UNESCO Associated Itself with Birth Anniversaries of Movses Khorenatsi and Toros Roslin

Published on January 27, 2010

UNESCO associated itself with the 1600^th anniversary of the birth of Movses Khorenatsi (c. 410-493) and the 800^th anniversary of the birth of Toros Roslin (1210-1270).

Movses Khorenatsi depicted in a 14th century Armenian manuscript.

Movses Khorenatsi was an Armenian historian, poet and grammarian, known as the author of the earliest historiographical work on the history of Armenia. He was studied in Edessa, Constantinople, Alexandria, Athens and Rome. Movses Khorenatsi’s "History of Armenia Major" holds particular significance because it records the old oral traditions in Armenia and traces Armenian history from its origins.

Statue of Toros Roslin in front of the entrance of the Matenadaran in Yerevan

Toros Roslin was the most distinguished Armenian manuscript illuminator and copyist of the High Middle Ages. Drawing on his knowledge of Western European and Byzantine art, Toros Roslin became a great innovator in the art of illumination.

Very little is known about Toros Roslin’s life, and the exact dates of his birth and death have not been recorded. However, seven splendid manuscripts bearing his signature have survived, together with three other unsigned manuscripts that are generally attributed to him.

UNESCO Associated Itself with Birth Anniversaries of Movses Khorenatsi and Toros Roslin

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