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One in a series of books analyzing the political, economic, social and national security systems and institutions of a range of countries, and how they are shaped by cultural factors. Here, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are examined both as they existed before and during the Soviet era, and how they have developed since 1991. The marked relaxation of information restrictions, which began in the late 1980s and accelerated after 1991, has allowed the reporting of nearly complete data on every aspect of life in the three countries. ... Read more

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Describes the geography history culture industry and people of Armenia ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Early ancient and still going Christian Armenia
Armenia is a very ancient Christian country located next to the three Muslim nations of Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey. Armenia was one of the first nations in the world to accept Christianity as its official religion. Today most Armenians are Armenian Orthodox Christians, while the rest are Armenian Catholics and Armenian Protestants, and there is a small but growing number of Muslims in Armenia.

Today, quite a large number of Armenians have been leaving Armenia and going to live in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iran, Egypt, The United States, Canada, and Russia. ... Read more

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Chapters: Tavush Province, Berd, Noyemberyan, Haghartsin, Armenia, Aknaghbyur, Yenokavan, Bagratashen, Koti, Armenia, Norashen, Tavush, Jujevan, Gosh, Armenia, Verin Karmiraghbyur, Gandzakar, Getahovit, Hovk, Sevkar, Verin Kyorplu, Khashtarak, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur, Paravakar, Mosesgegh, Sarigyugh, Tavush, Armenia, Navur, Teghut, Haghtanak, Tavush, Chinari, Armenia, Achajur, Aygehovit, Azatamut, Voskevan, Koghb, Armenia, Tsaghkavan, Tavush, Berdavan, Armenia, Voskepar, Aygedzor, Khachardzan, Archis, Armenia, Deghdzavan, Artsvaberd, Tsaghkavan, Ijevan, Aghavnavank, Berkaber, Itsakar, Debetavan, Lusadzor, Barekamavan, Vazashen, Dovegh, Kirants, Chermakavan, Chinchin, Choratan, Lchkadzor, Baghanis, Lusahovit, Varagavan, Ditavan, Aygepar, Acharkut, Geghatap, Ptghavan, Golovino, Akhkikhli, Agdan, Kayan, Armenia, Karmir-Kulali, Chakhmakhly, Papanino, Mamai, Armenia, Ankadzor, Geyarchin, Akhsu, Armenia, Shamakhyan, Bardidzor, Chirchiri, Krivoy Most, Akhum, Kirgi, Tala, Armenia, Tarsachay, Turdzhan, Tandzut, Tavush, Alatala, Eridzor, Maflar, Kozman, Gomer, Armenia, Chalabi, Armenia. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 192. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Tavush Province - Tavush (Armenian: ) is a province (marz) of Armenia. It is in the north-east of the country, bordering Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to the east. Its capital is Ijevan. The province once comprised part of the northwestern region of the historic Utik province of the Kingdom of Armenia. It surrounds the Barkhudarli and Yukhari Askipara exclaves of Azerbaijan which have been controlled by Armenia since their capture during the Nagorno-Karabakh War. The other cities in Tavush are Noyemberyan, Dilijan and Berd. Berd is the center of the Shamshadin region where the late Ukrainian-Armenian painter Sarkis Ordyan was born. Tavu...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=470516 ... Read more

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Volume: 1Publisher: Venice, Printed in the Armenian Monastery of St. LazarusSubjects: Armenian ChurchArmenia -- HistoryArmenia -- Church historyNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be numerous typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

