Ghazar Parpetsi

Ghazar Parpetsi
Monument to Ghazar Parpetsi in Parpi
Born	circa 442 Parpi (a village near Ashtarak, Armenia)
Died	Early sixth century Parpi¹
Occupation	Historian, Chronicler
Known for	History of the Armenians, Letter to Vahan Mamikonian
Religion	Christian
Notes
¹It also has been suggested that he was buried at the St. Apostles monastery in Mush.

Ghazar Parpetsi (Armenian: Ղազար Փարպեցի, Latin: Lazarus Pharpensis; Ghazar of Parpi, alternatively spelled as Lazar Parpetsi and Łazar Parpetsi; c. 442 - early 6th century) was a 5th to 6th century Armenian chronicler and historian. He had close ties with the powerful Mamikonian noble family and is most prominent for writing a history of Armenia, History of Armenia, sometime in the early sixth century.

Life

Ghazar was born in the village of Parpi (near the town of Ashtarak in Armenia).^[1] Owing to the close ties he held with the Mamikonian family, following the defeat of the Armenians at the battle of Avarayr in 451, Ghazar moved to the Mamikonian Prince Ashusah's castle in Tsurtav (in Georgia), where he received his primary education. Studying under the auspices of Aghan Artstruni, he befriended Vahan Mamikonian; he was an excellent student and from 465 to 470 he attended school in Constantinople, learning new languages, studying religion, literature, and classical philosophy.^[2]^:213 Returning to Armenia, Ghazar busied himself with educational and spiritual activities in the town of Shirak, then part of the domains of the Kamsarakan family. From 484 to 486, he lived in Syunik until Vahan Mamikonian, who had been recently appointed the head of marzpan Armenia, invited him to oversee the reconstruction of a monastery being built in Vagharshapat.^[1] Vahan appointed Ghazar an abbot at the monastery, although the education that Ghazar had received as well as his educational and spiritual policies did not sit well with the more conservative elements of the church. Accusing him of heresy, he was forced out of the monastery in 490, taking up residence in the city of Amida in Byzantium.^[2]^:214

According to Armenian tradition, it is said that Ghazar was buried near the ruins of an Armenian church in Parpi Canyon, south of a village named Lazrev in Armenia.^[1]

Works

Ghazar is best known for writing the History of Armenia. After returning from Amida in 493, Vahan Mamikonian asked his friend to write a new history of Armenia, starting from where historian Faustus of Byzantium left off; that is, with the reign of king Arsaces II (Arshak II).^[2]^:215 History is composed of three parts: the first is about Armenian history from the mid-fourth century and life in Armenia under Sasanian rule until the deaths of Sahak Partev and Mesrop Mashtots in the mid-fifth century; the second concerns the events leading up to the battle of Avarayr as well as its subsequent consequences; and the third follows up on the Vartanank wars and the 484 signing of the Nvarsak Treaty.^[2]^:215–6 The main sources he uses in History are the primary works of other historians, Agathangelos, Koryun, and Faustus, although he apparently made use of other historians' works, including Eusebius of Caesarea's Historia Ecclesiastica.^[3]

References

1 2 3 (Armenian) Melik-Bakhshyan, Stepan. «Ղազար Փարպեցի» (Ghazar Parpetsi). Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia. vol. vii. Yerevan: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1981, pp. 19-20.
1 2 3 4 Hacikyan, Agop Jack, Gabriel Basmajian, Nourhan Ouzounian and Edward S. Franchuk. The Heritage of Armenian Literature: The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the Oral Tradition to the Golden Age, vol. 1. Detroit: Wayne State University, 2000, ISBN 0-8143-2815-6.
↑ Bedrosian, Robert. Ghazar P'arpec'i's History of the Armenians: Translator's Preface. Robert Bedrosian’s Homepage. New York, 1985. Accessed June 9, 2008.

External links

Translator's Preface to the English translation of History of the Armenians
English translation of the History of the Armenians - mirror if main site unavailable

Authority control	WorldCat Identities VIAF: 13193230 LCCN: n85007615 ISNI: 0000 0000 6126 9805 GND: 100186041 SUDOC: 033751730 BNF: cb12458742z (data)

Medieval Armenian historians and chroniclers

5th century	Koryun Agathangelos Yeghishe Faustus of Byzantium Movses Khorenatsi Ghazar Parpetsi

6th century	Atanas Taronatsi Abraham Mamikoneits

7th century	Sebeos John Mamikonean Anania Shirakatsi Anastas Vardapet Narratio de rebus Armeniae

8th century	Ghevond Abraham Vanakan

9th century	Tovma Artsruni

10th century	Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi Shapuh Bagratuni Ukhtanes of Sebastia Movses Kaghankatvatsi Zenob Glak Aharon Vanandetsi Mesrop Vayotsdzoretsi

11th century	Stepanos Asoghik Hakob Sanahnetsi Aristakes Lastivertsi

12th century	Matthew of Edessa Grigor Yerets Samuel Anetsi Mkhitar Gosh Mkhitar Anetsi

13th century	Vardan Areveltsi Hovhanes Avagerets Kirakos of Gandzak Sempad the Constable Mekhitar of Ayrivank Hayton of Corycus Gregory of Akner Vahram Rabuni Stepanos Episkopos Stephen Orbelian

14th century	Nerses Palianents

15th century	Thomas of Metsoph Kirakos Banaser Sebastatsi Abraham Ankyuratsi David Merdintsi Martiros Yerznkatsi

16th century	Barsegh Arjishetsi Hovhanes Arjishetsi Simeon Aparantsi Andreas Evdokatsi Hovanisik Tsaretsi

17th century	Grigor Daranaghetsi Simeon Lehatsi Arakel of Tabriz Khachgruz Kafaetsi Hovhanes Kamenatsi David Baghishetsi Hakob Karnetsi Zakaria Sarkavag Zakaria Aguletsi Minas Amdetsi Yeremia Chelebi Keomurjian Hakob Hisusi Grigor dpir Varagetsi Gabriel Tokhatetsi Vardan Baghishetsi Stepanos Dashtetsi

18th century	Esai Hasan-Jalalian Petros di Sargis Gilanents Stepanos Roshka Abraham Kretatsi Simeon Yerevantsi Tovmas Khojamalian Khachatur Jughaetsi Isahak Vardapet Avetik Baghdasarian Abraham Yerevantsi Stepanos Yerets

Armenian literature

Epic and legends

Hayk and Bel Vahagn Tork Angegh Ara the Beautiful and Shamiram Artashes and Satenik David of Sassoun

Genres

Sharakan Tagh Hayren Antuni Horovel

V—IX centuries

Golden age	Koryun Agathangelos Eznik of Kolb Yeghishe Faustus of Byzantium Movses Khorenatsi Ghazar Parpetsi Hovhan Mandakuni

X—XIV centuries

XV—XVI centuries

John of Vorotan Gregory of Tatev Mateos Jugaetsi Grigor Khlatetsi Arakel Syunetsi Hovanes Tlkurantsi Thomas of Metsoph Arakel Baghishetsi Mkrtish Naghash Grigoris Aghtamartsi Nahapet Kuchak

XVII—XVIII centuries

Nerses Mokatsi Simeon Lehatsi Simeon Jugaetsi Arakel of Tabriz Stepanos Lehatsi Zakaria Aguletsi Yeremia Chelebi Keomurjian Zakaria Sarkavag Naghash Hovnatan Khachatur Erzrumtsi Paghtasar Dpir Esai Hasan-Jalalian Simeon Yerevantsi Sayat-Nova Shahamir Shahamiryan

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