Grigor Magisdros

(Pahlavuni). Year of birth unknown; died 1058/59. Armenian political figure and philosopher, champion of the Armenian Renaissance. After the seizure of the Ani Kingdom (Transcaucasia) by Byzantium, he moved to Mesopotamia and became its ruler (dukas). He opposed the antifeudal movement of the Tondrakians. For his military services he received the Byzantine title of magisdros.

The world view of Grigor Magisdros represented a synthesis of the Hellenistic and Christian traditions of Armenian philosophy. Based on the ancient model, he created a number of scientific centers, where philosophy and other sciences were taught and the works of ancient thinkers were translated. Grigor Magisdros translated a number of Plato’s dialogues and Euclid’s Geometry. Grigor Magisdros’ philosophical views are set forth in his Letters (Aleksan-dropol’. 1910, in Armenian), which reveal the influence of David Anjalth (the Invincible), especially in their theoretical cognitive part. Dividing the sciences into natural sciences, mathematics, and theology, Grigor Magisdros viewed the process of cognition as an ascent from the simple to the complex, from emotions and objects that are apprehensible by the mind to the sphere of universal categories. The Letters also contain important information on the political and cultural history of 11th-century Armenia.