Kadmeatsik principality 10000 in reality were the soldiers of the Royal guards regiment also secretly preserved as well as the 3200 combatants from Bdeshkh principality of Nor Shirakani.

The Amatouni principality’s name in “Zoranamak” is preserved by the vague writting of Amaskoni who allegedly brought 200 soldiers to the battlefield. An examination shows that the military power of the Amatounis was in reality comprised of 800 to 900 soldiers, of which nearly 400 secretly remained in Vahouni’s units or 500 in Bagratouni’s units. The princely forces were led by four sparapets or flank commanders. 4,000 soldiers from the royal armed forces occupied the Iberian (Virk) and the so called Albanian kingdoms.

The commander of the Armenian armed forces was formally the king of Great Armenia. However, during war the entire army fought under the command of the sparapet of kingdom or general military leader.

Based on military needs, sometimes a group of soldiers was collected to serve as combatants (lands forces) comprising as a rule from infantrymen.

THE METHODOLOGICAL VALUE OF WILHELM DILTHEY’S SYSTEM OF THE “SCIENCES ABOUT THE SPIRIT” – 2012-1

Summary

Marieta K. Nikoghosyan

In 1847, suggesting the idea of ‘‘Sciences about the Spirit‘‘ as a characterization of the second half of the intellectual globe, W. Dilthey aimed to formulate the standards of a scientific character typical for the humanities. He sustained that the problem was of theoretical-gnosiological nature, that is to say, everything made by Kant in the sense of natural sciences, must be repeated in regard to the humanities.

However, during his research Dilthey found that the problem couldn’t be solved with the help of the method applied by Kant, as the theoretical-gnosiological interpretation he had extended an analysis to was a single whole of the “human” and the “human world.” In this case the approach has changed: instead of the “human being as a recognized subject and his intellect” such notions as “fully fledged person,” “universality of human nature,” “totality of human life,” became the points of departure. Dilthey interpreted this concept by intertwining hermeneutics with the philosophy of life. Later hermeneutics was broadened by Dilthey, not as a simple research of texts but as a methodology of humanities and sciences about the spirit. That is to say, it was a theory with the help of which the humanities were founded. Dilthey studied the history of the origin of hermeneutics and formulated it as a method of past cultural interpretation, based on the reproduction of the investigated epoch of “spiritual life.”

Finally his considerable contribution was the cultivation of the philosophical bases of the humanities, concept margin and “sensible sociology.” Dilthey also formulated such gnosiological problems, as how the experience and gnosiology of the individual could be raised to the level of historical experience. Owing to the theory of Dilthey, the main issue of hermeneutics was defined; its further evolution was developing in the direction of obtaining the status of hermeneutical philosophy and cultivation of conceptions.

THE DECEMBER 19, 1948 UN CONVENTION AND THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE – 2011-4

An Analysis and Proposals in connection with the 60th Anniversary of the Document’s Entry into Force

Summary

Armen Ts. Marukyan

The United Nation’s Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide came into force during the Cold war. Thereby it is not accidental that at the time of the convention’s adoption the United States of America and the USSR were, in reality, not trying to create preventative measures and to outline real punishment for the given crime through an internationally binding document, but rather they were trying to turn the convention into a tool to use against their opponent. As a result, many important provisions were left out of the document, and the Convention was turned into a simple document of mutual concession between the U.S. and the USSR. However, notwithstanding all the shortcomings, the adoption of the Convention was a serious step forward for international law. Presently the Republic of Armenia as a signatory to the Convention, and using the provisions in that document as a foundation, can present a proposal for amendments and additions and in doing so try to make it a more productive tool for the eradication of the consequences of the Armenian Genocide.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF AN INDICTMEN – 2011-4

The Issue Surrounding the Appropriation of State Funds by the Committee for the Salvation of the Fatherland

Summary

Ararat M. Hakobyan

One of the most controversial issues in Armenian historiography is the appropriation of state funds by the Committee for the Salvation of the Fatherland following the defeat of the 1921 February Rebellion. Soviet Armenian historiography in particular, inspired by political objectives, has presented a one-sided version of the appropriated state funds taken from Yerevan by the Committee for the Salvation of the Fatherland.

This incident was presented as looting, squander and appropriation. Meanwhile, due to events and the existing situation, the 10 billion Rubles taken from Yerevan and the remaining valuables were spent with the objective of taking care of the 10,000 outcast refugees, members of the former administrative apparatus, for the protection of intellectuals and military personnel, and those issues pertaining to an educational, cultural and political nature. Simultaneously, a number of facts show that along with this targeted spending, there were funds that we squandered and looted, something which was unavoidable taking into consideration the conditions of the extraordinary situation.

