![Parwanaya 2015 Ahvaz 06](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Parwanaya_2015_Ahvaz_06.jpg)
This article contains a list of Mandaean texts (
Mandaean
Mandaeans ( ar, المندائيون ), also known as Mandaean Sabians ( ) or simply as Sabians ( ), are an ethnoreligious group who are followers of Mandaeism. They believe that John the Baptist was the final and most important prophet. They ...
religious texts written in Classical
Mandaic Mandaic may refer to:
* Mandaic language
* Mandaic alphabet
** Mandaic (Unicode block)
Mandaic is a Unicode block containing characters of the Mandaic script used for writing the historic Eastern Aramaic, also called Classical Mandaic, and the m ...
). Well-known texts include the ''
Ginza Rabba
The Ginza Rabba ( myz, ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Ginzā Rbā, lit=Great Treasury), Ginza Rba, or Sidra Rabba ( myz, ࡎࡉࡃࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Sidrā Rbā, lit=Great Book), and formerly the Codex Nasaraeus, is the longest ...
'' (also known as the ''Sidra Rabbā'') and the ''
Qolastā''. Texts for
Mandaean priest
A Mandaean priest or ''Rabbi'' refers to an ordained religious leader in Mandaeism.
Overview
All priests must undergo lengthy ordination ceremonies, beginning with tarmida initiation. Mandaean religious leaders and copyists of religious texts hol ...
s include ''
The 1012 Questions
''The Thousand and Twelve Questions'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡐ ࡕࡓࡉࡎࡀࡓ ࡔࡅࡉࡀࡋࡉࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text. The ''1012 Questions'' is one of the most detailed texts on Mandaean priestly rituals.
The text contains detailed com ...
'', among others. Some, like the ''Ginza Rabba'', are
codices
The codex (plural codices ) was the historical ancestor of the modern book. Instead of being composed of sheets of paper, it used sheets of vellum, papyrus, or other materials. The term ''codex'' is often used for ancient manuscript books, with ...
(bound books), while others, such as the various ''diwan'' (illustrated scrolls) are
scroll
A scroll (from the Old French ''escroe'' or ''escroue''), also known as a roll, is a roll of papyrus, parchment, or paper containing writing.
Structure
A scroll is usually partitioned into pages, which are sometimes separate sheets of papyrus ...
s.
This list is by no means exhaustive. Institutional libraries and private collections contain various Mandaean religious texts that are little known or even unknown to the international scholarly community.
Background
Mandaean copyists may transcribe texts as a meritorious deed for one's own forgiveness of sins, or they may be hired to copy a text for another person. Mandaean sacred scriptures, such as the ''
Ginza Rabba
The Ginza Rabba ( myz, ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Ginzā Rbā, lit=Great Treasury), Ginza Rba, or Sidra Rabba ( myz, ࡎࡉࡃࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Sidrā Rbā, lit=Great Book), and formerly the Codex Nasaraeus, is the longest ...
'' are traditionally kept in wooden chests wrapped in layers of white cotton and silk cloth. These protected manuscripts are generally not touched by ordinary laypeople, although learned laymen (''yalufa'') who demonstrate proper knowledge and respect for the manuscripts are usually granted access by priests, similar to the level of respect given to the ''
Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib ( pa, ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ) is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and Guru Maneyo Granth, eternal Guru following the lineage of the Sikh gur ...
'' in
Sikhism
Sikhism (), also known as Sikhi ( pa, ਸਿੱਖੀ ', , from pa, ਸਿੱਖ, lit=disciple', 'seeker', or 'learner, translit=Sikh, label=none),''Sikhism'' (commonly known as ''Sikhī'') originated from the word ''Sikh'', which comes fro ...
.
Types
Mandaean religious texts can be written in book or
codex
The codex (plural codices ) was the historical ancestor of the modern book. Instead of being composed of sheets of paper, it used sheets of vellum, papyrus, or other materials. The term ''codex'' is often used for ancient manuscript books, with ...
form ( or ) or as
scroll
A scroll (from the Old French ''escroe'' or ''escroue''), also known as a roll, is a roll of papyrus, parchment, or paper containing writing.
Structure
A scroll is usually partitioned into pages, which are sometimes separate sheets of papyrus ...
s ( , , or ) that are often illustrated. The illustrations, usually labeled with lengthy written explanations, typically contain abstract geometric drawings of
uthra
An uthra or ʿutra ( myz, ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ; plural: ʿutri) is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency". Jorunn J. Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utr ...
s that are reminiscent of
cubism
Cubism is an early-20th-century avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture. In Cubist artwork, objects are analyzed, broken up and reassemble ...
or
prehistoric rock art
In archaeology, rock art is human-made markings placed on natural surfaces, typically vertical stone surfaces. A high proportion of surviving historic and prehistoric rock art is found in caves or partly enclosed rock shelters; this type also m ...
.
Some scrolls are
talisman
A talisman is any object ascribed with religious or magical powers intended to protect, heal, or harm individuals for whom they are made. Talismans are often portable objects carried on someone in a variety of ways, but can also be installed perm ...
s ( ),
amulet
An amulet, also known as a good luck charm or phylactery, is an object believed to confer protection upon its possessor. The word "amulet" comes from the Latin word amuletum, which Pliny's ''Natural History'' describes as "an object that protects ...
s ( ), or
exorcism
Exorcism () is the religious or spiritual practice of evicting demons, jinns, or other malevolent spiritual entities from a person, or an area, that is believed to be possessed. Depending on the spiritual beliefs of the exorcist, this may be ...
s ( or ), all subtypes of
phylacteries. Others consist of prayers such as ('devotions'), ('responses'), and ('"signing" prayers'). Many scrolls contain symbolic descriptions of rituals, such as various types of and rituals. Mandaean texts typically have
colophons giving detailed information about the scribes who had transcribed them, as well as dates, lineages, and other historical information.
Drower (1953) recognizes six main groups of Mandaean literature.
# esoteric texts, exclusively for priests
# ritual texts, exclusively for priests
# hymns, psalms, and prayers
# hortatory and general texts
# astrological texts
# magical writings
History
Little is known about the redactors or authors of the texts. The contents date to both pre-Islamic and Islamic periods. The oldest Mandaean magical text is dated to the 4th and 5th centuries CE.
During the past few decades, Majid Fandi al-Mubaraki, a Mandaean living in Australia, has digitized many Mandaean texts using
typesetted Mandaic script
The Mandaic alphabet is thought to have evolved between the 2nd and 7th century CE from either a cursive form of Aramaic (as did Syriac) or from the Parthian chancery script. The exact roots of the script are difficult to determine.
It was deve ...
.
Main scriptures
The primary three scriptures containing the most important narratives, liturgies, and doctrines of Mandaeism are the
Ginza Rabba
The Ginza Rabba ( myz, ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Ginzā Rbā, lit=Great Treasury), Ginza Rba, or Sidra Rabba ( myz, ࡎࡉࡃࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Sidrā Rbā, lit=Great Book), and formerly the Codex Nasaraeus, is the longest ...
, ''
Mandaean Book of John
The Mandaean Book of John (Mandaic language ࡃࡓࡀࡔࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ') is a Mandaean holy book in Mandaic Aramaic which is believed by Mandeans to have been written by their prophet John the Baptist.
The book contains accounts of Jo ...
'', and
Qolasta
The Qolastā, Qulasta, or Qolusta ( myz, ࡒࡅࡋࡀࡎࡕࡀ; mid, Qōlutā, script=Latn) is the canonical prayer book of the Mandaeans, a Gnostic ethnoreligious group from Iraq and Iran. The Mandaic word ''qolastā'' means "collection". The p ...