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Chapters: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Geography of Georgia, Adjara, Nagorno-Karabakh, Colchis, Circassia, Kabardin, Armenia, Abkhazia, Nakhchivan, 2008-2009 Georgia-russia Crisis, Bride Kidnapping, Caucasian Albania, Baku-tbilisi-ceyhan Pipeline, Georgians, Invasion of Dagestan, Nakh Peoples, Caucasus Mountains, Derbent, Svaneti, Eduard Kokoity, Nart Saga, Movses Kaghankatvatsi, Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic, South Caucasus, Caucasian War, Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus, Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus, South Caucasus Pipeline, Ossetia, Tusheti, Ingush People, Greater Caucasus, Sheikh Mansur, North Caucasus, the History of the Country of Albania, North Caucasus Railway, Western Caucasus, Mission of the Vixen, Tzanaria, History of the Caucasus, Meskheti, Caucasian Review of International Affairs, Dzhigit, Alazani, Lesser Caucasus, North-South Transport Corridor, Caucasian Cuisine, Tori, Transcaucasian Ruble, Lezginka, Transcaucasian Commissariat, Bzyb River, Mount Bazardüzü, North Caucasian Soviet Republic, Aul, M29 Highway, Siege of Akhoulgo, Shirvan Domes, Kodori River, Alp Iluetuer, Meskheti Range, Russian and Eurasian Security Network, Sosruko, Mamison Pass, Gagra Range, Bzyb Range, Koban Culture, Javakheti Plateau, Mount Agepsta, Mount Shahdagh, Likhi Range, Caucasus Research Resource Centers-Armenia, Colchian Culture, Karabakh Liberation Organization, Tlepsh, Arabika Massif. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 493. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Azerbaijan -The name of Azerbaijan derives from Atropates, a Persian satrap under the Achaemenid Empire, that was later reinstated as the satrap of Media under Alexander of Macedonia. The original etymology of this name is thought to have its roots in the ancient Iranian religion of Zoroastrianis...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=746 ... Read more

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Chapters: Shirak Province, Yererouk, Pemzashen, Azatan, Harich, Armenia, Maralik, Anipemza, Gharibjanyan, Anushavan, Dzithankov, Isahakyan, Spandaryan, Shirak, Nahapetavan, Sarnaghbyur, Yerazgavors, Basen, Armenia, Mets Mantash, Gusanagyugh, Kamo, Armenia, Akhuryan, Geghanist, Shirak, Ashotsk, Marmashen, Beniamin, Jrarat, Shirak, Kharkov, Armenia, Nerkin Dzhrapi, nor Kyank, Shirak, Horom, Armenia, Saralanj, Shirak, Lernakert, Shirak, Haykadzor, Hatsik, Shirak, Voskehask, Dzorashen, Mayisyan, Pokr Mantash, Haykavan, Shirak, Meghrashen, Arapi, Armenia, Panik, Armenia, Getap, Shirak, Amasia, Shirak, Ghazanchi, Shirak, Armenia, Arevik, Shirak, Arevshat, Shirak, Berdashen, Saratak, Musayelyan, Ashotsk, Jajur, Byurakn, Jrapi, Bardzrashen, Shirak, Pokr Sepasar, Hayrenyats, Goghovit, Vardaghbyur, Hovtashen, Shirak, Karmrakar, Zuygaghbyur, Saragyugh, Garnarich, Lusaghbyur, Shirak, Yeghnajur, Mets Sepasar, Pokr Sariar, Tsoghamarg, Kakavasar, Vahramaberd, Krashen, Gtashen, Sarapat, Torosgyugh, Hartashen, Shirak, Karaberd, Shirak, Paghakn, Getk, Tavshut, Jradzor, Karnut, Pokrashen, Sizavet, Megrashat, Keti, Armenia, Aghvorik, Zorakert, Mets Sariar, Jajur Kayaranin Kits, Ovuni, Tufashen, Aregnadem, Shirakavan, Armenia, Yerizak, Shaghik, Krasar, Lanjik, Karmravan, Tsaghkut, Lusakert, Shirak, Zarishat, Bayandur, Armenia, Bavra, Ardenis, Darik, Bandivan, Bashgyugh, Akhurik, Haykasar, Aniavan, Bagravan, Hovtun, Aravet, Sarakap, Arpeni, Vardakar, Kamkhut, Dzorakap, Lorasar, Alvar, Armenia, Aygebats, Aghin, Lernut, Salut, Kyzylkend, Voghji, Shirak, Noraber, Illi, Armenia, Lernagyugh, Hoghmik, Kaps, Norakhpyur, Getik, Shirak, Verin Dzhrapi, Dashkerpi, Kapanak. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 295. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Shirak Province - Shirak (Armenian: ) is a province (marz) of Armenia. I...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=470511 ... Read more

