ARMENIAN LITERATURE. Previous to the introduction of Christianity by Gregory (300 A.D.), the Armenians had adhered to the Assyrian or 3Iedo-Persian system of culture; but-excepting a few old songs or ballads, no remains of that early period exist. After their conversion to Christianity, the Greek language and its literature soon became favorite objects of study, and many Greek authors were translated into Armenian. (See Wen rich De Auetorum Graeorum versionthus Arabieis, Armeniaeis, etc. Leipzig, 1842.) The Armenian language has an alphabet of its own, consisting of 36 letters, introduced by Miesrob in 406. The most flourishing period of A. L. extends from the 4th to the 14th century. The numerous Armenian theological writers and chroniclers of this era supply materials for a history of the east during the middle ages which have hitherto been too much neglected. These Armenian writers generally copied the Style of the later Greek and Byzantine authors; but in adherence to facts and good taste, they are superior to the general order of oriental historians. In the 14th c., literature began to decline, and few remarkable works were afterwards produced; but since the time of their dispersion, the Armenians have preserved recollections of their national literature; and wherever they are found—in Amsterdam, Lemberg, Leghorn, Venice. Astrakan, Moscow, Constanti nople, Smyrna, Ispahan, Madras, printing-oflice is always a feature in their colonies. The most interesting Armenian settlement is that of the Mechitarists (q.v.), on the island of San Lazaro, near Venice.
The Bible translated into Armenian (the Old Testament from the text of the Septua gint) by Miesrob and his scholars (411 A.D.), is esteemed the highest model of classic style. Translations of several Greek authors, made about the same time, have been partly preserved, and contain some writings of which the originals have been lost— namely, the Chronicle of Ensebius; the Discourses of Philo; homilies by St. Chrysostom, Severianus, Basil the Great, and Ephraim Syrtis. Several old geographical and histori cal works have been preserved. Among philosophical and theological writers may be mentioned: David, the translator and commentator of Aristotle, Esnik, and Joannes Ozuiensis. The Vita Sanetorum Calendarii Armeniaei (Lives of Armenian Saints, 12 vols. Ven. 1814) contains many notices of the history of Armenia. In poetry and fiction, A. I. is .poor. Somal, in his work entitled Qaadro della Scoria Literaria di Armenia (Venice, 1829), gives a general view of the contents of A. L. The Armenian belongs to the Indo-Germanic group of languages, but has many peculiarities of structure. It is harsh and disagreeable to the ear. The old Armenian, the language of literature, is no longer a living tongue; while the new Armenian, split up into four dialects, contains many Turkish words and grammatical constructions.