. The
Haran Gawaita
The ''Haran Gawaita'' (Mandaic ࡄࡀࡓࡀࡍ ࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉࡕࡀ "Inner Harran" or "Inner Hauran") also known as the ''Scroll of Great Revelation'', is a Mandaean text which recounts the history of the Mandaeans and their arrival in Media as ...
is a history text, while the others are priestly esoteric texts.
*
Ginza Rabba
The Ginza Rabba ( myz, ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Ginzā Rbā, lit=Great Treasury), Ginza Rba, or Sidra Rabba ( myz, ࡎࡉࡃࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Sidrā Rbā, lit=Great Book), and formerly the Codex Nasaraeus, is the longest ...
(''The Great Treasure'', also known as ''The Book of Adam'') (DC 22)
*
Qolastā (''Canonical Prayerbook'') (DC 53)
** Sidra ḏ-Nišmata (''Book of Souls'') (first part of the Qolastā)
**
Niana
In Mandaeism, a ʿniana ( myz, ࡏࡍࡉࡀࡍࡀ; plural form: ''ʿniania'' ) prayer is recited during rituals such as the masiqta and priest initiation ceremonies. There is a total of 26 ʿniana prayers. They form part of the Qolasta.
Etymology ...
(''
The Responses'') (part of the Qolastā)
* Drašâ ḏ-Jōhânā (''
Mandaean Book of John
The Mandaean Book of John (Mandaic language ࡃࡓࡀࡔࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ') is a Mandaean holy book in Mandaic Aramaic which is believed by Mandeans to have been written by their prophet John the Baptist.
The book contains accounts of Jo ...
'', also known as ''The Book of Kings'')
*
Harran Gawaitha (''Scroll of Great Revelation'') (DC 9, 36)
*
Diwan Abathur (''Scroll of Abatur'') (DC 8)
* Diwan Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziwa (''
The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa
''The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa'' or ''Diwan Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziwa'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ, "Scroll of the Baptism of Hibil Ziwa") is a Mandaean illustrated scroll. It describes the soteriolog ...
'') (DC 35)
* Alf trisar šuialia (''
The 1012 Questions
''The Thousand and Twelve Questions'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡐ ࡕࡓࡉࡎࡀࡓ ࡔࡅࡉࡀࡋࡉࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text. The ''1012 Questions'' is one of the most detailed texts on Mandaean priestly rituals.
The text contains detailed com ...
'') (DC 36
omplete, with all 7 books DC 6
ncomplete
* Šarh ḏ-qabin ḏ-Šišlam Rabbā (''
The Wedding of the Great Šišlam
''The Wedding of the Great Šišlam'' ( myz, ࡔࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡒࡀࡁࡉࡍ ࡖࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text. As a liturgical rather than esoteric text, it contains instructions and hymns for the Mandaean marriage c ...
'') (DC 38)
* Šarh ḏ-traṣa ḏ-taga ḏ-Šišlam Rabbā (''
The Coronation of the Great Šišlam
''The Coronation of the Great Šišlam'' (or ''The Coronation of Shishlam Rabba''; myz, ࡔࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡕࡓࡀࡑࡀ ࡖࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡖࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Šarḥ ḏ-Traṣa ḏ- Taga ḏ-Šišlam Rba) is a Mandaean reli ...
'' – describes a ritual for the ordination of the Mandaean clergy)
* Asfar Malwāšē (''
The Book of the Zodiac'') (DC 31)
* Diwan Malkuta ʿLaita (''
Scroll of Exalted Kingship
The ''Scroll of Exalted Kingship'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡌࡀࡋࡊࡅࡕࡀ ࡏࡋࡀࡉࡕࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text. Written as a large illustrated scroll, the text consists of 1,363 lines. The scroll is a commentary on ''tarmida'' ...
'') (DC 34)
Various manuscripts
Various Mandaean manuscripts are listed below. Many of them form parts of the
Qolasta
The Qolastā, Qulasta, or Qolusta ( myz, ࡒࡅࡋࡀࡎࡕࡀ; mid, Qōlutā, script=Latn) is the canonical prayer book of the Mandaeans, a Gnostic ethnoreligious group from Iraq and Iran. The Mandaic word ''qolastā'' means "collection". The p ...
, while others are magical texts such as ''zrazta'', ''qmaha'', ''pašar'', and the like. The majority of known Mandaean texts are currently held at libraries in
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
,
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
, and
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
.
* Tafsir Pagra (''
Tafsir
Tafsir ( ar, تفسير, tafsīr ) refers to exegesis, usually of the Quran. An author of a ''tafsir'' is a ' ( ar, مُفسّر; plural: ar, مفسّرون, mufassirūn). A Quranic ''tafsir'' attempts to provide elucidation, explanation, in ...
of the Body''), part of ''
The Thousand and Twelve Questions
''The Thousand and Twelve Questions'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡐ ࡕࡓࡉࡎࡀࡓ ࡔࡅࡉࡀࡋࡉࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text. The ''1012 Questions'' is one of the most detailed texts on Mandaean priestly rituals.
The text contains detailed com ...
''
* Diwan ḏ-Nahrauta (''
Scroll of the Rivers
The ''Diwan ḏ-Nahrawata'' or ''Diwan ḏ-Nahrauata'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡖࡍࡀࡄࡓࡀࡅࡀࡕࡀ, lit=Scroll of the Rivers) is a Mandaean religious text. It is written as an illustrated scroll.
Contents
The scroll contains esoteric s ...
'', a description of the Šum-
Kušṭa
In Mandaeism, kushta or kušṭa ( myz, ࡊࡅࡔࡈࡀ, lit=truth) can have several meanings. Its original literal meaning is "truth" in the Mandaic language, and is thus typically used to refer to the Mandaean religious concept of truth. The sa ...
world)
* Šarh Traša ḏ-Mandi
* The mass (''
masiqta
The masiqta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡎࡉࡒࡕࡀ) is a mass or ritual practiced in the Mandaean religion in order to help guide the soul (''nišimta'') towards the World of Light in Mandaean cosmology. They are typically performed as funerary rites for ...
'') of
Šitil
In Mandaeism, Shitil or Sheetil (Šītil; myz, ࡔࡉࡕࡉࡋ) is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Shitil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Seth.
Prayers in the Qolasta frequently contain the recurring formula ...
,
Ṭabahata Fathers"and
Dukrania
In Mandaeism, the dukrana ( myz, ࡃࡅࡊࡓࡀࡍࡀ) or dukrania is a type of memorial ritual meal commemorating the dead.Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
It is distinct from the '' ...
the dead"* Diwan Qadaha Rabbā (''Scroll of the Great Lord'')
* Šarh ḏ-Ptaha ḏ-Bimanda
* Šarh ḏ-Masiqta Dakia (''The Oil Sacrament'')
* Šarh ḏ-
Zidqa Brika
In Mandaeism, the zidqa brika (or ''zidqa brikha''; myz, ࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ ࡁࡓࡉࡊࡀ, lit=blessed oblation) is a type of ritual meal blessed by Mandaean priests.Segelberg, Eric. 1977. "''Zidqa Brika'' and the Mandæan Problem. In ''Proceeding ...
(''The
Blessed Oblation'')
* Šafta ḏ-Masihfan Rabbā (''The Scroll of the Great Overthrower'') (DC 37)
* Šarh ḏ-Maṣbuta Rabtia ḏ-Tlaima Usitin Maṣbutiata
* Niania ḏ-Maṣbuta (''
Masbuta
Maṣbuta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ) is the ritual of immersion in water in the Mandaeism, Mandaean religion.
Overview
Mandaeans revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism (''masbuta'') as a Ritual purification, ritual of purificati ...
