Biography of Aurora Mardiganian
Aurora Mardiganian was an Armenian author, actress, and a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. Born Arshaluys Mardiganian in 1901 in the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey), she witnessed the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide which began in 1915. She lost most of her family and was forced into a death march across the Syrian Desert. Along the way, she experienced unimaginable suffering, including torture, slavery, and rape. She eventually escaped and made her way to the United States.
Upon her arrival in the U.S., Aurora wrote a memoir in 1918 titled "Ravished Armenia," also known as "Auction of Souls." It was likely ghostwritten by a man named Henry Gates. He and his wife, Eleanor, reportedly benefited greatly from Aurora’s work financially.
When her book was adapted into a silent film with the same title, Aurora played the lead role. The film was created to help people understand the severity of the genocide and to raise funds to aid survivors. Sadly, most of the money intended for Aurora and for assisting Armenians in distress after the genocide was misappropriated by those claiming to help.
Aurora was tasked with traveling around the country to discuss the film, thereby raising awareness about the Armenian Genocide. Reliving the trauma on screen night after night left Aurora deeply exhausted. Unable to cope, she was placed in a convent to recover. Aurora Mardiganian died alone in 1994 and was buried in an unmarked grave.
Her life story is a powerful testament to overcoming extreme challenges and aiding others by sharing her experiences.
The Autobiography of Aurora Mardiganian