MONUMENTS

1963

State index: 1.6.110

Architect: Eduard Sarapyan,

Sculptor: Ara Harutyunyan

The memorial is located at 46 Mesrop Mashtots Avenue, in the park in front of Sayat-Nova Music School No. 2. It honors Sayat-Nova (Harutyun Sayatyan, died 1795), the great 18th-century Armenian poet and troubadour. Sayat-Nova created his works in Tbilisi and served as the royal singer for Heraclius II, the Georgian king of Kakheti. He composed not only in Armenian but also in other regional languages.

The monument consists of a rectangular memorial wall made of white marble stones. A wide opening in the upper section and the absence of some stones in the lower section seemingly divide it into two equal parts. Sayat-Nova's bas-relief portrait appears on the left side of the wide opening, while the fountain is on the right, pouring water into a small decorative pool in front of the memorial wall.

The upper right stone of the fountain features a relief decorated with motifs from Sayat-Nova's poems, depicting women in national headdresses (Armenian, Georgian, Azerbaijani) and roses. The smooth and rhythmic lines harmonize with the plastic forms of the poet's sculpture. His broad forehead, regular features, the purity of stone processing, and the white color reveal the melancholic yet inspiring image of the immortal singer of love.

Sayat-Nova's image is symbolic, as no actual picture of the poet has survived. Below the bas-relief, his famous poem lines are engraved, serving as a key to understanding the combination of the fountain and sculpture:

NOT EVERYONE CAN DRINK MY WATER; IT'S FROM A DIFFERENT SPRING.

NOT EVERYONE CAN READ MY WRITING; IT'S FROM A DIFFERENT PEN.

DON'T THINK MY FOUNDATION IS SAND; IT'S ROCK, IT'S STONE AND MORTAR.

                                                     SAYAT-NOVA, 1753.

This interesting and unique monument is built of white marble, measuring 3 x 3.75 x 0.4 m.

In 1964, sculptor Ara Harutyunyan received the USSR Academy of Arts' silver medal for the Sayat-Nova memorial fountain.

 “Scientific Research Centre of Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNCO

Yerevan Municipality