108:
393:
428:
noble, wise, dair and self-sacrificing father-king." David inherits many of his father's belongings, such as a magical horse, a bow and arrow, a lightning sword, and hunting grounds that the
Armenian people no longer had access to. These inherited items are essential elements of building David's connection to his family, people, and eventually the fight that occurs between him and the leader of the Egyptians, Melik.
25:
267:
Melik has been sleeping for three days while his troops have been fighting for domination of
Sassoun. David orders Melik's troops to wake him up. Melik wakes up and talks to David, trying to convince him to speak before they fight. He lures David into tent, where there is a pit waiting to entrap him;
255:
David goes to question Ohan about the land. Ohan tells him that the animals they used to hunt there have been taken by the
Egyptians. David and Ohan go visit the site and spend the night there. David sees a light, and follows it to a convent and church on Maruta's slope, called Charkhapan. Ohan tells
427:
embodied the sun, being the deity of fire and light. A main character in David of
Sassoun derives his name from this god. Other Armenian names are inspired by Mihr, like Mihran, Mihrdat, and Mehrouzhan. His name was Lion Mher, who was David of Sassoun's father. He is described as "the epitome of the
271:
Ohan feels that David is in danger, and goes after him on his horse. Ohan uses his great voice to break millstone which falls into the pit, allowing David to rise from it. Upon his emergence, Melik insists on talking. David prefers to fight after having been deceived, and Melik agrees if he gets to
259:
Melik hears about this restoration and sets out to take
Armenians as prisoners. He sends his lord Gozbadin to gather them, and Ohan surrenders. The old woman notifies David of what is occurring in Sassoun, and tells him to go drive away Melik's lords, which he does. The Egyptian warriors flee home
240:
Lion Mher has ruled
Sassoun for 40 years, with no challenges for the land or his people. He begins to grow old, and worries there will be no heir to his kingdom. One day, an angel comes to the princess, announcing the she and her husband Lion Mher need not worry since they will have a child, whose
263:
David prepares to fight Melik, discovering his father's horse, cross, armor and helmet, and lightning sword from the old woman's advice. He gets these items from Ohan. David goes to provoke Melik's troops and challenge them, fighting off all of Melik's men. David spares the life of an old man in
215:
Since David of
Sassoun is a story that was originally told orally, it would take bards in medieval times several days to recite the story and entertain their listeners, such as unoccupied shepards during the winter. The first written documentations of David of Sassoun were recorded by Portuguese
275:
Melik charges at David on his horse, striking him. David survives, but Melik charges at him from far away again. David survives once again, and Melik charges at him from all the way from Egypt, and fails. David emerges a final time and defeats Melik with his father's horse and lightning
199:
Amid and after the 16th century, Armenian literature began to delve into popular topics and themes in society other than religious (Christian), or national musings. David of
Sassoun is a prime example of this deviation from the cultural norm at the time. Bards and minstrels, or
248:
Frustrated with David's defiance, Ohan's wife sends David to be a
Shepard. After this fails, Ohan makes David a guard of Sassoun's pasture land. Upon another failed attempt at occupying David, Ohan gives David a bow and arrows and sends him to go hunt in the
142:. Srvandztiants was from the Lake Van region, and also published other ethnographic books. Many versions and offshoots of the story were spread after this original publication. Originating as a local tale, it is now a household national epic for Armenians.
212:, whom would perform though recitation or song during notable events. Every year on the first Saturday of October, David of Sassoun is performed, as well as during special life events like weddings, birthdays, christenings, and important national events.
134:, it dates from the 8th century. The epic was transmitted orally between generations around the geographical area surrounding Lake Van, particularly around Sassoun, a town that was 30 miles away from Lake Van. It was first put in written form in 1873 by
244:
Melik of Musr, the king of Egypt, is introduced. He hears about Mehr's passing, and goes to conquer
Sassoun. Ohan of Great Voice's surrenders, and all of his people bow to Melik, with the exception of David (now 7 or 8 years old) who
552:
983:
256:
him that Mher used to pray there before battle, but Melik has destroyed the property. David sets out to rebuild the convent with 5,000 workers that Ohan has prepared, and monks soon return to the convent.
223:
The epic details a conflict between the people of Sassoun, ethnic Armenians, and Muslim Egyptians. The story is an extrapolation from real conflicts that occurred on a North-South Axis among Armenia and
252:
David meets an old woman in this hills who he begins to live with. She scolds him for his ignorance and tells him about his father's hunting grounds, which he will have to ask his uncle more about.
