Mardiros Sarkis Balayan The Talented Calligrapher

Mardiros Sarkis Balayan (March 1, 1891–October 24, 1957) was born in the village of Sağmiga (now Boğazlı), located 20 km southwest of Arapgir (present-day Kemaliye).

He was obliged, on September 1, 1905, to migrate to Egypt with his family. In Cairo, the promising Mardiros, from 1905 to June 1909, was educated at the Kalousdian Armenian National School, founded by Garabed Agha Kalousd in 1854.

At a young age, from December 1909 to January 1913, he studied and worked in the office of an Armenian architect in Cairo. On February 1, 1913, he worked as a draftsman for the Survey Department of Egypt at Giza, a government agency responsible for the drawing of maps and the design of postage stamps.

Meanwhile, as a talented calligrapher, he taught at three Armenian schools in Cairo for many years. Kalusdian (1919–1936), Berberian (1924–1933), and Nubarian (1924–1936).

Mardiros Balayan, illustrated the Illustrated World Atlas of Dadyan Hovhannes Amira (1798–1869). The painter, who left a short resume starting from Arapgir and ending in Cairo, has remained on the agenda until today with the maps he has drawn.