Hymnbook'')
* Šums ḏ-Mara ḏ-Rabuta
* Diwan Razii ḏ-Bhathia (
Diwan u-tafsir ḏ-razia ḏ-abahata, or "Scroll and
tafsir
Tafsir ( ar, تفسير, tafsīr ) refers to exegesis, usually of the Quran. An author of a ''tafsir'' is a ' ( ar, مُفسّر; plural: ar, مفسّرون, mufassirūn). A Quranic ''tafsir'' attempts to provide elucidation, explanation, in ...
of the secrets of the ancestors", Ms Asiat. Misc. C 13 (R)). The text lists the names Barmeil, Bihdad,
Bihram
In Mandaeism, Bihram ( myz, ࡁࡉࡄࡓࡀࡌ) or Bihram Rabba ( myz, ࡁࡉࡄࡓࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, "Bihram the Great") is an uthra (angel or guardian) who presides over the ''masbuta'', or baptism ritual. Bihram is mentioned in Mandaean texts su ...
,
Šišlam
In Mandaean scriptures, Shishlam ( myz, ࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ; often transcribed Šišlam) is a figure representing the prototypical priest or prototypical Mandaean. He is also frequently referred to in Mandaean texts as Šišlam Rabba ( myz, ࡔࡉ ...
, Šišlameil, Manhareil, Nureil,
Zihrun
Zihrun ( myz, ࡆࡉࡄࡓࡅࡍ, lit=he he Lifewarned me; sometimes also spelled Zahrun), is an uthra (angel or guardian) in the World of Light. He is the main subject of the Mandaean scroll ''Zihrun Raza Kasia''.
The uthra Zhir (meaning 'secur ...
, Sahqeil, Haiil, and Reil.
* Diwan
Dmuth Kušṭa
* Diwan Tasfir Owaljē
*
Alma Rišaia
''Alma Rišaia'' or ''Diwan Alma Rišaia'' ("The Supreme World" or "The First World") is a series of Mandaean religious texts that serve as esoteric priestly ritual commentaries. The texts make copious references to prayers in the Qolasta by quot ...
scrolls
** Diwan
Alma Rišaia Rabbā
Alma or ALMA may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Alma'' (film), a 2009 Spanish short animated film
* ''Alma'' (Oswald de Andrade novel), 1922
* ''Alma'' (Le Clézio novel), 2017
* ''Alma'' (play), a 1996 drama by Joshua Sobol about Alma ...
(''The Great Supreme World'') (DC 41)
** Diwan
Alma Rišaia Zuṭa
The '' Alma Rišaia Zuṭa'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡓࡉࡔࡀࡉࡀ ࡆࡅࡈࡀ, "The Smaller Supreme World" or "The Smaller First World") is a Mandaean religious text. The text is used for Mandaean priestly initiation ceremonies. It is written ...
(''The Smaller Supreme World'') (DC 48)
* Bšumaihun ḏ-hiia rbia (''In the Name of the Great Life'')
* Zarazti (i.e., various Zrazta
lural
* Bišrati
* various Qmahas
** Qmaha ḏ-Hibil Ziwa (''Qmaha of Hibil Ziwa'')
** Qmaha Šafta ḏ-Dahlulia (DC 20)
* various
Masiqta
The masiqta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡎࡉࡒࡕࡀ) is a mass or ritual practiced in the Mandaean religion in order to help guide the soul (''nišimta'') towards the World of Light in Mandaean cosmology. They are typically performed as funerary rites for ...
texts
* Impurity and Healing (Mandaean?)
* Burial, Postulancy and Priesthood (Mandaean?)
* Commentary on the First Baptism of the Neophytes (Mandaean?)
* Šafta ḏ-mihla (''The Scroll of Salt'') (Bodleian Library MS. DC 40)
* Šarh ḏ-Parwānājē, or Panšā (''The
Scroll of the Parwanaya
The ''Scroll of the Parwanaya'' ( myz, ࡔࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡐࡀࡓࡅࡀࡍࡀࡉࡉࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text that describes the rituals of the five-day Parwanaya festival. Excluding the colophon, the text consists of 931 lines.
Manu ...
'') (Bodleian Library MS. DC 24
): The
Parwanaya
Parwanaya ( myz, ࡐࡀࡓࡅࡀࡍࡀࡉࡉࡀ; ar, البرونايا) or Panja (from Persian 'five') is a 5-day religious festival in the Mandaean calendar. The 5 epagomenals (extra days) inserted at the end of every Šumbulta (the 8th month) ...
Festival. The manuscript is complete at the beginning and in the middle.
*
Šarh ḏ-Ṭabahata (Bodleian Library MS. DC 42)
*
Šarh ḏ-Zihrun-Raza-Kasia (Bodleian Library MS. DC 27)
* Codex Petermann I, 155;
Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin
This is a list of the state libraries (german: Landesbibliothek) for each of the Länder of the Federal Republic of Germany. These libraries hold the right for legal deposit for the publications in their respective state.
Landesbibliothek
S ...
* Leiden texts; formerly held in Amsterdam
Bodleian Library
;
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...
manuscripts (excluding the Drower Collection)
* Oxford Scroll G;
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...
. Two texts for repelling evil spirits.
* Codex Marsh. 691 (Oxford); Bodleian Library. Dates to 1529 A.D. and is the oldest Mandaean manuscript held in a European library, since
Thomas Marshall's servant had donated the book (obtained by Marshall via Dutch merchants) to the Bodleian Library in 1689 or 1690, after Marshall's death. Codex of prayers with 116 pages. Unpublished (see Lidzbarski, ''
Mandäische Liturgien'').
* Hunt. 6 (
Ginza
Ginza ( ; ja, 銀座 ) is a district of Chūō, Tokyo, located south of Yaesu and Kyōbashi, west of Tsukiji, east of Yūrakuchō and Uchisaiwaichō, and north of Shinbashi. It is a popular upscale shopping area of Tokyo, with numerous intern ...
), unpublished.
* Hunt. 71 (
JB) (see Lidzbarski, ''Johannesbuch'', Ms. D.).
* Ms. Asiat. Misc. C 12: ''Diwan ḏ-Qadaha Rba Šuma ḏ-Mara ḏ-Rabuta u-Dmut Kušṭa'' or simply ''
Dmut Kušṭa'' ("The Scroll of the Great Prayer, the Name of the Lord of Greatness and the Image of Truth"), unpublished. Copied by Yahia Ram Zihrun, son of Mhatam in 1818 in
Qurna.
* Ms. Asiat. Misc. C 13: ''Diwan Razia ḏ-Abahata'' ("The Scroll
fthe
Secrets of the Ancestors
The ''Diwan u-tafsir ḏ-razia ḏ-abahata'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡅࡕࡀࡐࡎࡉࡓ ࡖࡓࡀࡆࡉࡀ ࡖࡀࡁࡀࡄࡀࡕࡀ "Scroll and Tafsir xplanationof the Secrets of the Ancestors", or simply "The Secrets of the Ancestors") is a M ...
" (or "Parents")).
* Ms. Syr. E 15 (a small prayerbook, 151 folios).
* Ms. Syr. E 18 (prayers), unpublished.
* Ms. Syr. F 2 (R) (Mandaean liturgies) (Lidzbarski's "Roll F") (see Lidzbarski, ''
Mandäische Liturgien'').
* Ms. Syr. G 2 (R): ''Qaština'' ("The Archer") and ''Šambra'' ("The Rue").
British Library
;
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and is one of the largest libraries in the world. It is estimated to contain between 170 and 200 million items from many countries. As a legal deposit library, the British ...
manuscripts
* Add. 23,599, Add. 23,600, and Add. 23,601: three
Ginzas catalogued under the same title, ''Liber Adami Mendaice''.
