The Armenian folklore has been preserved in the form of proverbs, fairy tales, folk songs, epics, riddles, and legends. Many of them are rooted in the culture of pre-Christian Armenia. The folklore of this country were written down after the invention of the Armenian alphabet. Several gifted authors such as Sebeos, Movses Khorenatsi, Agathangelos, and Anania Shirakatsi influenced the modern Armenian culture. 

In its earliest period, the Armenian folklore incorporated the Anatolian, Mesopotamian, Roman, and other major philosophies. Gods and creatures associated with nature were worshipped in pre-Christian Armenia. Most notable among them were Areg, Astlik, and Vanatur. They were the personifications of the Sun, fertility, and hospitality respectively.

The Persian influence

When the Persians took over Armenia during the 1st millennium BC, Zoroastrianism began influencing the Armenian culture heavily. Aramazd, a derivative of the Zoroastrian god, Ahura Mazda, became the supreme god of Armenia. With Vahagn, the god of fire and thunder, and Anahit, the goddess of fertility, a powerful triad was formed. 

Many of such deities became associated with the gods of Greece during the Hellenistic period. So, Aramazd became Zeus, Vahagn transformed into Hercules, and Anahit became Artemis. The folklore of Armenia included several mythical spirits and monsters. Most notable among them were vishaps, the dragon-like water spirits. 

They were believed to have inhabited Mount Ararat and created storms while moving between the sky and the earth. Ancient Armenians believed that the vishaps lived around the water sources like ponds in large groups. Their depictions were carved from a single stone slab into various forms, such as serpent heads or fish.

Folklore in Christian Armenia

After Christianity was formally adopted in Armenia during the 4th century, the ancient mythology was modified. This was to make it palatable with the Christian beliefs. The Biblical characters assumed the functions that were performed by the mythological gods and spirits. For example, John the Baptist inherited the traits that were earlier attributed to Tir and Vahagn. 

The Armenian legends also introduced many monarchs and heroes after the adoption of Christianity. Some of them were simply carried forward from the mythologies of the pre-Christian era. It was during this period that the Armenians got Hayk. He was believed to be the legendary patriarch of the Armenian people and the great-grandson of Noah. Many epics had played a central role in the folklore of Armenia. 

However, none of them is as popular as the ‘Daredevils of Sassoun’. This is an 8th-century oral tale of ‘David of Sassoun’ and his fight against the Arabs. It was first converted to the written form by Garegin Srvandztiants in 1873. In the year 1902, Hovhannes Tumanyan wrote a poem of the same name. 

He was a prominent Armenian author. In the poem, he recounted the story of David of Sassoun in a modern language. Although it covers only one act in the poem, the character’s popularity named the poem as such. Arman Manaryan, a famed director, produced an animated film called Sasna Tsrer in 2010. 

In this film, the first three cycles of Daredevils of Sassoun have been illustrated. Two years later, this popular epic was added to the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO.

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This is the reason why many great empires sought to capture its fertile land. The never-ending conquests and the troubled 20th century forced the Armenians to move away from their own land. Today, about 7 million Armenians are living in different parts of the world. This number is more than the population of modern Armenia. 

You can find the Armenian people in the United States, Russia, Ukraine, France, Georgia, and Lebanon. Owing to their cultural interactions with these countries, the Armenians left had a considerable influence on the global heritage. Here, we present some interesting facts about the Armenian culture, which would surely surprise you.

1. Lady Gaga and Madonna were inspired by Armenian cinematography

The Armenian director, Sergei Parajanov, created a visual biography of Sayat-Nova in 1969. He was an 18th-century poet of Armenian descent. The biography was called ‘The Color of Pomegranates’. It focused on images, music, and sounds and used little dialogue. 

Although this film was unknown to the masses, it became an inspiration for many artists. In the year 1995, Madonna re-staged many scenes from this film in her music video titled Bedtime Story. The video clip titled ‘911’ released by Lady Gaga in September 2020 was also inspired by this film.

2. Armenian brandy is loved worldwide

The distilling tradition of Armenia is among the oldest in the world. It is, therefore, reflected in the quality of drinks made in the country. Nikolav Shustov, a producer of Armenian brandy, won in blind judging in 1900 at the Universal Expo of Paris. He was awarded the right to legally call his product cognac by the jury. Unfortunately, the Armenians lost this privilege after the Second World War. 

