I'm currently waiting for things to start and will have more comments coming up soon. :-)
UPDATE: The lecture was absolutely amazing, and I found it pleasantly ironic how similar the problems Rev. Fulco faced in translating the Passion script were to the problems I face day to day translating for Aramaic Designs. Now, instead of messing with typing during the lecture, I decided to hit the record button on my laptop. I'll be transcribing it when I have the time, but to make things easier I'll see about getting in contact with Rev. Fulco to obtain permission to post the recording as an MP3 here.
Peace
-Steve
Monday, February 16, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Syriac studies coming to Artuklu University
Feb 12 2009 - Mardin’s Artuklu University is preparing to become only the second university in the world to host a Syriac language department.
The university is planning to create a department that will focus on the language and literature of the Syriac people, who populate the Middle East and who have lived side-by-side with Muslims in peace and prosperity in Mardin for centuries. Artuklu University Rector Serdar Bedii Omay said a Syriac department was in the works and that university officials have met with leaders from the local Syriac community to achieve this goal. Present at the meeting were Deyrulzafaran Monastery Metropolitan Salibe Özmen, Archbishop Gabriyel Akyüz of Kırklar Church and other members of the Syriac community.
[read the rest here]
The university is planning to create a department that will focus on the language and literature of the Syriac people, who populate the Middle East and who have lived side-by-side with Muslims in peace and prosperity in Mardin for centuries. Artuklu University Rector Serdar Bedii Omay said a Syriac department was in the works and that university officials have met with leaders from the local Syriac community to achieve this goal. Present at the meeting were Deyrulzafaran Monastery Metropolitan Salibe Özmen, Archbishop Gabriyel Akyüz of Kırklar Church and other members of the Syriac community.
[read the rest here]
Friday, February 6, 2009
"Ancient" Syriac Bible found in Cyprus?
(A picture of the manuscript.)
Fri Feb 6, 2009 7:57am ESTWhen I saw images of this relic, they reminded me of something that happened a back in July of last year where I was approached by an individual, who claimed to come from Turkey, trying to sell me a forgery (click the link for pictures). Naturally, such an experience has made me skeptical when I heard about a "manuscript [carrying] excerpts of the Bible written in gold lettering on vellum and loosely strung together" and written in "eastern script."NICOSIA (Reuters Life!) - Authorities in northern Cyprus believe they have found an ancient version of the Bible written in Syriac, a dialect of the native language of Jesus.
The manuscript was found in a police raid on suspected antiquity smugglers. Turkish Cypriot police testified in a court hearing they believe the manuscript could be about 2,000 years old.
(A picture of the manuscript forgery I was offered.)
Given what I have seen of the manuscript thusfar, I'm going to have to tentatively concur with JF Coakley on his analysis. Unless other hard evidence surfaces to the contrary (carbon dating or thorough textual analysis), this is probably either a work no earlier than the 15th century, or a modern forgery.
UPDATE & NOTE (Feb 11th): It seems that I was a bit ambiguous above as to the identity of the manuscript in question. I do not believe the manuscript the police found to be -the- document I was offered, but more that it fits a consistent pattern of forgeries that are showing up in Turkey. All of the defining characteristics look like they match (which both manuscripts seem to share):
- "Golden letters"
- Written on leather rather than actual vellum
- Bound together haphazardly.
- "Synopses" of New Testament stories rather than full text.
- Written in Pseudosyriac or modern Syriac.
- Written in Eastern script.
- Very characteristic illustrations.
- Etc.
-Steve
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Aramaic Origins and Dialects: A Model for Proto-Afroasiatic
I learned about this lecture just a few moments ago and I will certainly be attending!
Aramaic Origins and Dialects: A Model for Proto-Afroasiatic
Monday, February 16, 2009
1:40 - 3:00pm, Scholarly Communication Center, Alexander Library
A Lecture by William J. Fulco, S.J., Ph.D, National Endowment for the Humanities Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Loyola Marymount University
Reverend Fulco will discuss the Aramaic language and its position within the Semitic family, as well as his past work in reconstructing reconstructing Aramaic for the script of the 2004 film, "The Passion of the Christ," directed by Mel Gibson.
He is currently working on a script in Punic for the upcoming film, "Hannibal the Conqueror," directed by Vin Diesel.
Sponsored by AMESALL, CMES, Undergraduate Education, Jewish Studies, and Comparative Literature
For more information, contact Charles Haberl, haberl@rci.rutgers.edu
Peace,
-Steve
Aramaic Origins and Dialects: A Model for Proto-Afroasiatic
Monday, February 16, 2009
1:40 - 3:00pm, Scholarly Communication Center, Alexander Library
A Lecture by William J. Fulco, S.J., Ph.D, National Endowment for the Humanities Professor of Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Loyola Marymount University
Reverend Fulco will discuss the Aramaic language and its position within the Semitic family, as well as his past work in reconstructing reconstructing Aramaic for the script of the 2004 film, "The Passion of the Christ," directed by Mel Gibson.
He is currently working on a script in Punic for the upcoming film, "Hannibal the Conqueror," directed by Vin Diesel.
Sponsored by AMESALL, CMES, Undergraduate Education, Jewish Studies, and Comparative Literature
For more information, contact Charles Haberl, haberl@rci.rutgers.edu
Peace,
-Steve
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