The Respеption of Avetik Isahakyan’s “Lilith” Poem in the Panorama of Armenian Art

Abstract

Avetik Isahakyan’s poem “Lilith” is one of the most distinctive works of Armenian literature, where a mythological prototype transforms into an artistic and symbolic cultural figure. Isahakyan interprets Lilith as a fiery, free-spirited and independent woman-ideal, whose beauty and unattainability transcend reality. She becomes a symbol of femininity, individuality, inner freedom and unfulfilled love.

The poem influenced later Armenian literature, particularly the works of Hovhannes Shiraz, Silva Kaputikyan, Vahagn Davtyan and Ara Aloyan, in which Lilith appears not only as a literary character, but also as a psychological and symbolic embodiment.

The character received wide artistic responses in painting, graphic arts and monumental sculpture (G. Khanzhyan, S. Muradyan, V. Khachatryan, etc.). In sculpture, Lilith is represented as an elemental force, while theatrical and cinematic interpretations highlight her mystical and existential nature.

This study demonstrates that Isahakyan’s Lilith has moved beyond the boundaries of literature, becoming a cultural archetype that reflects artistic, aesthetic and psychological dimensions and continues to inspire Armenian art today.