| Ghevond Alishan |
 (1820-1901) Alishann became interested in Armenia’s past as a child watching his father collecting coins from old Armenian dynasties. When he was twelve he and his brother were sent from their native Istanbul to study in Venice at the Mekhitarist monastery, where in 1840 he was ordained a monk. He taught history and literature there in the Murad Raphaelian School. From 1850 to 1880 he became the most influential figure in Armenian letters both as historian and poet. His students, including Thomas Terzian, Meguerdich, Ajemian, Serabion Teghlian (and, much later, Arpiar Arpiarian) were among those responsible for the Armenian Renaissance: Alishan's poems, called Songs, were collected in five volumes. He translated Byron’s poems into Armenian; in 1952 in London he translated a volume of poetry by American lyric poets. He traveled to Paris, Berlin, Brussels, and Vienna in his study of Armenian manuscripts. |