** Add. 23,599 was presented to
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...
by the
rishama
A rishama (rišama; riš-ama) or rishema ( myz, ࡓࡉࡔࡀࡌࡀ, lit='head/leader of the people'; ar, ريشما; fa, ریشا اد اما) is a religious patriarch in Mandaeism. It is the highest rank out of all the Mandaean clergical ranks ...
Sheikh Yahana 10 December 1872, via Colonel Herbert, Consul General of Baghdad.
** Add. 23,600 was donated to the British Library in April 1860 by the widow of Colonel
J. E. Taylor, the British Vice-Consul at Baghdad. It has 315 folios and was copied by Adam Yuhana, the father of
Yahia Bihram.
** Add. 23,601 was copied by Adam Yuhana, son of Sam and dates to 1824.
* Add. 23,602A, ''Kholasta sive liturgica Sabiorum Libri Joannis Fragmenta Mendaice'' ("scrapbook of Mandaean manuscript fragments"). 101 pages.
* Add. 23,602B, ''Kholasta sive liturgica Sabiorum Libri Joannis Fragmenta Mendaice'': book of fragments probably obtained by Colonel
John George Taylor
John George Taylor (active 1851–1861; also known as J E Taylor and J G Taylor) was a British official of the Foreign Office, and also an important early archaeologist investigating the antiquities of the Middle East. He was one of the first ar ...
. Contains fragments of ''
Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziua'' and ''
Alma Rišaia Rba
The '' Alma Rišaia Rba'' or ''Diwan Alma Rišaia Rabbā'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡓࡉࡔࡀࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, "The Great Supreme World" or "The Great First World") is a Mandaean religious text. The text is used for Mandaean priestly initiation cer ...
''. Documented in Wright (1872).
* Or. 1236 (Oriental 1236): ''Sidra Rba Mandaitic''
* Or. 6592 (Lidzbarski's "Roll A" or "London Scroll A"), text called ''
Šarh ḏ-Traṣa ḏ-Taga ḏ-Šišlam Rabbā''.
* Or. 6593 (Lidzbarski's "Roll B" or "London Scroll B"),
apotropaic
Apotropaic magic (from Greek "to ward off") or protective magic is a type of magic intended to turn away harm or evil influences, as in deflecting misfortune or averting the evil eye. Apotropaic observances may also be practiced out of supersti ...
contents. The two rolls A and B (i.e., OR 6592 and OR 6593) are in one container. Both date from 1869, with the first one from
Muhammerah and the second one from
Qurna.
* Small lead plates;
British Museum
The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...
Bibliothèque nationale de France
;
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The Bibliothèque nationale de France (, 'National Library of France'; BnF) is the national library of France, located in Paris on two main sites known respectively as ''Richelieu'' and ''François-Mitterrand''. It is the national repository ...
Code Sabéen manuscripts
* Code Sabéen 8;
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The Bibliothèque nationale de France (, 'National Library of France'; BnF) is the national library of France, located in Paris on two main sites known respectively as ''Richelieu'' and ''François-Mitterrand''. It is the national repository ...
* Code Sabéen 15; Bibliothèque nationale de France (Mark Lidzbarski's F manuscript). This manuscript is a partial copy of ''
The Marriage of the Great Šišlam'' (''Šarh ḏ-Qabin ḏ-Šišlam Rba'').
* Code Sabéen 16 (or the Paris Diwan); Bibliothèque nationale de France
* Code Sabéen 24 and 27; Bibliothèque nationale de France. Texts about magical amulets.
* Code Sabéen 25; Bibliothèque nationale de France (Mark Lidzbarski's E manuscript). This manuscript is a copy of ''
The Book of the Zodiac'' (''Asfar Malwāšē''), and also a partial copy of ''The Marriage of the Great Šišlam'' (''Šarh ḏ-Qabin ḏ-Šišlam Rba''). However, it contains a longer appendix of more recent date.
There are four Ginza manuscripts held at the
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The Bibliothèque nationale de France (, 'National Library of France'; BnF) is the national library of France, located in Paris on two main sites known respectively as ''Richelieu'' and ''François-Mitterrand''. It is the national repository ...
in Paris, namely Paris Mss. A, B, C, and D.
Private collections
Buckley
Buckley may refer to:
Businesses and organizations
* Buckley's, a Canadian pharmaceutical corporation
* Buckley Aircraft, an American aircraft manufacturer
* Buckley Broadcasting, an American broadcasting company
* Buckley School (California), ...
has also found ''Ginza'' manuscripts that are privately held by Mandaeans in the United States (two in
San Diego
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the List of United States cities by population, eigh ...
, California; one in
Flushing, New York
Flushing is a neighborhood in the north-central portion of the New York City borough of Queens. The neighborhood is the fourth-largest central business district in New York City. Downtown Flushing is a major commercial and retail area, and the i ...
; and one in
Lake Grove, New York
Lake Grove is a village in the Town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 11,163 at the 2010 census.
History
The area of Lake Grove was settled in the early 18th century along Middle Country Road, which was ...
).
The Rbai Rafid Collection (RRC) is a private collection of Mandaean manuscripts held by the Mandaean priest in
Nijmegen
Nijmegen (;; Spanish and it, Nimega. Nijmeegs: ''Nimwèège'' ) is the largest city in the Dutch province of Gelderland and tenth largest of the Netherlands as a whole, located on the Waal river close to the German border. It is about 6 ...
, Netherlands.
Important manuscripts in the collection include different versions of the ''Ginza Rabba'' and a copy of the ''
Alma Rišaia Zuṭa
The '' Alma Rišaia Zuṭa'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡓࡉࡔࡀࡉࡀ ࡆࡅࡈࡀ, "The Smaller Supreme World" or "The Smaller First World") is a Mandaean religious text. The text is used for Mandaean priestly initiation ceremonies. It is written ...
'' known as Ms. RRC 3F.
Drower Collection
The Drower Collection (DC), held at the
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...
in
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
, is the most extensive collection of Mandaean manuscripts. The collection consists of 55 Mandaean manuscripts collected by
E. S. Drower. Drower has published some of the smaller texts in journal articles, while other larger texts have been published as monographs. Many texts remain unpublished.
Drower donated MSS. Drower 1–53 to the
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second- ...
in 1958. MS. Drower 54 (''
The Coronation of the Great Šišlam
''The Coronation of the Great Šišlam'' (or ''The Coronation of Shishlam Rabba''; myz, ࡔࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡕࡓࡀࡑࡀ ࡖࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡖࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Šarḥ ḏ-Traṣa ḏ- Taga ḏ-Šišlam Rba) is a Mandaean reli ...
'') was given to the library by Lady Drower in 1961, and MS. Drower 55 (Drower's personal notebook) was added in 1986.
[Mandaean manuscripts given by Lady Ethel May Stefana Drower](_blank)
Archives Hub. DC 1–5, 22, 30, 31, 38, 45, and 53 are codices, with the rest of the DC manuscripts being scrolls.
A list of manuscripts in the Drower Collection, based on primarily on Buckley (2010),
as well as Drower (1937)
[Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.] and other sources, is given below. The manuscripts are abbreviated DC.
*DC 1 – prayerbook (codex) containing prayers for rituals such as minor ablutions (''rahmia'' and ''lofania'').
238 pp.
*DC 2 – prayerbook (codex)
called the ''
Sidra ḏ-Nišmata'' ("Book of the Soul") that was copied by Shaikh Nejm (or Negm) for Drower in 1933. 155 pp.
Jacques de Morgan
Jean-Jacques de Morgan (3 June 1857, Huisseau-sur-Cosson, Loir-et-Cher – 14 June 1924) was a French people, French mining engineer, geologist, and archaeologist. He was the director of antiquities in Khedivate of Egypt, Egypt during the 19th ...
had also acquired a copy of the ''Book of Souls'' during his travels to Iran from 1889 to 1891.
