Is David of Sassoun real?

Sasuntzi Davith folk epic dealing with the adventures of David of Sasun, a legendary Christian hero, in his defense against invaders from Egypt and Persia. The epic was based on oral tradition that presumably dates from the 8th to the 10th century; it was widely known from the 16th through the 19th century and…

What is Sasoun?

Sason (Armenian: Սասուն, romanized: Sasun, Kurdish: Qabilcewz, Arabic: قبل جوز; formerly known as Sasun or Sassoun) is a district in the Batman Province of Turkey. It was formerly part of the sanjak of Siirt, which was in Diyarbakır vilayet until 1880 and in Bitlis Vilayet in 1892.

Who wrote Sasuntsi Davit?

The gallery now bears the name “Sasuntsi Davit.” The multi-figure composition in Sasuntsi Davit Gallery, depicting more than thirty episodes from the Armenian epic, is the sculptural version of the famous graphic work by renowned Armenian artist Hakob Kojoyan (1883-1959).

What is the story of David of Sasun?

David of Sasun or David of Sassoun (Armenian: Սասունցի Դավիթ; Sasuntsi Davit) is the story of an Armenian epic hero who drove Arab-Egyptian invaders out of Armenia. As an oral tale, it dates from as early as the 8th century and was for centuries rehearsed by village bards.

What is David of Sassoun’s full name?

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 to the public as David of Sasun. The epic’s full name is Sasna Tsrer (The Daredevils of Sasun).

Why did Egypt conquer Sasun and Armenia?

Though Egypt has never actually conquered Sasun or Armenia, the epic poem was composed during a time that Islamic empires were growing in the region. The Egyptians were originally stand-ins for the Arabs, who were known to have taxed non-Muslims to ridiculous extremes when they ruled Armenia.

When was the first version of David of Sassoun written?

As an oral history, it dates from the 8th century, and was first put in written form in 1873 by Garegin Srvandztiants. He also published other ethnographic books. 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 to the public as David of Sasun.