30 Jan: Our Mothers and the Others in Daredevils of Sasun

4 p.m. 
3335 Dwinelle Hall, UC Berkeley

Lecture Abstract 

Daredevils of Sasun is an oral Armenian folktale put into writing by the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The oral variants were recorded after the First World War in Soviet Armenia, mostly through interviews with Armenians who survived the Armenian Genocide and the imperial wars between Russia and the Ottoman Empires. These displaced people, many of whom lived along the southern shores of Lake Van in eastern Anatolia, recounted their versions of the epic. Shepherds, farmers, part-time shoemakers, carpet weavers, mostly illiterate men and some women shared their variant of the epic.

The geography of the epic covers regions around Lake Van: Taron, Mokk, and Sasoun. Yet it is not clear when the epic was first composed. However, the events it refers to can be anchored to a period between the eighth and the twelfth centuries, when the Armenian territories were under Arab domination.

The talk will be about the epic narrative about two noblewomen- one ideal the other the source of conflict. It will examine how the epic bends the ecclesiastical and legal boundaries and allows possibilities for children of these two women. I compare the reception of women and their marriages with ‘others’ with official historical accounts written by Łewond (eighth century) and Vardan Vardapet Arewelc‘i (thirteenth century). I propose that the fate of these noble women might have left an impact on the collective imagination of everyday Armenians who composed the epic. The second section of the talk will be an invitation to think about the lives of the people who recited the epic and our present issues as Armenians and as scholars of Armenian Studies.

Speaker’s Bio

Ani Honarchian is an Assistant Professor of Early Christianity and Late Antiquity at Saint Louis University and a former research fellow at Princeton University. She is currently completing her first monograph, On the Threshold: Churches under Sasanian Iran. Her publications are on topics in Armenian and Iranian studies, as well as Syriac and Armenian historiographical and hagiographical texts. Her recent research focuses on the Armenian-Arab-Byzantine borderlands, with Daredevils of Sasun as an entry point into this complex world.

https://events.berkeley.edu/armenian/event/283913-our-mothers-and-the-others-in-daredevils-of-sasun

Armenian Courses at College of Marin

College of Marin’s Winter semester enrollment is now open! 
Here is the list of my Winter courses which feature Armenia, Georgia, and the region. ..
See catalogue or website for more info!
Happy New Year! -Talin

Castles Churches, and Caravanseris!
5 class meetings, Tuesdays 1:10- 3PM
Kentfield Campus, Academic Center room 101
2/4 – 3/4
$126

Medieval Near East 
4 class meetings, Thursdays 1:10-3pm
IVC Campus Novato, building 7 room 101
2/20 – 3/13
$112

https://marincommunityed.augusoft.net

6 Feb: The Missing Pages Author book talk.

On Thursday, February 6, Dr. Heghnar Zeitlian Watenpaugh, Professor of Art History at the University of California, Davis, will present her book, The Missing Pages at the Burlingame Public Library at 6:00 pm.

An illustrated manuscript  containing the Gospels rests in an archive in Yerevan, Armenia, while eight missing pages of canon tables-concordance lists of related biblical passages are housed at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. The Missing Pages is Heghnar Watenbaugh’s biography of a “survivor object”, the Zeytun Gospels. The dismembered manuscript is a potent metaphor for the Armenian community scattered across the earth like looted pages during a genocide campaign that began in 1915. The missing canon tables were the subject of a 2010 lawsuit initiated by the Armenian Western Prelacy against the Getty Museum in Los Angeles over ownership of stolen Armenian heritage. 

Please join Dr. Heghnar to talk about this particular stolen Armenian heritage and the historical background specifics.

Admission Free.

23 Feb: GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CONTEST (Zarkatxman Mertsoom)

On Sunday, February 23, Hamazkayin is organizing a particularly fun and engaging family event called GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CONTEST (Zarkatxman Mertsoom) at Khatchaturian Community Center, Saroyan Hall at 825 Brotherhood way at 2:00 pm 

Several groups of up to 10 individuals each will compete against each other in a competition of general knowledge.  Questions about Armenian art, language, history, sports, literature and more will be asked in English.

Each group will work together to provide an answer that is handed to a jury.  After all questions are answered, the jury will announce the winning group and runner ups.

The participants will receive a package in English of topics ahead of the contest to help prepare in advance.

Register at Hamazkayin@gmail.com or call 650-492-0832

 Light refreshments served

Admission Free 

23 Feb: Armenia – The Lone Stone- A Traveller’s Guide, Author Event.

An exclusive event with Author David Karamian discussing his latest Traveler’s Guide through Armenia.  Immerse yourself in the captivating journey through Armenia with this comprehensive traveler’s guide. Explore the resilient land’s vibrant cities, unveiling urban gems and hidden treasures. Delve into the rich tapestry of Armenian history, from ancient stone monuments to modern icons. Embark on breathtaking road trips to timeless sites, trails, eco-tourism spots, and adventure destinations. Find essential guides, local phrases, and activities tailored for kids, families, and adults. This immersive guide unveils the depth of Armenia’s cities, history, arts, and culture, ensuring an unforgettable experience.