572:"Գարեգին Սրվանձտյանցը և հայկական հերոսավեպը (Գ. Սրվանձտյանցի ծննդյան 150-ամյակի առթիվ) [Garegin Srvandztiants and the Armenian Heroic Epic (on the 150th anniversary of his birth)]"
169:. David of Sassoun is the name of only one of the four acts, but due to the popularity of the character, the entire epic is known widely as David of Sassoun. The epic's full name is
279:
David spares the lives of the rest of the Egyptians on the battlefield, not wanting anymore bloodshed, but threatening danger if they attempt to take Sassoun again.
288:
David of Sassoun can be found in many works of Armenian literature, referenced for his character or to reflect on Armenian struggles throughout history.
114:
The Armenian population in historical Armenian regions in 1896. Represented in the colored areas, with exact percentages indicated by the red numbers.
188:
46:
33:
758:
804:
978:
522:
973:
154:
936:
841:
715:
658:
617:
389:
Performances of David of Sassoun still occur in the present day. With the epic told in parts, the experience lasts up to two hours.
149:, preservation of the epic was difficult, as oral narration had faded away due to the breaking up the Armenian population in the
710:. A. J. Hacikyan, Gabriel Basmajian, Edward S. Franchuk, Nourhan Ouzounian. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. 2000–2005.
415:
was erected in 1959 in Sasuntsi Davit Square (Railway Station Square). It depicts David with his magical horse and sword.
963:
107:
161:, worked to recover the story, eventually forming a committee to produce a single amalgamation of the epic. In 1936,
241:
name was David. Lion Mher summons his brother, Ohan of Great Voice, to celebrate. Mehr and his wife later pass away.
865:
739:
682:
38:
653:. Dickran Kouymjian, Barlow Der Mugrdechian. Fresno, Calif.: Press at California State University, Fresno. 2013.
576:
180:
penned a poem of the same name retelling the story of the David of Sassoun in a more modern Armenian language.
412:
397:
571:
424:
217:
135:
91:
968:
423:
There are various Gods and Goddesses present in Armenian culture, stemming from Urartian deities.
236:
Derived from Hovhannes Toumanian's iteration of David of Sassoun, translated by Thomas Samuelian.
859:
733:
676:
605:
177:
796:
Sasuntsʻi Davit̕ʻ / David of Sassoun / Hovhannes Toumanyan = David Sasunskiĭ / Ovanes Tumani︠a︡n
608:; Basmajian, Gabriel; Franchuk, Edward S.; Ouzounian, Nourhan (2005). "Garegin Srvandztiants".
530:
847:
837:
810:
800:
721:
711:
664:
654:
613:
370:
146:
70:
759:"UNESCO - Performance of the Armenian epic of 'Daredevils of Sassoun' or 'David of Sassoun'"
496:"UNESCO - Performance of the Armenian epic of 'Daredevils of Sassoun' or 'David of Sassoun'"
208:, would recite the epic to their audiences and capivate them. These ashughs notably include
139:
322:
836:. Diana Der Hovanessian, Marzbed Margossian. New York: Columbia University Press. 1978.
405:
392:
158:
150:
153:, including Sassoun, which had no prevailing Armenian population. Academics living in
957:
138:. Srvandztiants published the epic in Constantinople which was a cultural center for
127:
87:
131:
610:
The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the eighteenth century to modern times
225:
928:
879:
209:
814:
668:
929:"Yervand Kochar - Incomparable Talent Evoked the National Spirit of Armenia"
725:
851:
24:
794:
648:
880:"Sasna Tsrer full-length animation film to premier January 25 in Yerevan"
705:
831:
401:
96:
468:
205:
184:
495:
469:"UNESCO - Decision of the Intergovernmental Committee: 7.COM 11.2"
391:
201:
106:
382:
directed by Arman Manaryan, covering the first three cycles of
903:
18:
650:
David of Sassoun : critical studies on the Armenian epic
581:
260:
and Melik hears of their failure, causing him to declare war.
984:
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
612:. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. pp. 372–374.
165:, a four-cycle compilation, was published under the title
553:"David of Sassoun: Critical Studies on the Armenian Epic"
551:
Kouymjian, Dickran; Der Mugrdechian, Barlow (2013).
386:
The 80-minute animated film took 8 years to create.
220:
documented the first full form of the epic in 1873.
793:Tʻumanyan, Hovhannes; Թումանյան, Հովհաննես (2013).
16:Protagonist of Armenian epic Daredevils of Sassoun
176:In 1902, the prominent Armenian poet and writer
329:
293:
378:In 2010, an animated film was produced called
557:The Press California State University, Fresno
8:
173:(meaning "The Different Ones of Sassoun").
600:
598:
95:, who drove Arab Egyptian invaders out of
163:David of Sassoun, The Armenian Folk Epic
130:poem recounting David's exploits. As an
49:of all important aspects of the article.
