The Golden Maiden and other folk tales and fairy stories told in Armenia

“These stories are not of my own invention… they were collected by me from the mouths of the people.” – A. G. Seklemian

Enter a world where the peaks of Mount Ararat touch the heavens and the valleys echo with the whispers of an ancient past. In this mesmerising collection, first published in 1898, A. G. Seklemian opens the heavy, iron-bound doors of Armenian folklore to reveal a landscape teeming with wonder, wit, and magic.

Here, you will encounter the Devs, giants of fearsome strength and dim intellect; the shimmering Peris, fairies of ethereal beauty; and the brave, often youngest, sons who set out to conquer destiny with nothing but courage and a clever turn of phrase. From the serpent-guarded treasures of the deep to the moon-faced beauty of the Golden Maiden herself, these tales transport the reader to the rugged crossroads of East and West.

But The Golden Maiden is more than a mere anthology of fairy tales. Compiled by Seklemian in the twilight of the nineteenth century, just decades before the catastrophic events that would forever alter the Armenian nation, this book stands as a defiant act of cultural preservation. It is a literary ark, carrying the vibrant, oral soul of a people safely across the waters of time.

Rich with the scent of the Orient and the timeless structures of the Brothers Grimm, yet possessed of a fierce, distinctive spirit, this volume is an essential treasure for lovers of mythology, students of history, and anyone who believes in the enduring power of a good story.