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Chapters: Gegharkunik Province, Artsvashen, Sevan, Sotk, Tsovinar, Armenia, Nerkin Getashen, Martuni, Armenia, Adamkhan, Armenia, Chambarak, Lichk, Berdkunk, Noratus, Karmirgyugh, Azat, Armenia, Geghamavan, Karchaghbyur, Geghhovit, Gagarin, Armenia, Gandzak, Armenia, Khachaghbyur, Vahan, Armenia, Mets Masrik, Madina, Armenia, Vardenik, Chichakli, Artsvanist, Sarukhan, Ttujur, Gegharkunik, Tazagyugh, Gegharkunik, Gegharkunik, Gegharkunik, Lanjaghbyur, Akunk, Norashen, Gegharkunik, Vardadzor, Tsovagyugh, Lchashen, Verin Getashen, Dzoragyugh, Tsovak, Tsakkar, Shorzha, Vaghashen, Varser, Ddmashen, Drakhtik, Astghadzor, Geghamasar, Yeranos, Lchap, Verin Shorzha, Ayrk, Pokr Masrik, Tretuk, Lusakunk, Nerkin Shorzha, Aygut, Tsovazard, Chkalovka, Zolakar, Makenis, Zovaber, Gegharkunik, Tsaghkashen, Gegharkunik, Arpunk, Hayravank, Jivikhlu, Kutakan, Antaramej, Norakert, Gegharkunik, Getik, Gegharkunik, Semyonovka, Armenia, Shatvan, Lernahovit, Gegharkunik, Kut, Armenia, Tsapatagh, Tsaghkunk, Gegharkunik, Jaghatsadzor, Kakhakn, Lchavan, Dzoravank, Shatjrek, Aghberk, Pambak, Gegharkunik, Daranak, Akhpradzor, Vanevan, Dprabak, Norabak, Artanish, Areguni, Jil, Armenia, Artsvakar, Tsamakaberd, Agekhush, Armenia, Kalavan, Yanegh, Geghamabak, Geghakar, Avazan, Atsarat, Torfavan, Karvansara, Gegharkunik, Verkhnyaya Gezaldara, Aghyokhush, Barepat, Sarnakhpyur, Nerin-Chambarak, Verin-Chambarak, Lernakert, Gegharkunik, Karmirkharab, Gomadzor, Verkhniy Aluchalu, Kamyshlu, Gegharkunik, Kizilkharab, Kyarkibash, Atdash, Karakoyun, Armenia. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 256. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Gegharkunik Province -Gegharkunik is situated in the East of the territory of the Republic of Armenia, surrounding the Lake Sevan. It borders RA Lori and Tavush marzes from the North, from the East ...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=470502 ... Read more

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Until recently, the South Caucasus was a virtual terra incognita on Western archaeological maps of southwest Asia. The conspicuous absence of marked places-of site names, toponyms, and topography-gave the impression of a region distant, unknown, and vacant. The Joint American-Armenian Project for the Archaeology and Geography of Ancient Transcaucasian Societies (Project ArAGATS) was founded in 1998 to explore this terrain. Our investigations were guided by two overarching goals: to illuminate the social and political transformations central to the region's unique (pre)history and to explore the broader intellectual implications of collaboration between the rich archaeological traditions of Armenia (former U.S.S.R.) and the United States. This volume provides the first encompassing report on the ongoing studies of Project ArAGATS, detailing the general context of contemporary archaeological research in the South Caucasus as well as the specific context of our regional investigations in the Tsaghkahovit Plain of central Armenia. The book opens with detailed examinations of the history of archaeology in the South Caucasus, the theoretical problems that currently orient archaeological research, and a comprehensive reevaluation of the material bases for regional chronology and periodization. The work then provides the complete results of our regional investigations in the Tsaghkahovit Plain, including the findings of the first systematic pedestrian survey ever conducted in the Caucasus. Thanks to the results presented in this volume, and Project ArAGATS's ongoing excavations in the area, the Tsaghkahovit Plain is today the best known archaeological region in the South Caucasus. The present volume thus provides archaeologists with both an orientation to the prehistory of the South Caucasus and the complete findings of the first phase of Project ArAGATS's field investigations. ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Armavir (Armenian: Արմավիր; known as Hoktemberyan, Hoktemberian, or Oktemberyan Armenian: Հոկտեմբերյան during the Soviet era up to 1992, and Sardarabad, Sardarapat or Sardar-Apad before 1932) is a city located in western Armenia. The 1989 census reported that the city had a total population of 46,900, but this has declined considerably: the 2001 census counted 32,034; estimate for 2008 is 26,387. It is the capital of the Armavir province (marz). The city of Armavir in Russia, founded by Armenians in the 19th century, was named after this city. ... Read more

