In the year 405 AD, Mesrop Mashtots – learned monk and
visionary – invented the Armenian alphabet.
The first words he wrote were a
quotation attributed to King Solomon: ‘To know wisdom and instruction; to
perceive the words of understanding…’
This scarf is also a tribute to the vast
library of Erevan, the Matenadaran, an extraordinary monument to the power of
knowledge. Often compared to the great library of Alexandria, the collection
enjoys UNESCO World Heritage status today. It includes some of Christianity’s
finest and most ancient books and manuscripts.
Designer Karen Petrossian has
covered the surface of this scarf with illuminated letters from the Armenian
alphabet, whose calligraphy and miniatures, drawn from the pages of manuscripts
preserved at the famous library, are considered among the masterpieces of
medieval art.
For the second time, Hermès extends a silken bridge between two
cultures, with a limited edition scarf supporting the cultural and humanitarian
work of the SPFA (Solidarité Protestante France-Arménie).
