Siamanto

(pen name of Atom Iarchanian). Born Jan. 1, 1878, in Akn, Turkey; died August 1915. Armenian poet.

In 1892, Siamanto and his family moved to Constantinople (now Istanbul). Beginning in 1897 he studied in Geneva and at the Sorbonne in Paris. He initiated his literary career in 1898. In 1902 he published the verse collection The Heroic. Siamanto’s poetry was permeated with concern for the fate of the Armenian people. Presenting the Russian Revolution of 1905–07 as an example of heroism and hope, Siamanto summoned the Caucasian peoples to battle against autocracy. Influences apparent in his poetry include folk songs, the poetry of Grigor Na-rekatsi, and the symbolism of Emile Verhaeren. Siamanto was killed during the mass slaughter of Armenians organized by the Turkish authorities.