Ghevond Alishan is an outstanding Armenian poet, translator, scholar, teacher, public figure and a member of the Congregation of Mkhitarists Holy Fathers on the island of St. Lazarus (Venice). 

Far from the historical homeland he created many works on the history, geography, the nature of Armenia. As a scientist he was known in Europe and corresponded with famous Armenologists. Acquired a nationwide love and recognition as a poet after the publication in 1847 of the cycle "Songs of  Na­hapet". These were romantic works written for the first time in understandable to the people New Armenian (before the literary language was Old Armenian – Grabar). In the cycle Alishan applied romantic principles different from the classic ones: free thinking, first person pronouns, lyrical descriptions, dialogism which were also an innovation in the Armenian poetry. The image of Nahapet, a wandering singer was intimate for an Armenian who lost his homeland and was forced to live in a foreign land.