*DC 3 – codex of prayer fragments (incomplete
Qolasta
The Qolastā, Qulasta, or Qolusta ( myz, ࡒࡅࡋࡀࡎࡕࡀ; mid, Qōlutā, script=Latn) is the canonical prayer book of the Mandaeans, a Gnostic ethnoreligious group from Iraq and Iran. The Mandaic word ''qolastā'' means "collection". The p ...
), such as prayers for minor ablutions, the ''
rahmia'' (devotions), ''qulasta'', ''
masiqta
The masiqta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡎࡉࡒࡕࡀ) is a mass or ritual practiced in the Mandaean religion in order to help guide the soul (''nišimta'') towards the World of Light in Mandaean cosmology. They are typically performed as funerary rites for ...
'', ''
zidqa brikha
In Mandaeism, the zidqa brika (or ''zidqa brikha''; myz, ࡆࡉࡃࡒࡀ ࡁࡓࡉࡊࡀ, lit=blessed oblation) is a type of ritual meal blessed by Mandaean priests.Segelberg, Eric. 1977. "''Zidqa Brika'' and the Mandæan Problem. In ''Proceeding ...
'' (blessed
oblation
Oblation, meaning "the act of offering; an instance of offering" and by extension "the thing offered" (Late Latin ''oblatio'', from ''offerre'', ''oblatum'', to offer), is a term used, particularly in ecclesiastical use, for a solemn offering, s ...
s), and myrtle and banner (''
drabša'') hymns. It was bound by Sheikh
Dakhil Aidan
Sheikh (''Rabbi'') Ganzibra Dakhil Aidan (also spelled Dakheel Edan or Dakhil Idan) ( ar, دخيل عيدان; born April 14, 1881, died June 24, 1964) was the patriarch and international head of the Mandaean religion from 1917, until his death ...
in
Amarah
Amarah ( ar, ٱلْعَمَارَة, al-ʿAmārah), also spelled Amara, is a city in south-eastern Iraq, located on a low ridge next to the Tigris River waterway south of Baghdad about 50 km (31 mi) from the border with Iran. It lies at the ...
.
*DC 4 – codex consisting of a Mandaic-English glossary compiled by Shaikh Nejm for Drower, with the help of an English-speaking Mandaean. See Hezy & Morgenstern (2012).
*DC 5 – prayerbook (codex).
Known as the "Prayers of Yahya." Copied by Hirmiz bar Anhar.
*DC 6 – Alf Trisar Šiala ("
1012 Questions", incomplete version
). Contains parts 3-7 (out of 7 parts total) of the ''1012 Questions''. One part is known as the Tafsir Pagra. 12 inch-wide scroll with 1652 lines. Copied by Adam Zihrun, son of Bihram Šitlan, of the Ša‛puria clan in
Shushtar
Shushtar ( fa, شوشتر; also Romanized as Shūshtar and Shūstar and Shooshtar) is a city and capital of Shushtar County, Khuzestan Province, Iran.
Shushtar is an ancient fortress city, approximately from Ahvaz, the centre of the province. ...
in 1557.
*DC 7 – Diwan Nahrwata ("The
Scroll of the Rivers
The ''Diwan ḏ-Nahrawata'' or ''Diwan ḏ-Nahrauata'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡖࡍࡀࡄࡓࡀࡅࡀࡕࡀ, lit=Scroll of the Rivers) is a Mandaean religious text. It is written as an illustrated scroll.
Contents
The scroll contains esoteric s ...
"). The illustrated scroll is a geographical treatise.
Kurt Rudolph
Kurt Rudolph (3 April 1929
University of Leipzig – 13 May 2020) was a German researcher of < ...
published a German translation in 1982, based on a
Baghdad
Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon and the Sassanid Persian capital of Ctesiphon ...
copy originally from
Ahvaz
Ahvaz ( fa, اهواز, Ahvâz ) is a city in the southwest of Iran and the capital of Khuzestan province. Ahvaz's population is about 1,300,000 and its built-up area with the nearby town of Sheybani is home to 1,136,989 inhabitants. It is hom ...
. About 3300 words. Copied by Ram Zihrun, son of Sam Bihram, Kupašia in
Shushtar
Shushtar ( fa, شوشتر; also Romanized as Shūshtar and Shūstar and Shooshtar) is a city and capital of Shushtar County, Khuzestan Province, Iran.
Shushtar is an ancient fortress city, approximately from Ahvaz, the centre of the province. ...
in 1259 A.H. (1843 A.D.).
*DC 8 –
Diwan Abatur
The ''Diwan Abatur'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ; "Scroll of Abatur") is a Mandaean religious text. It is a large illustrated scroll that is over 20 ft. long.
A similar illustrated Mandaean scroll is the '' Diwan Nahrawata'' ( ...
. A scroll wrapped in linen cloth that is 48 feet long and 1 foot wide. Copied by Ram Yuhana, son of Ram, Dihdaria and Sabur clans.
*DC 9 –
Haran Gawaita
The ''Haran Gawaita'' (Mandaic ࡄࡀࡓࡀࡍ ࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉࡕࡀ "Inner Harran" or "Inner Hauran") also known as the ''Scroll of Great Revelation'', is a Mandaean text which recounts the history of the Mandaeans and their arrival in Media as ...
. Copied by Ram Zihrun, son of Sam Bihram, Kupašia in Margab, Iran in 1276 A.H. (1859 A.D.).
*DC 10 – Pišra ḏ-Šambra
[Yamauchi, Edwin M. (1967). ''Mandaic Incantation Texts''. New Haven: American Oriental Society.] (love charm magic scroll). A ''qmaha'' that is an invocation to Libat (Venus). Translated and published in ''
JRAS'' (1939).
*DC 11 – ''zrazta'' (talisman). Illustrated scroll with 183 lines.
*DC 12 – Pašar Haršia ("The Exorcism of Wizards" / "The Loosing of Spells"). A ''qmaha'' that is an exorcism of witches and wizards. Purchased by Drower from Shaikh Abdallah in
Ahvaz
Ahvaz ( fa, اهواز, Ahvâz ) is a city in the southwest of Iran and the capital of Khuzestan province. Ahvaz's population is about 1,300,000 and its built-up area with the nearby town of Sheybani is home to 1,136,989 inhabitants. It is hom ...
in 1933. Dates to 1196 A.H. / 1782 C.E. Transcribed by Adam Yuhana, son of Sam, Kamisia clan at Šaka by the Karka River.
*DC 13 – ''zrazta'' of
Hibil Ziwa
In Mandaeism, Hibil ( myz, ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ) or Hibil Ziwa ( myz, ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ) is an uthra (angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Hibil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Abel.
Prayers in the Qolasta frequently c ...
. Also called "Roll C." Part of the ''Zrazta d Hibil Ziwa'' (DC 44). Purchased by Drower from Shaikh Kumait in 1933.
*DC 14 – ''zrazta'' or magical / "protective" text.
Part of the ''Zrazta d Hibil Ziwa'' (DC 44). Purchased by Drower from Shaikh Kumait. 185 lines.
*DC 15 – ''zrazta'' of the Great
Ptahil
In Mandaeism, Ptahil ( myz, ࡐࡕࡀࡄࡉࡋ) also known as Ptahil-Uthra (uthra = angel or guardian), is the Fourth Life, the third of three emanations from the First Life, Hayyi Rabbi, after Yushamin and Abatur. Ptahil-Uthra alone does not con ...
(Zrazta ḏ-Ptahil Rba).
