The Behavior of the Heroes of the Armenian Epos in the Context of Armenian Identity

Abstract

In the article the author analyses and evaluates approaches and positions of heroes of the Armenian epos (Sanasar, Baghdasar, Mher the Great, David of Sassoun, Mher the Minor) concerning ethical values, enemy, government, society, and homeland. The author argues in favor of a statement that both in the epos and in the Armenian Identity is enrooted the approach to rethink and evaluate reality predominantly in terms of moral concepts (debt, responsibility, justice, conscience, shame, etc.); and to evaluate other people’s behavior and other moral systems by own moral criteria instead of using legal, political, economic and other forms of behavior regulation and evaluation. And as a result of all of these in the epos and Armenian national character we see humanism without borders, generosity towards the enemy, unguarded, reckless openness and unforgivable tolerance; the absence of the will to govern, to own, escapism and xenophilia.