The kingdom of Armenia as the last bastion of Hellenism

• Main Author: Georgi Koubatian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Bologna 2014-02-01
• Series: Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage
• Subjects: tragedia in versi, pertinenza, ironia
• Online Access: http://conservation-science.unibo.it/article/view/4180

The article is devoted to H. Nerzetian’s tragedy in verse "Artavasdes and Cleopatra". The action takes place in the second half of the first century BC, when Armenia, together with Rome and Pathia, was one of the most powerfull empires in the ancient world. The timeline highlighted in the play covers about twenty years. However both the scenic action and the scenic time are only indicated by odd images. The only invention by the author is the encounter between Cleopatra and Artavasdes and remains on the sidelines of the play. Appearing in the foreground are the everlasting philosophical clashes: Duty and Self-love, Integrity and Perfidy, Man and Power, the Fatherland and the World. An extremely important idea it is that man is incapable of discerning either another man or the essential events that take place in the world around him. The characters solve problems that are relevant not only for them but also for the reader. The author often introduces elements of irony and absurdity, that are inherent to the many dialogs in “Artavasdes and Cleopatra”. Clashing intonations in the form of differing times display additional effects.