AN ESSAY ABOUT THE THEATRE OF MEDIEVAL ARMENIA (BASED ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL MATERIALS OF THE CITY OF DVIN)
Mass performances and laughable acts or images related to them occupied a huge place in the life of a medieval man. In this regard, vessels decorated with mascarons and skeletons of Dvin’s dwarfs are of great interest. The entire composition on the alabastron conveys the literary plot of a parable, saying or riddle, created by the master through the comprehensible repertoire of the jester. During medieval festivities and mass performances ordinary people were often entertained by dwarfs who acted as jesters. They were handy at juggling with knives, rings and apples, singing, dancing and playing the musical instruments. Among them there were acrobats, tamers, people who represented habits, animal screams and behavior. We assume that the identified skeletons of individuals could be histrions at royal and princely courtyards of Dvin. Theatrical and areal performances, as a specific genre of art, closely related to folklore and reflecting reality, have become firmly established in urban life.
- Keywords:
- Armenia
- Dvin
- theater
- alabastron
- jester
- faience
- ceramics
- mascaron
- dwarfs
- historians
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