Grigor the Magister

Grigor the Magister (Pakhlavuni) (year of birth unknown; died in 1058/59 A.D.), Armenian politician and philosopher, Armenian Renaissance devotee.

Upon Ani Kingdom's occupation by Byzantium, moved to Mesopotamia and became its ruler (duk). Acted against the anti-feudal movement of Tondrakians. For military merits, received the Byzantine title of the Magister. Grigor the Magister's ideology was a synthesis of Hellenistic and Christian traditions of Armenian philosophy. Created several ancient-style scientific centers where philosophy and other sciences were taught and ancient thinkers' compositions were translated. Grigor the Magister authored translations of a number of Plato's dialogs and Euclid's Geometry. Grigor the Magister's philosophic views are stated in his Letters (Alexandropole, 1910, in Armenian) which show some influence of David the Anacht (Invincible) especially in theoretic and cognitive parts. Dividing the sciences into natural sciences, mathematics, and theology, Grigor the Magister considered the cognition process an ascent from the simple to the complex, from feelings and perceivable objects to the sphere of universal categories. Letters also contain important information on political and cultural history of 11th-century Armenia.