Pages:  121-134 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp252121134

Dance, as an important part of ancient culture and one of the forms of human self-expression, is present in various life situations. In Armenia, dance has found a multifaceted reflection in the artefacts of the Bronze Age, particularly in petroglyphs. Dance compositions of rock paintings have been studied by archaeologists in 1970—1980s. Currently, a large amount of new data collected by the authors of the present article is available. From the numerous rock paintings of Syunik, Vayots-Dzor, and other regions of the Republic of Armenia, the examples in which dance is most evident are examined, and some scenes are indirectly related to dance. They are classified as follows: (1). Dance structure: solo, couple (mainly man — woman), group. (2). Basic forms and positions: position of legs, body rotation, crossed arms, cult poses. (3). Types of dances: hunting-combat, magical-ritual, entertainment.
Dance poses are also observed in related contents: sports, clothing, cult. Musical instruments are visible in some paintings. The petroglyphs of Armenia demonstrate the syncretic features of ancient culture, the unity of the real and mythical, the “artistic” and “scientific” characters of the images. Ceramics, bronze statues, belts and votive plates, seals, bas-reliefs and frescoes also contain different dance poses. The study of dance images in the Bronze Age culture of Armenia indicates that this art is an important source for studying the life of distant ancestors; their rituals and customs, myth-thinking and worldview are revealed in them.

Keywords: Bronze Age, cult, dance, musical instrument, petroglyph, Rock-art, Syunik, Vayots-Dzor

Information about authors:

Gohar Vardumyan (Yerevan, Armenia). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Armenia. Marshal Bagramyan Ave., 24/4, Yerevan, 375019, Armenia; Brusov State University. Tumanyan St., 42, Yerevan, 0002, Armenia
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0009-0006-4120-9929

Karen Tokhatyan (Yerevan, Armenia). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences, Republic of Armenia. Marshal Bagramyan Ave., 24/4, Yerevan, 375019, Armenia; Brusov State University. Tumanyan St., 42, Yerevan, 0002, Armenia
E-mail: [email protected]
ORCID: 0009-0001-3246-9116