A. S. Mnatsakanian

Mnatsakanian was an Armenian historian.
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The particular attention paid in the manuscript to the Holy Warriors is exceptional. Had the painter any definite purpose in depicting them so? A. Mnatsakanian speaking on the origin of the cult of the Holy Warriors in medieval Armenia and correlating it with ancient pagan beliefs and mythology, points out that the mythological motif of combat a dragon as a result of centuries of thinking, was widespread in Christian art. New forms were based on old ones and old conceptions were replaced by new ones. The new essential idea of horses fighting dragons becomes in Christian art the struggle against the "devils", i.e., pagans. Often, however, the painter, in the presentation of "devils", figuratively expresses different ideas. The Armenian people, suffering under various foreign oppressors, often dreamed of getting rid of the oppressor, the "devil". It is quite possible that the Armenian painter gave definite mending to the presentation of those warriors, seeing in them those national heroes who would overthrow evil and liberate the people.

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