PAUL ROHRBACH AND ARMENIA – 2011-4

In Light of a New Examination

Summary

Ashot. N. Hayruni

The article presents and elucidates in a detailed manner Armenia’s and the Armenian people’s more than half-century mutual relationship with Dr. Paul Rohrbach, a famous German scientist, publicist, social and political figure, traveler, and journalist. Along with the detailed analysis of the viewpoints put forward by Rohrbach regarding Armenia’s present and future and the mission of the Armenian people with regard to the development of the East, the direction and results of his pro-Armenian activities are also closely analyzed. Simultaneously, the rooted misunderstanding of Rohrbach in Armenian historiography is examined and re-evaluated in light of a new examination. In the article, Paul Rohrbach as a prolific publicist and public figure who was preoccupied with Armenian issues is underscored as is necessity for the academic study of his literary heritage.

IRANIAN-ARMENIAN ARTIST, ANDRE SEVRUGIAN – 2011-4

Summary

Yvette N.Tajarian

André Sevrugian , known later as “Darvish,” was the son of photographer AntoineKhan Sevruguine , born on May 1,1894 in Tehran. Vasil, Antoine’s father, studied Oriental languages at the Lazarev School in Moscow, after which he entered the civil service, working as a diplomat at the Russian Embassy in Tehran. Vasil, due to his political position, was obliged to change the surname “de Sevruguine.” Antoine adapted the name slightly, while his son André returned to the Armenian spelling. Antoine Sevruguine left the world of photography an exceptional oeuvre, consisting of photographs of the various regions of Iran and the court of Naser ad-Din Shah of the Qajar Dynasty.

André inherited his father’s artistic predisposition, and was fascinated from a very early age by Persian poetry, which was later to be central to his artistic oeuvre. He was present when his father’s friends visited his home, and would listen in fascination when his father recited verses from the Shahname. Often he would put on an old helmet, jump on a chair and pretend to be Rostam, Afrasyab, Qejqaus or Bijan, the heroes of the epic. He belonged to the generation of artists of the first third of the 20th century who attempted to bring something new into the rich and renowned tradition of Pesian art, which had stagnated since the 19th century.

He proceeded to illustrate his childhood dreams, inspired by evening recitations of the Persian national epic Shahname in his parents’ house. In these pictures he was able to integrate the styles of the early and Safavid masters, such as Behzad and Reza Abbasi with their ornamentalized focus on detail, with modern elements, such as perspective, light and shadow, and spatiality. The result was again a series of illustrations of Omar Khayyam,Hafez and Baba Taher. Paintings on Armenian history and folk life, and particularly the songs of the Armenian bard Sayat-Nova, have a specific place in Darvish’s oeuvre. André Sevrugian let himself be inspired by the centuries-old tradition of Persian book illustrations, and yet his paintings are a unique synthesis of Western and Eastern art.

AVAG TSAGHKOGH’S ICONOGRAPHY AND SYMBOLISM IN THE CANON TABLES OF THE 1329 GOSPEL – 2011-4

Summary

Lusine V. Sargsyan

The examination of the canon tables of the Gospels of 1329 (an index of the four synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John which works like a concordance; usually displayed under decorated arches in vertical columns and placed at the beginning of the Gospel Books) played an important role in the works of Avag Tsaghkogh and are worthy of a separate assessment.

The study of relations with other monuments makes it possible to identify where Avag’s range of ornaments derived from. The decoration of these canon tables employed by Avag takes us to the Cilician traditions of Armenian miniature painting, which have their stable role in the ornamental paintings of Gladzor. In addition to this, the ornament of canon tables by Avag provides us with types, which are derived from the early period of Armenian decorative paintings.

In the art of canon tables of the 1329 Gospel one can also sense the master’s independent and courageous approach to the art form. Whenever he had the possibility to defer from adopted norms, he did so diligently, trying to reflect truthfully plants and surroundings (birds, pomegranate branches, flowers, etc.) as accurately, as possible. In this regard the work of Avag significantly differs from the canon tables painted by Taronetzi in 1323, which glitter with gold and paints, and create the element of surprise with imaginary sceneries and miraculous creatures.

Thus, Avag Tsaghkogh’s miraculously created canon tables with their imaginary and decorative motifs summarize and at the same time continue and develop the decoration techniques of the previous centuries. Each of the canon tables on its own is a complete piece of art.

LER KAMSAR: THE DISSIDENT SATIRIST A PORTRAIT AND AN EVALUATION – 2011-4

Summary

Haroutiun L. Kurkjian (Athens)

The paper examines the work and personality of Ler Kamsar, the satirical author born in 1888 in Van (Western Armenia, present-day Turkey) who lived for most of his life in Soviet Armenia. Because of his unconstrained character and nature of his work, he was subjected to persecution and exile and later condemned to silence until his death in 1965.

Ler Kamsar’s published writings of the 1920s and 1930s were placed under censure; due to his subsequent arrest and exile his unpublished works were partially lost or destroyed. It was only in the 1980s and more prominently at the end of the 1990s that his works were once again published.

The publications of the last decade are from those unpublished “underground” works which were saved and were made possible through the undertaking of his relatives and which reveal a gifted satirist and a brave dissident on a pan-Soviet level, and disclose a powerful moral individuality.

The current work is an attempt to outline a literary analysis and a moral and ethical image; a call for the reevaluation of Ler Kamsar’s universal worth.