457:
444:David of Sassoun's father, or Lion Mher
437:
857:
731:
674:
580:(in Armenian) (1): 3–9. Archived from
45:Please consider expanding the lead to
826:
824:
788:
786:
784:
782:
780:
778:
7:
753:
751:
749:
700:
698:
696:
694:
692:
643:
641:
639:
637:
635:
633:
631:
629:
517:
515:
490:
488:
463:
461:
264:exchange for direct duel with Melik.
927:Bedevian, Ruth (15 February 2007).
707:The heritage of Armenian literature
312:a sterile woman now walking through
216:travelers during the 16th century.
122:(also known as after its main hero
14:
937:University of Southern California
189:Intangible Cultural Heritage List
86:) is the main hero of Armenia's
23:
340:The street lamps and the trees.
37:may be too short to adequately
933:Armenian News Network / Groong
47:provide an accessible overview
1:
316:and Mher waiting in the dark
306:by historians who ignored the
291:Contemporary Armenian poems:
833:Anthology of Armenian poetry
570:Haroutyunian, S. B. (1990).
354:And there, beneath the moon.
272:make the first move himself.
979:Medieval history of Armenia
904:"80-minute film in 8 years"
358:And what you are descrying.
308:red fogs rising from cities
296:Blind Orion flung your name
187:included the epic in their
1000:
413:statue of David of Sassoun
298:into stars without shelter
974:Fictional Armenian people
364:Golden, harmless, hairy.
352:Blindly in the moonlight;
350:That always seem to surge
336:And the shops a-gleaming.
325:, untitled poem from 1973
302:the same height as dreams
74:
577:Patma-Banasirakan Handes
348:Of those roofs so white.
346:And the bottomless perch
334:Multi-mirrored ballrooms
342:And behold those gritty
338:See the brand-new city.
864:: CS1 maint: others (
738:: CS1 maint: others (
681:: CS1 maint: others (
408:
384:Daredevils of Sassoun.
376:
360:As Daniel's adversary,
332:All the mutely beaming
328:
115:
395:
218:Garegin Srvandztiants
136:Garegin Srvandztiants
120:Daredevils of Sassoun
110:
92:Daredevils of Sassoun
400:to David of Sassoun
356:Whatever you can see
344:Cascading factories;
304:stone crosses carved
268:David falls into it.
799:. Erevan: Nahapet.
606:Hacikyan, Agop Jack
314:a desert into exile
964:Culture of Armenia
523:"David of Sassoon"
419:Armenian Mythology
409:
373:, poem "The Train"
284:Art and Literature
178:Hovhannes Tumanyan
116:
806:978-9939-803-91-3
371:Nigoghos Sarafian
362:Is the lion lying
167:Sasounts'i Davit'
147:Armenian Genocide
140:Western Armenians
126:) is an Armenian
64:
63:
991:
948:
947:
945:
943:
924:
918:
917:
915:
914:
900:
894:
893:
891:
890:
876:
870:
869:
863:
855:
828:
819:
818:
790:
773:
772:
770:
769:
755:
744:
743:
737:
729:
702:
687:
686:
680:
672:
645:
624:
623:
602:
593:
592:
590:
589:
567:
561:
560:
548:
542:
541:
539:
538:
529:. Archived from
519:
510:
509:
507:
506:
492:
483:
482:
480:
479:
465:
445:
442:
374:
326:
124:David of Sassoun
76:
67:David of Sassoun
59:
56:
50:
27:
19:
999:
998:
994:
993:
992:
990:
989:
988:
954:
953:
952:
951:
941:
939:
926:
925:
921:
912:
910:
902:
901:
897:
888:
886:
884:PanARMENIAN.Net
878:
877:
873:
856:
844:
830:
829:
822:
807:
792:
791:
776:
767:
765:
757:
756:
747:
730:
718:
704:
703:
690:
673:
661:
647:
646:
627:
620:
604:
603:
596:
587:
585:
569:
568:
564:
550:
549:
545:
536:
534:
521:
520:
513:
504:
502:
494:
493:
486:
477:
475:
467:
466:
459:
454:
449:
448:
443:
439:
434:
421:
375:
369:
366:
363:
361:
359:
357:
355:
353:
351:
349:
347:
345:
343:
341:
339:
337:
335:
333:
327:
323:Krikor Beledian
321:
318:
315:
313:
311:
309:
307:
305:
303:
301:
299:
297:
286:
234:
197:
159:Manouk Abeghyan
105:
60:
