Categories: History

The Last Action of Crassus

All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players. William Shakespeare

The comparison of the world with a stage is as old as the world itself. King Artavazd II, the first Armenian playwright and the founder of the Armenian theatrical art, was also a skillful director.

An interesting incident has occurred during his activity. His play “The Bacchae” based on the the tragedy written by Euripides caused a shock on the political scene in the Near East 2000 years ago.

The amphitheater of the Artashat Theater was full with spectators. In the honorary lodge sat two kings – King Artavazd II and Orodes I of Parthia.

The final of the tragedy was approaching. One Jason stepped onto the stage and, instead of the sham head required by the script, took out the head of Marcus Licinius Crassus and said, “Here are the horns of a deer killed by us on a happy hunt.”

Vigen Avetisyan

Recent Posts

Hayasa-Azzi: A Powerful Armenian Kingdom of the Armenian Highlands

Among the earliest known states of the Armenian Highlands, few are as historically important as…

1 week ago

The Frescoes of Dadivank Monastery and the Misinterpretation of Heritage

The medieval monastery of Dadivank is one of the most important spiritual and artistic centers…

2 weeks ago

Armenian Orphan Girls in New York (1917): A Forgotten Act of Witness and Relief

In 1917, at the height of global upheaval during World War I, a small but…

3 weeks ago

The Armenian Genocide: State Crime, Mass Participation, and the Burden of Historical Responsibility

The Armenian Genocide (1915–1921 ...) was not an accident of war, nor a tragic byproduct…

3 weeks ago

The First Printed Armenian Bible (Amsterdam, 1666–1668)

Introduction The first printed edition of the Bible in the Armenian language stands as one…

4 weeks ago

Armenopolis (Gherla): An Armenian “Ideal City” in the Heart of Europe

Armenopolis (modern-day Gherla, Romania) is a remarkable example of how the Armenian diaspora not only…

1 month ago