King of the Forest Statue in Dilijan

In 1966, while resting with his family on the forested slopes of Dilijan, Ara Sargsyan stayed at a government summer house built for Aghasi Khanjyan. During a stroll, the sculptor noticed a giant tree with spreading branches and was inspired to breathe life into it through his art.

Ara Sargsyan and the statue "King of the Forest", 1968

Previously, in 1923, Sargsyan had created a wooden statue titled "Goatman," representing a divine figure from ancient Greek mythology associated with the forest. In 1967, he revisited and reimagined this work, giving it a new look and renaming it "King of the Forest."

The statue is located just a few meters away from Aghasi Khanjyan's former summer house.

Coordinates of the statue: 40°44'13"N 44°51'41"E