The Yarkhushta War Dance, Sasun

The Armenian war dance Yarkhushta. Sasun, Western Armenia, early 20th century.

Sasun was a district of the Aghdznik province of Greater Armenia, in the Armenian Taurus mountains. Today it is the northern part of Turkey’s Batman province that bears the same name.

The photograph shows men dancing in a circle with their arms stretched out to the sides. They wear short jackets, wide trousers and sashes. At the upper right are two men, one of them with a large drum, and spectators are seated on the left.