Armenia: Art, Religion, And Trade In The Middle Ages, edited by Helen C. Evans (hardcover)

As the first people to convert officially to Christianity, Armenians commissioned and produced some of the most extraordinary religious objects of the Middle Ages. These objects—from manuscripts sumptuously illuminated manuscripts to handsome carvings, liturgical furnishings, gilded reliquaries, exquisite textiles, and printed books—show the strong persistence of their own cultural identity, as well as the multicultural influences of Armenia’s interactions with Romans, Byzantines, Persians, Muslims, Mongols, Ottomans, and Europeans.

This unprecedented volume, written by a team of international scholars and members of the Armenian religious community, was the companion to the Metropolitan Museum important exhibition of 2018. It contextualizes and celebrates the compelling works of art that define Armenian medieval culture. It features breathtaking photographs of archaeological sites and stunning churches and monasteries that help fill out this unique history. With groundbreaking essays and exquisite illustrations, the book illuminates the singular achievements of a great medieval civilization.