PRESS RELEASE
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
395 Concord Avenue
Belmont, MA 02478
Phone: 617-489-1610
Fax: 617-484-1759
Email: [email protected]
ILLUSTRATED TALK ON AGHTAMAR AND MEDIEVAL ARMENIAN KINGSHIP AT NAASR
Dr. Lynn Jones of Florida State University will give an illustrated
lecture entitled "Between Islam and Byzantium: Aghtamar and the Visual
Construction of Medieval Armenian Kingship," on Thursday, May 22, at
8:00 p.m., at the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research
(NAASR) Center, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA. This lecture is the
second talk given in memory of Arshag Merguerian (1926-2005), architect
and an active member and friend of NAASR for nearly fifty years. The
expenses for the lecture will be covered by funds contributed to NAASR
in Merguerian’s memory.
During the period of 884-1045 AD, Armenian rulers had loosened the ties
that subjected them to the Arab caliphate, but by the end of this period
the Byzantine empire had instead become dominant in the region. Dr.
Lynn Jones will provide a thorough analysis of the development of the
visual expression of medieval Armenian rulership during this era, based
on her recently published book Between Islam and Byzantium: Aghtamar and
the Visual Construction of Medieval Armenian Rulership. In this
lecture, Jones will focus on the famed Church of the Holy Cross at
Aghtamar.
Broad and Complex Interactions
Setting the art and architecture of the period more clearly in its
original context, Jones reveals the messages works were intended to
convey by those who created and viewed them. Her analysis provides a
new perspective on the complex interactions between a broad range of
nationalities, ethnicities, and religions, shedding fresh light on the
nature of medieval identity and adding to a growing literature on the
eastern neighbors of Byzantium.
Lynn Jones received her Ph.D. in Art History from the University of
Illinois. In addition to Florida State she has taught at a number of
other universities, including the University of Maryland, the University
of Minnesota, Cornell, and Yale. In 2006-2007 she served as President
of the Byzantine Scholars Association of North America. She has
published on medieval Armenia, Byzantium, Georgia, and Islam. Between
Islam and Byzantium: Aghtamar and the Visual Construction of Medieval
Armenian Rulership is her first book.
Admission to the event is free (donations appreciated). The NAASR
Center is located in Belmont opposite the First Armenian Church and next
to the U.S. Post Office. Ample parking is available around the building
and in adjacent areas. The lecture will begin promptly at 8:00 p.m.
More information about the lecture is available by calling 617-489-1610,
faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing [email protected], or writing to NAASR, 395
Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.