Levon Shant
Encyclopedia
Levon Shant was an Armenian
playwright, novelist, poet, and founder of the Hamazkayin
National Cultural Foundation.
and is the namesake of the ARF's Shant Student Association.Attended Armenian school at Scutari (Uskudar
) until 1883, then to the Gevorgian seminary at Echmiadzin
until 1891. Returned to Constantinople to teach and write; his first literary work accepted by Hairenik of Constantinople in that year. To Germany in 1892 for seven years to study science, child psychology, education, literature and history: Leipzig, Jena and Munich. Returned to settle in Constantinople. Joined the Dashnak party. Worked as a writer and teacher. As an author most renowned for his plays: Hin Astvadsner ('Ancient Gods', 1909), Kaisre ('The Emperor', 1914), Inkads Berdi Ishkhanuhin ('The Princess of the Fallen Castle', 1921), Oshin Payl (1929). One of the vice-presidents of the Armenian Parliament during the Republic. Led the Armenian delegation to Moscow in April 1920 to negotiate with the Communists. Left Armenia after its Sovietisation, eventually settling in Beirut. One of the founders of the Hamazkayin
cultural association. Principal of the Nshan Palandjian Djemaran (College), Beirut, from 1929 until his death. His works were published in Soviet Armenia in 1968. Levon Shant is regarded by many as the greatest Armenian playwright. His plays The Emperor and Ancient Gods remain among the most frequently staged Armenian dramas. His symbolist drama Ancient Gods (1908) revolutionized the Armenian literary world when it made its debut in Tiflis in 1913. Translated into German, Italian, French, and Russian, it was directed by Stanislavski in 1917.
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
playwright, novelist, poet, and founder of the Hamazkayin
Hamazkayin
Hamazkayin , short for Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, is a major cultural organization of the Armenian Diaspora, with a presence in every significant Armenian community worldwide...
National Cultural Foundation.
Biography
He was a life-long member of the Armenian Revolutionary FederationArmenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
and is the namesake of the ARF's Shant Student Association.Attended Armenian school at Scutari (Uskudar
Üsküdar
Üsküdar is a large and densely populated municipality of Istanbul, Turkey, on the Anatolian shore of the Bosphorus. It is bordered on the north by Beykoz, on the east by Ümraniye, on the southeast by Ataşehir, on the south by Kadıköy, and on the west by the Bosphorus, with the areas of Beşiktaş,...
) until 1883, then to the Gevorgian seminary at Echmiadzin
Echmiadzin
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin is a 4th century Armenian church in the town of Ejmiatsin, Armenia. It is also the central cathedral of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin of the Armenian Apostolic Church....
until 1891. Returned to Constantinople to teach and write; his first literary work accepted by Hairenik of Constantinople in that year. To Germany in 1892 for seven years to study science, child psychology, education, literature and history: Leipzig, Jena and Munich. Returned to settle in Constantinople. Joined the Dashnak party. Worked as a writer and teacher. As an author most renowned for his plays: Hin Astvadsner ('Ancient Gods', 1909), Kaisre ('The Emperor', 1914), Inkads Berdi Ishkhanuhin ('The Princess of the Fallen Castle', 1921), Oshin Payl (1929). One of the vice-presidents of the Armenian Parliament during the Republic. Led the Armenian delegation to Moscow in April 1920 to negotiate with the Communists. Left Armenia after its Sovietisation, eventually settling in Beirut. One of the founders of the Hamazkayin
Hamazkayin
Hamazkayin , short for Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, is a major cultural organization of the Armenian Diaspora, with a presence in every significant Armenian community worldwide...
cultural association. Principal of the Nshan Palandjian Djemaran (College), Beirut, from 1929 until his death. His works were published in Soviet Armenia in 1968. Levon Shant is regarded by many as the greatest Armenian playwright. His plays The Emperor and Ancient Gods remain among the most frequently staged Armenian dramas. His symbolist drama Ancient Gods (1908) revolutionized the Armenian literary world when it made its debut in Tiflis in 1913. Translated into German, Italian, French, and Russian, it was directed by Stanislavski in 1917.
Works
- The “I” Man («Եսի մարդը»), 1901
- For Someone Else («Ուրիշի համար»), 1903
- On the Road («Ճամբուն վրայ»), 1904
- Ancient gods («Հին աստուածներ»), 1908
- The Princess of the Fallen Castle («Ինկած բերդի իշխանուհին»)
- The Emperor («Կայսրը»), 1916
External Links
- Levon Shant's play the Ancient Gods. Translated into English by Anne T. Vardanian (First act only).
- Levon Shant's play The Princess of the Fallen Castle. Translated into English by Anne T. Vardanian (First act only).
- Levon Shant's play The Emperor. Translated into English by Anne T. Vardanian (Prologue only).