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The Armenian diaspora has created the communities of Armenians living outside of Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Javakhk. The total Armenian population living worldwide is estimated to be 11,000,000, but only about 3,150,000 live in Armenia, about 140,000 in Nagorno-Karabakh and approximately 120,000 in Javakhk. ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country. It has been the capital since 1918, the thirteenth in the history of Armenia. The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century B.C., with the founding of the fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC by king Argishti I at the western extreme of the Ararat plain. After World War I, Yerevan became the capital of the Democratic Republic of Armenia as thousands of survivors of the Armenian Genocide settled in the area. The city expanded rapidly during the 20th century as Armenia became one of the fifteen republics in the Soviet Union. ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Armenian Highland shows traces of settlement from the Neolithic era. The Shulaveri-Shomu culture of the central Transcaucasus region is one of the earliest known prehistoric culture in the area, carbon-dated to roughly 6000 - 4000 BC. Another early culture in the area is the Kura-Araxes culture, assigned to the period of ca. 4000 - 2200 BC, succeeded by the Trialeti culture (ca. 2200 - 1500 BC). Armenia lies in the highlands surrounding the Biblical mountains of Ararat, upon which Noah's Ark is said to have come to rest after the flood. (Gen. 8:4). The first excavations in Armenia, undertaken by Russian savants in 1876, brought to light a burial-ground near Dilijan in which were prehistoric graves. Jacques de Morgan in 1887‑89 unearthed 576 graves around Alaverdi and Akhatala, on the Tiflis-Alexandropol railway line. Later on, 300 more were discovered by V. Belck near Elisavetpol (Gandzak), and yet others were excavated by Lalayan (second in importance only to de Morgan's) and Ivanovski. ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Vaspurakan (also transliterated as Vasbouragan in Western Armenian; Armenian: ???????????, (Vaspowrakan) meaning the "noble land" or "land of princes") was first a province and then a kingdom of Greater Armenia during the Middle Ages centered around Lake Van. The region is considered to be the cradle of Armenian civilization. During most of its history it was ruled by the Ardzruni dynasty, which first managed to create a principality in the area. ... Read more

