David of Sassoun explained

David of Sassoun (Armenian: Սասունցի Դաւիթ Sasuntsi Davit also spelled David of Sasun) is the main hero of Armenia's national epic Daredevils of Sassoun, who drove Arab Egyptian invaders out of Armenia.[1] [2] [3]

Background

The Daredevils of Sassoun (also known as after its main hero David of Sassoun) is an Armenian national epic poem recounting David's exploits. As an oral history, 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.[4] It was first put in written form in 1873 by Garegin Srvandztiants. Srvandztiants published the epic in Constantinople which was a cultural center for Western Armenians.[5] [6] Srvandztiants was from the Lake Van region, and also published other ethnographic books.[7] 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.

After the Armenian Genocide, preservation of the epic was difficult, as oral narration had faded away due to the breaking up the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire, including Sassoun, which had no prevailing Armenian population. Academics living in Soviet Armenia, including Manouk Abeghyan, worked to recover the story, eventually forming a committee to produce a single amalgamation of the epic. In 1936, David of Sassoun, The Armenian Folk Epic, a four-cycle compilation, was published under the title Sasounts'i Davit. 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 Sasna Tsrer (meaning "The Different Ones of Sassoun").

In 1902, the prominent Armenian poet and writer Hovhannes Tumanyan penned a poem of the same name retelling the story of the David of Sassoun in a more modern Armenian language.

In 2012, UNESCO included the epic in their Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

History

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.[8] David of Sassoun is a prime example of this deviation from the cultural norm at the time. Bards and minstrels, or ashughs/gusans, would recite the epic to their audiences and capivate them.[8] These ashughs notably include Sayat-Nova, whom would perform though recitation or song during notable events.[8] 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.

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 travelers during the 16th century. Garegin Srvandztiants documented the first full form of the epic in 1873.

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 Mesopotamia.

Plot summary

Derived from Hovhannes Toumanian's iteration of David of Sassoun, translated by Thomas Samuelian.

Art and Literature

David of Sassoun can be found in many works of Armenian literature, referenced for his character or to reflect on Armenian struggles throughout history.

Contemporary Armenian poems:

In 2010, an animated film was produced called Sasna Tsrer, directed by Arman Manaryan, covering the first three cycles of Daredevils of Sassoun.[9] The 80-minute animated film took 8 years to create.[10]

Performances of David of Sassoun still occur in the present day. With the epic told in parts, the experience lasts up to two hours.[11] A statue of David of Sassoun was erected in 1959 in Sasuntsi Davit Square (Railway Station Square). It depicts David with his magical horse and sword.

Armenian Mythology

There are various Gods and Goddesses present in Armenian culture, stemming from Urartian deities. Mihr embodied the sun, being the deity of fire and light.[8] 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 noble, wise, dair and self-sacrificing father-king."[12] 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.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UNESCO - Decision of the Intergovernmental Committee: 7.COM 11.2. 2020-12-31. ich.unesco.org. en.
  2. Web site: UNESCO - Performance of the Armenian epic of 'Daredevils of Sassoun' or 'David of Sassoun'. 2020-12-31. ich.unesco.org. en.
  3. Web site: David of Sassoon. 2020-12-31. www.arak29.am. 2021-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020115135/https://www.arak29.am/PDF_PPT/6-Literature/David/TextEng.htm. dead.
  4. Kouymjian . Dickran . Der Mugrdechian . Barlow . 2013 . David of Sassoun: Critical Studies on the Armenian Epic . The Press California State University, Fresno.
  5. Haroutyunian. S. B.. 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)]]. Patma-Banasirakan Handes. 1990. 1. 3–9. hy. 2016-04-12. 2020-03-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20200321081025/http://hpj.asj-oa.am/5492/. dead.
  6. Book: David of Sassoun : critical studies on the Armenian epic . 2013 . Press at California State University, Fresno . Dickran Kouymjian, Barlow Der Mugrdechian . 0-912201-45-2 . Fresno, Calif. . 811408505.
  7. Book: Hacikyan. Agop Jack. Agop Jack Hacikyan. Basmajian. Gabriel. Franchuk. Edward S.. Ouzounian. Nourhan. The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the eighteenth century to modern times. Garegin Srvandztiants. 2005. Wayne State University Press. Detroit. 9780814332214. 372–374.
  8. Book: The heritage of Armenian literature . 2000–2005 . Wayne State University Press . A. J. Hacikyan, Gabriel Basmajian, Edward S. Franchuk, Nourhan Ouzounian . 0-8143-2815-6 . Detroit . 42477084.
  9. Web site: Sasna Tsrer full-length animation film to premier January 25 in Yerevan. 2020-12-31. PanARMENIAN.Net.
  10. Web site: 80-minute film in 8 years. 2020-12-31. youth.am.
  11. Web site: UNESCO - Performance of the Armenian epic of 'Daredevils of Sassoun' or 'David of Sassoun' . 2023-04-20 . ich.unesco.org . en.
  12. Book: Tʻumanyan, Hovhannes . Sasuntsʻi Davit̕ʻ / David of Sassoun / Hovhannes Toumanyan = David Sasunskiĭ / Ovanes Tumani︠a︡n . Թումանյան . Հովհաննես . 2013 . Nahapet . 978-9939-803-91-3 . Erevan . 931230108.