54:
51:
44:
32:This article's
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
997:
995:
987:
986:
981:
976:
971:
966:
956:
955:
950:
949:
919:
895:
871:
842:
820:
805:
774:
763:ich.unesco.org
745:
716:
688:
659:
625:
618:
594:
562:
543:
511:
500:ich.unesco.org
484:
473:ich.unesco.org
456:
455:
453:
450:
447:
446:
436:
435:
433:
430:
420:
417:
406:Yervand Kochar
367:
330:
319:
294:
285:
282:
281:
280:
277:
273:
269:
265:
261:
257:
253:
250:
246:
242:
233:
230:
196:
193:
155:Soviet Armenia
151:Ottoman Empire
104:
101:
83:David of Sasun
79:Sasuntsi Davit
75:Սասունցի Դաւիթ
62:
61:
41:the key points
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
996:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
962:
961:
959:
938:
934:
930:
923:
920:
909:
905:
899:
896:
885:
881:
875:
872:
867:
861:
853:
849:
845:
843:0-231-04564-6
839:
835:
834:
827:
825:
821:
816:
812:
808:
802:
798:
797:
789:
787:
785:
783:
781:
779:
775:
764:
760:
754:
752:
750:
746:
741:
735:
727:
723:
719:
717:0-8143-2815-6
713:
709:
708:
701:
699:
697:
695:
693:
689:
684:
678:
670:
666:
662:
660:0-912201-45-2
656:
652:
651:
644:
642:
640:
638:
636:
634:
632:
630:
626:
621:
619:9780814332214
615:
611:
607:
601:
599:
595:
584:on 2020-03-21
583:
579:
578:
573:
566:
563:
558:
554:
547:
544:
533:on 2021-10-20
532:
528:
527:www.arak29.am
524:
518:
516:
512:
501:
497:
491:
489:
485:
474:
470:
464:
462:
458:
451:
441:
438:
431:
429:
426:
418:
416:
414:
407:
403:
399:
394:
390:
387:
385:
381:
372:
365:
324:
317:
300:red mountains
292:
289:
283:
278:
274:
270:
266:
262:
258:
254:
251:
247:
243:
239:
238:
237:
231:
229:
227:
221:
219:
213:
211:
207:
203:
194:
192:
190:
186:
181:
179:
174:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
143:
141:
137:
133:
129:
128:national epic
125:
121:
113:
109:
102:
100:
98:
94:
93:
89:
88:national epic
85:
84:
81:also spelled
80:
72:
68:
58:
55:December 2023
48:
42:
40:
35:
30:
26:
21:
20:
940:. Retrieved
932:
922:
911:. Retrieved
907:
898:
887:. Retrieved
883:
874:
832:
795:
766:. Retrieved
762:
706:
649:
609:
586:. Retrieved
582:the original
575:
565:
556:
546:
535:. Retrieved
531:the original
526:
503:. Retrieved
499:
476:. Retrieved
472:
440:
422:
410:
388:
383:
380:Sasna Tsrer,
379:
377:
331:
310:the old land
295:
290:
287:
235:
232:Plot summary
222:
214:
198:
182:
175:
170:
166:
162:
157:, including
144:
132:oral history
123:
119:
117:
111:
90:
82:
78:
77:
66:
65:
52:
36:
34:lead section
942:28 February
226:Mesopotamia
171:Sasna Tsrer
969:Epic poems
958:Categories
913:2020-12-31
889:2020-12-31
768:2023-04-20
588:2016-04-12
537:2020-12-31
505:2020-12-31
478:2020-12-31
452:References
210:Sayat-Nova
145:After the
103:Background
860:cite book
815:931230108
734:cite book
677:cite book
669:811408505
183:In 2012,
112:Lake Van:
39:summarize
908:youth.am
726:42477084
368:—
320:—
245:refuses.
71:Armenian
852:3869661
402:Yerevan
396:A 1959
202:ashughs
195:History
97:Armenia
850:
840:
813:
803:
724:
714:
667:
657:
616:
398:statue
276:sword.
249:hills.
206:gusans
185:UNESCO
432:Notes
404:, by
944:2014
866:link
848:OCLC
838:ISBN
811:OCLC
801:ISBN
740:link
722:OCLC
712:ISBN
683:link
665:OCLC
655:ISBN
614:ISBN
425:Mihr
118:The
960::
935:.
931:.
906:.
882:.
862:}}
858:{{
846:.
823:^
809:.
777:^
761:.
748:^
736:}}
732:{{
720:.
691:^
679:}}
675:{{
663:.
628:^
597:^
574:.
555:.
525:.
514:^
498:.
487:^
471:.
460:^
411:A
228:.
191:.
99:.
73::
946:.
916:.
892:.
868:)
854:.
817:.
771:.
742:)
728:.
685:)
671:.
622:.
591:.
559:.
540:.
508:.
481:.
204:/
69:(
57:)
53:(
43:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
