Daredevils of Sassoun (Սասնա Ծռեր) - Armenian Folk Song from 19th century

Sasuntsi Davit is an Armenian epic hero who drove Arab invaders out of Armenia during the middle-ages from the 8th century

Sasna Dzrer (Armenian: Սասնա Ծռեր, English: Daredevils of Sassoun, also translated as Daredevils of Sasun) is the title of an Old Armenian heroic epic / poem in four cycles (parts) and is about four generations of Sassoun's warriors. It is commonly cited as one of the most important works of Armenian folklore. This recital of the legendary deeds of four generations of strongmen in a warrior community in the Armenian highlands is in the tradition of heroic folktales that dramatize the story of a whole nation and voice its deepest sentiments and aspirations, but unlike such well-known epics as the Iliad and the Odyssey, Gilgamesh, Beowulf, Chanson de Roland, Poema el Cid and others one might mention, it has survived solely by word of mouth, transmitted from one generation to another by village bards. The literary merits of the Sassoun saga surpass its value as a historical or linguistic document.

Sasna in Armenian refers to Sassoun - a region and a city located in Western Armenia, in the rugged mountain country southwest of Lake Van - in what is currently Batman Province, Eastern Turkey. Ծուռ (pronounced: Tsour) means crazy, mad, strongman, daredevil.

The most accurate and complete title of this epic is "Սասնա Ծռեր" (Daredevils of Sassoun). It has however been published under various titles: "Սասունցի Դավիթ" (David of Sassoun), "Սանասար և Բաղդասար" (Sanasar and Balthazar), "Սասունցի Դավիթ կամ Մհերի դուռ" (David of Sassoun or Meherr's door) and many others. All these titles correspond with four cycles of the epic.

The written literature of Armenia goes back to fifth century of our era, its Golden Age, when the Bible was translated into the vernacular from the original Greek and Syriac texts, Plato and Aristotle were studied in Armenian schools, and many original works of great interest to the modern specialist were produced by native historians, philosophers and poets. The oral literature is older that the written, and folk poetry had flourished in Armenia for the past two thousand years, not to go farther back. Movses Khorenatsi (Moses of Khoren) tells us in his classic "History of Armenia" (fifth century) that Armenians still loved the pagan "songs" the minstrels sang on festive occasions, and he quotes from them. Only these fragments of pagan "songs" have survived to this day.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Armenia
• Ancient
• Sasun
• Sassun
• Davit
• Sason
• Tavit
• warrior
• arab
• invaders
• christian
• war
• jihad
• crusade
• folk
• song

[eyecareproject]

This is a beautiful song, thanks for sharing! The artwork featured in the video is also fascinating, and accompanies the wonderful melodies of our traditional songs. May Armenians worldwide enjoy our culture through uploads like these.

EyeCareProject*com

[WhatagoodLogarithm]

Откуда столько "не понравилось"? О_о красиво же.

[eva03arm]

very nice video, but Msr is Egypt, not Arabia.... The reason is that the epic does not refer only to middle ages but comes from the depth of the Armenian history, when the Armenian Kingdom of Mitanni had interrelations with Egypt, after several attempts of invading Mitanni, Egyptians gave up, and decided to be companions rather than enemies...

[gogoasacenusie]

Absolutely incredible.....Warm greetings from Romania! 

[ArtsakhianSniper]

* * * * * 5

[icefiredarksector748]

Great pictures, wonderful story, and beautiful music.