ILLUSTRATED TALK ON AGHTAMAR AND MEDIEVAL ARMENIAN KINGSHIP THURSDAY

Belmont Citizen-Herald
May 20 2008
MA

Belmont, Mass. – Dr. Lynn Jones of Florida State University will
give an illustrated lecture entitled "Between Islam and Byzatium:
Aghtamar and the Visual Construction of Medieval Armenian Kingship,"
at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, at the National Association for
Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center, 395 Concord Ave. in
Belmont. 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.

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 p.m.

More information about the lecture is available by calling
617-489-1610, faxing 617-484-1759, e-mailing hq@naasr.org, or writing
to NAASR, 395 Concord Ave., Belmont, MA 02478.