It is said that Winston Churchill drank the Armenian brandy with great delight. It was offered to him by Joseph Stalin during the Yalta Conference. Stalin had later arranged for 400 bottles to be shipped to Churchill every year. It is also said that Armenian brandy was a favorite of Frank Sinatra and Agatha Christie.

3. Armenian paintings are featured on many postage stamps

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky, also known as Hovhannes Aivazian, was a Russian painter. He was born into an Armenian family that lived in Crimea. Aivazovsky was famous within the Russian Empire and had his works exhibited in Europe and the United States. 

He had created around 6,000 paintings during his artistic career. In recent times, his marine art appears frequently on many postage stamps. They are found worldwide, even in countries like Niger, Moldova, Mozambique, and Ukraine.

4. Chess is an inseparable part of Armenia’s education and culture

The immensely talented Andre Agassi is arguably the most influential Armenian in sports. He was born to Armenian-American parents. You’ll be surprised to know that tennis is not the sport Armenians are truly good at. In fact, the sport they are extremely good at is chess. Since 2011, chess has been a compulsory subject in the schools of Armenia. 

It is taught from the second till the fourth grades. On the international chess scene, many Armenians have successfully competed. Among them are Vladimir Akopian and Levon Aronian. Garry Kasparov, the legendary chess grandmaster, is also of an Armenian origin.

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There are Hellenistic temples in the country that have their own unique designs. They compete with monasteries that reflect the ones constructed in Georgia. You’ll also come across beautiful handwoven carpets in this part of the world. They resemble those found in Turkey and Iran, but are distinctly Armenian. The people of Armenia were known to Persians as Armina and as Armenioi to the Greeks. 

However, the Armenians call themselves Hayq and their country Hayastan. The name comes from the name ‘Hayk’. He was a legendary hero believed to be the descendant of Noah. The Armenian customs have been shaped through tears and blood, which is why the Armenians don’t take them lightly. Owing to the invasion of larger and more powerful kingdoms, the Armenian highlands have always been troubled. 

The traces of Persian, Byzantine, Arab, Mongol, and Turkish cultures reminds one of its oppressive past. Even after so many assaults, the Armenians have managed to preserve their heritage and strengthen their values and resolve.

Armenian music

Diverse religious and secular genres are covered in Armenian music. They’ve been present since the ancient times. Interestingly, the Armenian music was historically the domain of storytellers and professional folk actors. With the arrival of Christianity, the traditional music of Armenia began to shift from the secular to the sacred. Visitors would hear Armenian music in all corners of the country today. 

The churches, restaurants, and concert halls come alive with ancient chants even today. Accompanying them are duduk, kamancha, and saz. They are the national instruments of Armenia. Even if the Armenians are proud of their heritage, they have also adapted to modern expressions of music.

Armenian architecture

This country has been nicknamed ‘country of stones’ and it pretty much sums up the Armenian architecture. Most of the land in the country comprises rugged mountain landscapes, sharp peaks, and rocky slopes. The local architects adapted to the environment, as Armenia is surrounded by a harsh landscape prone to earthquakes. 

Elaborate stone constructions can be seen throughout the country today. Churches and monasteries were especially built to last for many centuries and blend with their environment seamlessly. Although the nation is best known for its Christian buildings, Hellenistic temples are also a part of the landscape. 

New advancements in the Armenian architecture were introduced when Russians arrived in the 19th century. The most notable aspect was the construction of black and pink tuff.

Armenian theater

The first known theater was built in Armenia under Tigran the Great in 69 BC. Although multiple conquests didn’t allow the local theater to flourish, the love for theater never diminished. This paved the way for satire, mimes, and sophisticated epics that later defined the Armenian theater. An intense growth in theater was witnessed during the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Culture and drama groups traveled to distant places. Armenian theaters were opened in Kiev, Moscow, and other major cities. The theaters established in Yerevan by prominent playwrights were extremely popular for their productions. They included local, European, and American plays. More than 20 state and private theaters still exists in the capital city of Yerevan.

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