Hovhannes Imastaser

[3] Hovhannes received his education in theology and science at Haghbat, and possibly also at Sanahin,[4] two important monastic centers of Armenian medieval scholarship.

")[8] After completing his education,[9] Hovhannes moved to the former Armenian capital city of Ani, where he taught philosophy, mathematics, music, cosmography and grammar.

[2] While Hovhannes Imastaser was recognized as a master of Armenian literature, his works acquired wider publicity only in the 19th century when they were published by Abbot Ghevont Alishan, a member of the Mekhitarist Congregation in Venice.

Imastaser's innovative approach to literature, for which he is often referred to as a key representative of the medieval Armenian literary renaissance, is fully demonstrated in his poem Ban Imastutian (Discourse on wisdom).

In them, Imastaser glorifies heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives defending Armenian homeland and their Christian faith.

Hovhannes Imastaser's work in mathematics is represented by the volume Haghaks Ankiunavor Tvots (Concerning Polygonal Numbers).

Hovhannes Imastaser translated into Armenian the works of the following classical scholars: Philo of Alexandria, Dionysius the Areopagite, Gregory of Nyssa, Porphyry, and, as mentioned, Aristotle and Euclid.

150 years before Roger Bacon, he noted: "Without experimentation, no opinion can be considered probable and acceptable; only experiment produces confirmation and certainty.