A very long scroll purchased by Drower from Shaikh Nejm, in
Qal‛at Saleh in April 1933. Also called "Roll E."
*DC 16 – Exorcism scroll. Also called "Roll F." 101 lines. Purchased by Drower in 1933.
*DC 17 – Šalhafta ḏ-Mahra. A small 2.5-inch wide exorcism scroll also called "Roll G."
*DC 18 – Zrazta ḏ-Šuba Šibiahia ("The Talisman of the Seven Planets"). There is a section for each of the seven planets. Copied by Shaikh Faraj for Drower in Baghdad in 1935.
*DC 19 – Šalhafta ḏ-Mahra ("The Exorcism of Illness"), consisting of two texts.
*DC 20 – Šafta ḏ-Dahlulia ("The Scroll of, i.e. against Evil Spirits"). Illustrated scroll copied for Drower in Baghdad in 1935. Dates to 1250 A.H. 236 lines.
*DC 21 – Šafta ḏ-Pišra ḏ-Ainia ("Exorcism of the Evil and Diseased Eyes").
Copied by Shaikh Faraj for Drower in December 1935. 803 lines. Published in by Drower ''
JRAS'' No. 3 (Jul. 1939).
Early forerunner in Mandaic lead roll 4th-5th cent. CE Analysis by Hunter (2013).
*DC 22 –
Ginza Rba
The Ginza Rabba ( myz, ࡂࡉࡍࡆࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Ginzā Rbā, lit=Great Treasury), Ginza Rba, or Sidra Rabba ( myz, ࡎࡉࡃࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Sidrā Rbā, lit=Great Book), and formerly the Codex Nasaraeus, is the longest ...
codex. Purchased by Drower from Shaikh Nejm in 1936. Transcribed in 1931 by Ram Zihrun, son of Sam Bihram, Kupašia. Ram Zihrun copied the ''
Right Ginza
The Right Ginza is one of the two parts of the Ginza Rabba, the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The other part of the Ginza Rabba is the Left Ginza.
Summaries of each book (or tractate), based mostly on Häberl (2007 ...
'' in
Qurna, and the ''
Left Ginza
The Left Ginza is one of the two parts of the Ginza Rabba, the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The other part of the Ginza Rabba is the Right Ginza.
Summaries of each book (or tractate), based mostly on Häberl (200 ...
'' in
Basra
Basra ( ar, ٱلْبَصْرَة, al-Baṣrah) is an Iraqi city located on the Shatt al-Arab. It had an estimated population of 1.4 million in 2018. Basra is also Iraq's main port, although it does not have deep water access, which is hand ...
.
*DC 23 – Pašar Sumqa / Pašar Smaq ("The Exorcism of Fever").
Purchased by Drower from Shaikh Nejm in 1936. 777 lines.
*DC 24 – Šarḥ ḏ-Parwanaia, or Panšā ("The
Scroll of the Parwanaya
The ''Scroll of the Parwanaya'' ( myz, ࡔࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡐࡀࡓࡅࡀࡍࡀࡉࡉࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text that describes the rituals of the five-day Parwanaya festival. Excluding the colophon, the text consists of 931 lines.
Manu ...
").
German translation and commentary by Burtea (2005).
Used for rituals such as the consecration of the cult-hut, the dove (''ba'') sacrifice, ''zidqa brikha'', the myrtle ritual, etc.
*DC 25 – a ''qmaha'' scroll. Purchased by Drower from Hirmiz bar Anhar in Baghdad in 1936.
*DC 26 – two talismans (''qmahas''). Published by Drower in ''Iraq'' 5 (1938): 31–54.
Consists of two texts: ''Bit Mišqal Ainia'' and ''Riš Tus Tanina''. Copied by Shaikh Faraj for Drower in December 1936. ''Bit Mišqal Ainia'' (''Qmaha ḏ-Bit mišqal ainia''), a different version of DC 28, was published in Drower (1938).
*DC 27 –
Šarḥ ḏ-Zihrun-Raza-Kasia / Masiqta Zihrun Raza Kasia ("The
Masiqta
The masiqta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡎࡉࡒࡕࡀ) is a mass or ritual practiced in the Mandaean religion in order to help guide the soul (''nišimta'') towards the World of Light in Mandaean cosmology. They are typically performed as funerary rites for ...
of Zihrun, the Hidden Mystery").
The text covers the
masbuta
Maṣbuta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ) is the ritual of immersion in water in the Mandaeism, Mandaean religion.
Overview
Mandaeans revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism (''masbuta'') as a Ritual purification, ritual of purificati ...
(in lines 23–190) and
masiqta
The masiqta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡎࡉࡒࡕࡀ) is a mass or ritual practiced in the Mandaean religion in order to help guide the soul (''nišimta'') towards the World of Light in Mandaean cosmology. They are typically performed as funerary rites for ...
(in lines 232–523) of Zihrun Raza Kasia. German translation and commentary by Burtea (2008).
An illustrated scroll purchased by Drower from Shaikh Yahia, Qal’at Salih in May 1937. 559 lines. See Rebrik (2008).
*DC 28 – Pišra ḏ-Bit Mišqal Ainia (The Exorcism of "I Sought to Lift My Eyes"),
a ''qmaha'' text. Purchased by Drower from Shaikh Nejm in June 1937. Published in Drower (1938).
*DC 29 – Pišra ḏ-Ainia / Pašar Ainia ("Exorcism of the Evil Eye"). Purchased by Drower from Shaikhs Nejm and Yahia in November 1937.
*DC 30 – Draša ḏ-Yahia ("Teaching of Yahia" or
Mandaean Book of John
The Mandaean Book of John (Mandaic language ࡃࡓࡀࡔࡀ ࡖࡉࡀࡄࡉࡀ ') is a Mandaean holy book in Mandaic Aramaic which is believed by Mandeans to have been written by their prophet John the Baptist.
The book contains accounts of Jo ...
) (codex).
Purchased by Drower from Shaikhs Nejm and Yahia in November 1937. Dates to 1166 A.H. (c. 1753 A.D.). Copied in
Shushtar
Shushtar ( fa, شوشتر; also Romanized as Shūshtar and Shūstar and Shooshtar) is a city and capital of Shushtar County, Khuzestan Province, Iran.
Shushtar is an ancient fortress city, approximately from Ahvaz, the centre of the province. ...
by Ram Yuhana, son of Ram, Dihdaria.
*DC 31 –
Book of the Zodiac
The ''Book of the Zodiac'' ( myz, ࡎࡐࡀࡓ ࡌࡀࡋࡅࡀࡔࡉࡀ, translit=Sfar Malwašia) is a Mandaean text. It covers Mandaean astrology in great detail. The book is used to obtain a Mandaean's baptismal name (''malwasha'').
Manuscrip ...
(codex). Purchased by Drower from Shaikhs Nejm and Yahia in November 1937. Dates to 1247 A.H. (c. 1812 A.D.).
*DC 32 – The ''qmahia'' of Nirigh, Sira, and Libat ("exorcism of Mars, Moon, and Venus"). Love talisman scroll. Purchased by Drower from Shaikh Nejm in 1938.
*DC 33 – Three ''qmahia'' (exorcism scrolls): ''Šuba lbišna'', ''‛Sirna hthimna'', and ''Yawar Ziwa nišimtai''. Purchased by Drower at Litlata in April 1938. Published in ''
JRAS'' (Oct. 1937).
*DC 34 –
Scroll of Exalted Kingship
The ''Scroll of Exalted Kingship'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡌࡀࡋࡊࡅࡕࡀ ࡏࡋࡀࡉࡕࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text. Written as a large illustrated scroll, the text consists of 1,363 lines. The scroll is a commentary on ''tarmida'' ...