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Struggle for Justice is a unique account of the beginning of the American Committee for Independence of Armenia, as told in the surviving papers of three accomplished Armenian-Americans from Syracuse, New York. From the inception of theArmenian and Syrian Reliefprogram in the United States under President Woodrow Wilson s administration, these individuals came to serve this remarkable philanthropic effort, bringing humanitarian aid to the victims of the Armenian massacres in the Ottoman Empire. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Armenian history
Excellent especially if your family is part of the book. Bob did a fine job putting this together and it took a long time and a lot of research.
I possess many of the pictures and illustrations which identified and then returned.
Thanks Bob
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Chapters: Cities, Towns and Villages in Tavush, Tavush Geography Stubs, Dilijan, Ijevan, Tavush Province, Berd, Noyemberyan, Haghartsin, Armenia, Aknaghbyur, Yenokavan, Bagratashen, Koti, Armenia, Norashen, Tavush, Jujevan, Gosh, Armenia, Verin Karmiraghbyur, Gandzakar, Getahovit, Hovk, Sevkar, Verin Kyorplu, Khashtarak, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur, Paravakar, Mosesgegh, Sarigyugh, Tavush, Armenia, Navur, Teghut, Haghtanak, Tavush, Chinari, Armenia, Achajur, Aygehovit, Azatamut, Ayrum, Voskevan, Koghb, Armenia, Tsaghkavan, Tavush, Berdavan, Armenia, Voskepar, Aygedzor, Khachardzan, Archis, Armenia, Deghdzavan, Artsvaberd, Tsaghkavan, Ijevan, Aghavnavank, Berkaber, Itsakar, Debetavan, Lusadzor, Barekamavan, Vazashen, Dovegh, Kirants, Chermakavan, Chinchin, Choratan, Lchkadzor, Baghanis, Lusahovit, Varagavan, Ditavan, Aygepar, Acharkut, Geghatap, Ptghavan, Golovino, Akhkikhli, Agdan, Kayan, Armenia, Karmir-Kulali, Chakhmakhly, Papanino, Mamai, Armenia, Ankadzor, Geyarchin, Akhsu, Armenia, Shamakhyan, Bardidzor, Chirchiri, Krivoy Most, Akhum, Kirgi, Tala, Armenia, Tarsachay, Trvizi Chapel, Turdzhan, Tandzut, Tavush, Alatala, Eridzor, Maflar, Kozman, Gomer, Armenia, Chalabi, Armenia. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 208. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Dilijan -City mapDilijan town lies on the banks of Aghstev River with a length of more than 20 kilometers and at a height of 1500 meters above sea level. The valley is surrounded with the Lesser Caucasus mountains from the north, and the Semyonovka mountain pass from the south. The mountainous areas are all covered with thick forests which occupy a territory of more than 34,000 hectares. Reaching the highest peaks of the mountains, the forests turn to Alpine meadows. In addition to Aghsdev River, two more streams are flowing through Dilijan...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=2697717 ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Turkic community in Armenia, which mostly identified themselves as Azerbaijanis or Azeris for the last two centuries, represented a large number but have been virtually non-existent since 1988-1991. Most Azeris fled the country as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh War and the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. UNHCR estimates the current population of Azeris in Armenia to be somewhere between 30 and a few hundred persons, with majority of them living in rural areas and being members of mixed couples, as well as elderly and sick. Most of them are also reported to have changed their names and maintain a low profile to avoid discrimination. ... Read more

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Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: For the town, see Geghard, Armenia. The monastery of Geghard (Armenian: , meaning spear) is a unique architectural construction in the Kotayk province of Armenia, being partially carved out of the adjacent mountain, surrounded by cliffs. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the main chapel was built in 1215, the monastery complex was founded in the 4th century by Gregory the Illuminator at the site of a sacred spring inside a cave. The monastery had thus been originally named Ayrivank, meaning "the Monastery of the Cave". The name commonly used for the monastery today, Geghard, or more fully Geghardavank (), meaning "the Monastery of the Spear", originates from the spear which had wounded Jesus at the Crucifixion, allegedly brought to Armenia by Apostle Jude, called here Thaddeus, and stored amongst many other relics. Now it is displayed in the Echmiadzin treasury. The spectacular towering cliffs surrounding the monastery are part of the Azat river gorge, and are included together with the monastery in the World Heritage Site listing. Some of the churches within the monastery complex are entirely dug out of the cliff rocks, others are little more than caves, while others are elaborate structures, with both architecturally complex walled sections and rooms deep inside the cliff. The combination, together with numerous engraved and free-standing khachkars is a unique sight, being one of the most frequented tourist destinations in Armenia. Most visitors to Geghard also choose to visit the nearby Garni temple, a Parthenon-like structure located further down the Azat river. Visiting both sites in one trip is so common that they are often referred to in unison as Garni-Geghard. Entrance to Geghard MonasteryThe monastery was founded i... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=907531 ... Read more

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This book, for the first time, brings together an extraordinary collection of maps from the earliest times into the modern era. It reproduces the most important representations of Armenia, from the oldest known version--a Babylonian clay tablet of the 6th Century BC--to the renderings of Greek and Alexandrian cartographers, the early Christian maps as well as versions from Ottoman and other Islamic centers. Among the identified 16th and 17th Century European maps the book includes works by Martin Waldseemuller, Sebastian Munster, Gerardus Mercator, Abraham Ortelius, and others. In assembling the cartographic treasures in this book, Rouben Galichian has obtained maps from the British Library, the British Museum, the Biblioteque National de France, Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, the Library of Congress, the University of Bologna, the John Rylands Library and other sources.
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Customer Reviews (2)

Extraordinary Collection
This book has an exceptional collection of historic maps of Armenia, a truly unique collection that represents 3,000 years of history. I'm so impressed that I'm sending one copy to my historian friend in Armenia.

