Jowhannes Imastasser

Jowhannes Imastasser ( Armenian Յովհաննէս Իմաստասէր , Russian Ованес Имастасер, Ованес Саркаваг , English Hovhannes Imastaser ), also: Hovhannes Sarkavag ( Armenian Յովհաննէս Սարկաւագ was "Sarkawag" ~ 1047-1129) a medieval Armenian polymath known for his works on philosophy , theology , Mathematics and cosmology became known. Imastasser was also a gifted hymnologist and educator .

Life

origin

The place Pib in Gardman (Northern Nagorno Karabakh , historical Armenia), birthplace of Jowhannes Imastasser

Jowhannes Imastasser was born around 1047 in the Gardman district (Գարդման was, village of Pib) in the eastern Utik (Ուտիք) province of historical Armenia . Today the area is in the north of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan . The most detailed historical source on the life and work of Jowhannes Imastasser can be found in the "History of Armenia" by the Armenian historian Kirakos Gandzaketsi from the 12th-13th centuries . Century. There is also an anonymous biography from the 13th century, which is sometimes also attributed to Kirakos Gandzaketsi.

training

Jowhannes received his training in theology and the sciences in the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin , two important monastic centers of medieval Armenian scholarship. After finishing his studies, Jowhannes moved to the capital, Ani , where he taught philosophy , mathematics , music , cosmography and grammar . In Ani he received the rank of sarkavag ( deacon ) and was ultimately promoted to vardapet ( archimandrites , doctor of theology) of the Armenian Apostolic Church . However, it was the title sarkavag that stuck to his name as an addition.

Modern reception

While Jowhannes Imastasser was widely recognized as a master of Armenian literature, his works did not become accessible to a wider public until the 19th century when they were published by Abbot Ghevont Alishan (Հայր Ղևոնդ Ալիշան, 1820–1901), a member of the Mechitarists in Venice . Alishan was a member of the Armenian Catholic Church . Imastasser's innovative approach to literature, after which he is often referred to as a key figure in the Armenian Literary Renaissance, can be clearly seen in his poem Ban Imastutian (Interpretation of Wisdom). In the poem, which is designed as a dialogue between the author and a blackbird, the bird symbolizes nature, which is understood as the main inspiration of art. In Imastasser's day, by contrast, artistic inspiration was usually based on divine inspiration.

Working as a hymnologist

As a hymnologist, Imastasser wrote several important sharakans (շարական, hymns): Tagh Harutean (Ode to the Resurrection), Paitsaratsan Aisor (Enlightened On This Day), Anskizbn Bann Astvatz (God, The Infinite Word), Anchareli Bann Astavatz (God, The Ineffable Word). The latter two compositions are acrostic compositions in which the 36 letters of the Armenian alphabet (Հայոց գրեր) are incorporated in thirteen punches . In it, Imastasser glorifies heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the defense of the Armenian homeland and their Christian faith. Imastasser was also the first to introduce another patriotic theme into Armenian literature and music: emigration . In his hymns Imastasser prays to God so that Armenians who have left their country will find the strength to return.

Jowhannes Imastasser also worked on the standardization of the Armenian prayer book and the psalter .

Scientific work

His work in mathematics is contained in Haghaks Ankiunavor Tvots (On Polygonal Numbers). This work shows a profound knowledge of all the important ancient and medieval mathematicians, including Pythagoras , Euclid and Aristotle . Imastasser translated the works of Philo of Alexandria , Dionysius Areopagita , Gregory of Nyssa , Porphyrios , as well as Aristotle and Euclid.

In 1084 Imastasser was involved in the project to calculate the so-called Minor Armenian Calendar . This calendar comprised 365 days plus an additional day. This work on calendars led to the invention of a perpetual calendar.

One of the most important citations by Jowhannes Imastasser describes his understanding of the role of the empirical method in science. 150 years before Roger Bacon , Imastasser put it: “Without experimentation, no opinion can be considered provable or acceptable; only one experiment achieves confirmation and certainty. ”(Without experimentation, no opinion can be considered probable and acceptable; only experiment produces confirmation and certainty).

Individual evidence

1. ^ Henri Gabrielian: History of Armenian Philosophy. (Armenian). Vol 1, Yerevan, 1976: p. 155.
2. ^ Henri Gabrielian: History of Armenian Philosophy. (Armenian). Vol 1, Yerevan, 1976: p. 155.
3. ^ Agop Jack Hacikyan, Gabriel Basmajian, Edward S. Franchuk, Nourhan Ouzounian: The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the sixth to the eighteenth century. Wayne State University Press 2002: pp. 350-362.
4. ↑ Kirakos Gandzaketsi. History of Armenia. Moscow, Nauka. 1976.
5. ^ Agop Jack Hacikyan, Gabriel Basmajian, Edward S. Franchuk, Nourhan Ouzounian: The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the sixth to the eighteenth century. Wayne State University Press 2002: pp. 350-362.
6. ^ Agop Jack Hacikyan, Gabriel Basmajian, Edward S. Franchuk, Nourhan Ouzounian: The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the sixth to the eighteenth century. Wayne State University Press 2002: p. 353.
7. ^ Agop Jack Hacikyan, Gabriel Basmajian, Edward S. Franchuk, Nourhan Ouzounian: The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the sixth to the eighteenth century. Wayne State University Press 2002: pp. 350-362.
8. ↑ Чалоян В. К. (Tschalojan WK): История армянской философии. (Istorija armjanskoi filossofii) Ер., 1959.
9. ↑ Kirakos Gandzaketsi: History of Armenia. Moscow, Nauka 1976.

literature

• Ованес Имастасер (ovanes Imastaser) // Большая советская энциклопедия (Bolschaja sovietskaja encyclopedia): [в 30 т.] / Гл. ред. А. М. Прохоров. - 3-е изд. - М. : Советская энциклопедия, 1969-1978.