/ Diwan Malkuta 'laita. Illustrated scroll purchased by Drower from Shaikh Nejm in April 1939. 1353 lines.
*DC 35 – Diwan Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziwa ("
The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa
''The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa'' or ''Diwan Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziwa'' ( myz, ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ, "Scroll of the Baptism of Hibil Ziwa") is a Mandaean illustrated scroll. It describes the soteriolog ...
"). Bought in Persia through Shaikh Nejm on April 29, 1939. Dates to 1247 A.H. (c. 1750 A.D.). Colophons analyzed in Morgenstern (2019).
*DC 36 –
Haran Gawaita
The ''Haran Gawaita'' (Mandaic ࡄࡀࡓࡀࡍ ࡂࡀࡅࡀࡉࡕࡀ "Inner Harran" or "Inner Hauran") also known as the ''Scroll of Great Revelation'', is a Mandaean text which recounts the history of the Mandaeans and their arrival in Media as ...
and
1012 Questions (complete version with all 7 books).
A long scroll that is 12 inches wide and 626 inches (17 yards, 14 inches) long.
*DC 37 – Šafta ḏ-Masihfan Rba ("The Scroll of the Great Overthrower").
Copied by
Yahia Bihram, son of Adam Yuhana, in Suq eš-Šuyuk in 1861. 633 lines.
*DC 38 – Šarḥ ḏ-qabin ḏ-Šišlam Rba ("
The Marriage Ceremony of the Great Šišlam
''The Wedding of the Great Šišlam'' ( myz, ࡔࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡒࡀࡁࡉࡍ ࡖࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ ) is a Mandaeism, Mandaean religious text. As a liturgical rather than esoteric text, it contains instructions and hymns for the Mandaean ...
").
[Drower, E. S. 1950. ]
Šarḥ ḏ qabin ḏ šišlam rba (D. C. 38). Explanatory Commentary on the Marriage Ceremony of the great Šišlam
'. Rome: Ponteficio Istituto Biblico. (text transliterated and translated) A scroll that Drower had purchased from Shaikh Nejm in April 1939, along with DC 36, 37, and 39. Transcribed by Adam Yuhana.
*DC 39 – Šafta ḏ-Qaština ("The Scroll of 'I Shoot'"),
a ''qmaha'' that Drower had purchased from Shaikh Nejm in April 1939. Transcribed in 1802 by Adam Yuhana.
*DC 40 – Šafta ḏ-mihla ("The Scroll of Salt") or ''Pašra mihla'' ("The Excorcism of Salt"). An exorcism scroll that uses personified salt to exorcise illnesses and evil spirits. Purchased by Drower from Shaikh Nejm in May 1939. Salt is also frequently sprinkled around Mandaean houses to keep evil spirits away.
See Tarelko (2008).
*DC 41 –
Alma Rišaia Rba
The '' Alma Rišaia Rba'' or ''Diwan Alma Rišaia Rabbā'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡓࡉࡔࡀࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ, "The Great Supreme World" or "The Great First World") is a Mandaean religious text. The text is used for Mandaean priestly initiation cer ...
("The Great Supreme World").
English translation and commentary by Drower (1963).
[Drower, E. S. 1963. ]
A Pair of Naṣoraean Commentaries: Two Priestly Documents, the Great First World and the Lesser First World
'. Leiden: Brill. An illustrated scroll about 545 lines long, dating to 1220 A.H. Transcribed by Adam Yuhana. Bought by Drower from Shaikh Nejm from Iraq in the autumn of 1939.
*DC 42 - Šarḥ ḏ-Ṭabahata ("The Scroll of Ṭabahata"
arents
Arents is a Dutch and German patronymic surname ("son of Arent (given name), Arent").Scroll of the Ancestors
The ''Scroll of the Ancestors'' ( myz, ࡔࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡈࡀࡁࡀࡄࡀࡕࡀ ) is a Mandaean religious text that describes the rituals of the Ṭabahata (ancestors') masiqta, held during the 5-day Parwanaya festival.
Manuscripts
Copies of the ...
").
Used for
Parwanaya
Parwanaya ( myz, ࡐࡀࡓࡅࡀࡍࡀࡉࡉࡀ; ar, البرونايا) or Panja (from Persian 'five') is a 5-day religious festival in the Mandaean calendar. The 5 epagomenals (extra days) inserted at the end of every Šumbulta (the 8th month) ...
rituals. Transcribed in 1743 and has 834 lines. Similar to Prayer 170 of the ''
Qolasta
The Qolastā, Qulasta, or Qolusta ( myz, ࡒࡅࡋࡀࡎࡕࡀ; mid, Qōlutā, script=Latn) is the canonical prayer book of the Mandaeans, a Gnostic ethnoreligious group from Iraq and Iran. The Mandaic word ''qolastā'' means "collection". The p ...
'', but some names are different. Commentary by Buckley (2010).
*DC 43 – The Poor Priest's Treasury,
a scroll consisting of ''qmahas'' used for exorcism and magic. The contents are: Qmaha ḏ-ṣir Sahria; Qmaha ḏ-Shaiul; the three related texts Shuba libishna, ‛sirna bthimna, and Yawar Ziwa (see DC 33); Shalhafta ḏ-Mahria (see DC 19); Qmaha ḏ-Dahlulia (see DC 20); Qmaha ḏ-Gastata; Qmaha ḏ-Br Ingaria; Qmaha ḏ-
Yurba
In Mandaeism, Yurba ( myz, ࡉࡅࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Iurba) is an uthra (angelic or celestial being). Lidzbarski (1905, 1920) spells his name as spelled Jōrabba. Yurba, who is also called the fighter, is identified with Shamish, the sun. In Man ...
; Qmaha ḏ-Šuba; Qmaha ḏ-Qastina (of DC 39 and copy in Bodleian). Purchased by Drower from Shaikh Nejm in 1939 and dates to 1270 A.H.
*DC 44 – Zrazta ḏ-Hibil Ziwa ("The Protection of Hibil Ziwa").
The longest talisman in the Drower Collection. Purchased by Drower from Shaikh Nejm in 1939 and dates to 1209 A.H. Transcribed in
Qurna in 1794 by Sam Bihram, son of Yahia Yuhana, Dihdaria, who also transcribed DC 34. 2140 lines with 2 colophons. The text was first made known to the international scholarly community by
Jacques de Morgan
Jean-Jacques de Morgan (3 June 1857, Huisseau-sur-Cosson, Loir-et-Cher – 14 June 1924) was a French people, French mining engineer, geologist, and archaeologist. He was the director of antiquities in Khedivate of Egypt, Egypt during the 19th ...
(1905), based on a ''qmaha'' scroll that de Morgan had purchased during his travels to Iran from 1889 to 1891.
*DC 45 – Haršia Bišia
("A Mandaean Book of Black Magic"). Partially published in journal articles.
*DC 46 – Haršia Bišia
("A Mandaean Book of Black Magic"
). Copied by Shaikh Abdallah in March 1942. Different version of DC 45. Partially published in journal articles.
*DC 47 – Pišra ḏ-Šambra ("A Phylactery for Rue").
Copied by
Yahia Bihram, son of Adam Yuhana.
*DC 48 –
Alma Rišaia Zuṭa
The '' Alma Rišaia Zuṭa'' ( myz, ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡓࡉࡔࡀࡉࡀ ࡆࡅࡈࡀ, "The Smaller Supreme World" or "The Smaller First World") is a Mandaean religious text. The text is used for Mandaean priestly initiation ceremonies. It is written ...
("The Smaller Supreme World")
[Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxford: Clarendon Press.] (listed as DC 47 in Drower 1953
). English translation and commentary by Drower (1963).