Ok if you are REALLY into maps
I got this book for my boyfriend (who is Armenian) because I thought it would be a fun coffee table book that anyone could pick up. Unfortunately, the maps are too overwhelming and the descriptions of the maps (obviously) talk more about the creation of the map than the history of Armenia.I'm sure he'll like it, but not the others around the coffee table. ... Read more

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These folk-tales were told by simple people--vine-dressers, farm-laborers, millers--and were preserved by word of mouth, to be repeated for entertainment in the coffee-house, or at home during the long, hard winters. There are fables here, too, selected from the collections of medieval scholars and philosophers, while the expressive and often humorous proverbs show the ways of the world through shrewd Armenian eyes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

exceptional intro to an obscure culture
(Well, the culture is obscure to me, anyway.)

This was, all told, an excellent work. A strong selection of stories, brimming with that authentic, folksy feel--and, indeed, collected, for the most part, more than eighty years ago--one cannot but glean a strong feeling for how the Armenians live, love, and think. The latter part of the book, dealing with fables--many of which, as the editors admit, likely derive from ancient Greek traditions--show well how familiar concepts and lessons are likely to recur the world over with only marginal changes to characters, circumstances, or subplots.

A Fascinating Book
Armenia is a land which has been ravaged by war on far too many occasions. Other nations keep turning it into a battlefield, and tearing it apart. These tales have survived for many generations in the only way possible, through word of mouth. They were told and retold during the long hard winters, told in the coffee houses for entertainment, and have survived just as the Armenian people have survived.

These are a very shrewd people, and this is mirrored in a number of the tales and in the proverbs. The proverbs are often told in a humorous manner, but there is still a truth in them. There are a total of 28 folk tales, 35 fables, and 8 pages of proverbs in this oversized paperback. This adds up to a few hours of reading, and all of it enjoyable.

A handful of the tales are similar or identical to the ones I read in the Georgian Yes and No Stories. There are 'devis' instead of evil witches, and humanoid beasts with one or more heads that have a taste for death and destruction. Animals seem to play a big part in tales from this region of the world. I've run across tigers, monkeys, foxes, wolves, horses, donkeys, dogs, and cats which all have had the ability to speak and solve problems for the inept humans, or do them wrong, of course.

This book is somewhat different from the other books I've read in that the dates of the earliest recordings of all the tales and fables are included with the story. It is rather fascinating to see where and when a tale came from, and how much it can still mirror life in this day and age. Some of these stories have dates in the 1800s, when they stopped being word of mouth and were written down.

The Red Cow is a bit of a twist on Hansel and Gretel combined with Cinderella. The evil stepmother is a prominent figure, and the red cow ends up helping the children in some very interesting ways. This tale was recorded c. 1914 in Maku, N.W. Persia. Like most of the tales, it has a happy outcome, for all but the stepmother, of course.

Another which caught my attention is The Illiterate Priest. I've not heard one similar to this, yet, and was highly amused. One of the priest's faithful flock decided to prove the good father was illiterate, once and for all. In order to do so, he pretended to be dead. What follows is a brief but rather commonsense tale which will have you chuckling at the ineptitude of all parties involved. This particular tale was recorded in 1939, as it was told by 63-year-old Ervand Thorosian in the village of Mughni, which is in the province of Ayrarat.

Charles Downing has done a wonderful job of retelling these old tales, fables, and proverbs. This book is certain to give you something to think about as you read it, and even afterwards when you find a parallel between something you've read in the book and something in your own life. You will be certain to come across one, at one time or other in your life. It is a fascinating book, and the shrewdness and adaptability of the people is not lost, but preserved forever.

Review Originally Posted at www.linearreflections.com ... Read more