HOVHANNES DRASKHANAKERTTSI AND FOLKLORE

Abstract

Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi, a famous Armenian historian of the 10th century, wrote a
complete history of Armenia, presenting the period of the first quarter of the 10th century.
While writing about certain religious or state figures, particularly of 7th-8th centuries, in addition to manuscript sources and ancient folkloric evidences, the author independently used
widely memorized stories, folk and church tales and by historicizing them, certainly sought and
wished to personalize, sanctify, and present his sympathetic historical heroes more perfectly.
These valuable stories of folklore origin, due to the author’s comments, have an impressive
fiction style and high literary value.