Medieval Armenian literature

XIII–XVI centuries

In the XIII-XIV centuries, during the difficult conditions because of the Mongol invasion, literature was enriched with translations from Arabic, Persian, Old French and Latin. Beginning from the XIII century, grabar or old Armenian started to be replaced by spoken folk language in the literature, which is known as Middle Armenian.

Frick (born 1230/1240 – died in the beginning of the 14th century) laid the foundations of poetry with emphasized social motives for protesting against an unjust world order. He left more than fifty poems written in the genres of lamentation, teaching and complaint: «About Daleh and Burdg», «About khan Argun and Bugha», «The wheel of fate», «Complaints».

Outstanding representatives of medieval Armenian poetry of the XIV century Hovhannes Erznkatsi and Konstandin Erznkatsi, along with traditional religious themes, developed philosophical and meditative lyrics, introduced purely love motives and asserted humanistic ideals. The topics of love, woman worship, nature beauty, spring chanting in the poetry of Constantine Erznkatsi received a new lyrical sound. In the works of a lyric poet Hovhannes Tlukrantsi (XIV-XV centuries), these topics are already devoid of religious allegoricalness. The form of folk love poems – hayrens were also created in this period.

In poetry, the topics of wanderings, exile are developed, expressing peoples’ longing for motherland. Being widely spread in folk poetry, it contributed to the formation of patriotic poetry, civic ideals. This topic was developed in several hayrens by Hovhannes Erznkatsi, then in Mkrtich Naghash’s, Grigor Akhtamartsi's (the 16th ccentury), Nerses Mokatsi's works (XIV-XV centuries).

The representative of secular art, lyricist Nahapet Quchak of the XVI century brought life-affirming sentiments to poetry, sang a woman and worldly joys. In the laconic form of the popular hayrens he expressed the beauty of the world and the human soul, the highest expression of which is love.

Historical prose of the XIII-XVI centuries is represented by the names of Kirakos Gandzaketsi, Vardan Patmich, Smbat Gundestabl, Stepanos Orbelian, Grigor Aknetsi, Tovma Metsopetsi and many others. The art of book miniature reaches a special rise, such artists as Toros Roslin, Momik, Sargis Pitsak, Toros Taronatsi were creating their masterpieces.