A text from
Shushtar
Shushtar ( fa, شوشتر; also Romanized as Shūshtar and Shūstar and Shooshtar) is a city and capital of Shushtar County, Khuzestan Province, Iran.
Shushtar is an ancient fortress city, approximately from Ahvaz, the centre of the province. ...
. Dates to 972 A.H. or 1564 A.D.
*DC 49 – Small exorcism scroll
*DC 50 – Šarḥ ḏ-Maṣbuta Rabia ("The
Scroll of the Great Baptism
The ''Scroll of the Great Baptism'' is a Mandaean religious text. It is a ritual scroll describing the 360 baptisms (masbutas) for a polluted priest. The scroll is also called "Fifty Baptisms" and the ''Raza Rba ḏ-Zihrun'' ( myz, ࡓࡀࡆࡀ ...
").
Ritual scroll describing the 360 baptisms (
masbuta
Maṣbuta ( myz, ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ) is the ritual of immersion in water in the Mandaeism, Mandaean religion.
Overview
Mandaeans revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism (''masbuta'') as a Ritual purification, ritual of purificati ...
s) for a polluted priest. Also called "Fifty Baptisms" and the ''Raza Rba ḏ-Zihrun''. Dates from 1867 and has 962 lines. See Güterbock (2008).
*DC 51 – Pišra ḏ-Pugdama ḏ-Mia ("Exorcism: the Command of the Waters").
Exorcism invoking the personified waters of life. Dates to 1277 A.H.
*DC 52 – missing
*DC 53 –
Qolasta
The Qolastā, Qulasta, or Qolusta ( myz, ࡒࡅࡋࡀࡎࡕࡀ; mid, Qōlutā, script=Latn) is the canonical prayer book of the Mandaeans, a Gnostic ethnoreligious group from Iraq and Iran. The Mandaic word ''qolastā'' means "collection". The p ...
(Canonical Prayerbook, a complete codex). Purchased by Drower in 1954. Copied in 1802 by the ganzibra Adam Yuhana, the father of
Yahia Bihram, in
Huwaiza,
Khuzistan
Khuzestan Province (also spelled Xuzestan; fa, استان خوزستان ''Ostān-e Xūzestān'') is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the southwest of the country, bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf. Its capital is Ahvaz and it covers ...
.
*DC 54 –
The Coronation of the Great Šišlam
''The Coronation of the Great Šišlam'' (or ''The Coronation of Shishlam Rabba''; myz, ࡔࡀࡓࡇ ࡖࡕࡓࡀࡑࡀ ࡖࡕࡀࡂࡀ ࡖࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, translit=Šarḥ ḏ-Traṣa ḏ- Taga ḏ-Šišlam Rba) is a Mandaean reli ...
. English translation and commentary by Drower (1962). Or. 6592, British Museum is another manuscript of this text.
[Drower, E. S. 1962. ]
The Coronation of the Great Šišlam: Being a Description of the Rite of the Coronation of a Mandaean Priest according to the ancient Canon
'. Leiden: Brill. The scroll is from
Basra
Basra ( ar, ٱلْبَصْرَة, al-Baṣrah) is an Iraqi city located on the Shatt al-Arab. It had an estimated population of 1.4 million in 2018. Basra is also Iraq's main port, although it does not have deep water access, which is hand ...
and dates to 1008 A.H. (1599 A.D.). Copied by Sam Šitlan, son of Ram Bayan, Ša‛puria clan.
*DC 55 – Drower's personal notebook
Literature
* Svend Aage Pallis: Essay on Mandaean Bibliography 1560–1930. London, Humphrey Mildford, Oxford University Press, 1933.
*
Ethel Stefana Drower
Ethel Stefana Drower ( Stevens; full name: Ethel May Stefana Drower; 1 December 1879 – 27 January 1972) was a British people, British cultural anthropologist, orientalist and novelist who studied the Middle East and its cultures.Christa Mülle ...
: ''The Book of the Zodiac = Sfar malwašia: D. C. 31.'' London: Royal Asiatic Society, 1949.
*
Ethel Stefana Drower
Ethel Stefana Drower ( Stevens; full name: Ethel May Stefana Drower; 1 December 1879 – 27 January 1972) was a British people, British cultural anthropologist, orientalist and novelist who studied the Middle East and its cultures.Christa Mülle ...
: ''Mandaeans. Liturgy and Ritual. The Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans.'' Translated with notes. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1959.
*
Ethel Stefana Drower
Ethel Stefana Drower ( Stevens; full name: Ethel May Stefana Drower; 1 December 1879 – 27 January 1972) was a British people, British cultural anthropologist, orientalist and novelist who studied the Middle East and its cultures.Christa Mülle ...
: ''Haran Gawaita. The Haran Gawaita and the Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa: the Mandaic text reproduced, together with translation, notes and commentary.'' Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca apostolica vaticana, 1953.
*
Ethel Stefana Drower
Ethel Stefana Drower ( Stevens; full name: Ethel May Stefana Drower; 1 December 1879 – 27 January 1972) was a British people, British cultural anthropologist, orientalist and novelist who studied the Middle East and its cultures.Christa Mülle ...
: ''Alf trisar ŝuialia. The thousand and twelve questions: a Mandaean text'', edited in transliteration and translation. Berlin, Akademie-Verlag, 1960.
*
Ethel Stefana Drower
Ethel Stefana Drower ( Stevens; full name: Ethel May Stefana Drower; 1 December 1879 – 27 January 1972) was a British people, British cultural anthropologist, orientalist and novelist who studied the Middle East and its cultures.Christa Mülle ...
: ''Diwan Abatur. ... or progress through the purgatories.'' Text with translation notes and appendices.
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana
The Vatican Apostolic Library ( la, Bibliotheca Apostolica Vaticana, it, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana), more commonly known as the Vatican Library or informally as the Vat, is the library of the Holy See, located in Vatican City. Formally es ...
, Città del Vaticano 1950 (''Studi e testi. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana'' 151, ).
* M.
Nicolas Siouffi
Nicolas Siouffi (1829 (Damascus) – 1901 (unknown)) was a Syrian Christian, and later French citizen and vice-consul at Mosul, remembered for his study of Mandaeism.
Mandaeans were known locally in Arabic as ''Ṣubba'', which Siouffi ident ...
: ''Études sur la Religion/Des Soubbas ou sabéens, leurs dogmes, mœurs par''. Paris 1880, ISBN 9781147041224
*
J. de Morgan
Jean-Jacques de Morgan (3 June 1857, Huisseau-sur-Cosson, Loir-et-Cher – 14 June 1924) was a French mining engineer, geologist, and archaeologist. He was the director of antiquities in Egypt during the 19th century, and excavated in Memph ...
: ''Mission scientifique en Perse par J. De Morgan.'' Tome V. Études linguistiques. Deuxième partie. Textes mandaïtes publiés par J. de Morgan avec une notice sur les Mandéens par Cl. Huart. Paris, 1904.
*
Hermann Zotenberg Hermann Zotenberg (1836, Silesia – 1894, Paris) was an orientalist and Arabist.
He worked for the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris. His most celebrated work is his edition of the ''Chronique de Tabari'' (Paris, 1867–1871)
Works
* ...
: ''Catalogues des manuscriptes syriaques et sabéens (mandaïtes)''
*
Henri Pognon: ''Inscriptions mandaïtes des coupes de Khouabir'' Paris 1898–1899, parts 1–3.
*
Mark Lidzbarski
Mark Lidzbarski (born Abraham Mordechai Lidzbarski, Płock, Russian Empire, 7 January 1868 – Göttingen, 13 November 1928) was a Polish philologist, Semitist and translator of Mandaean texts.
Early life and education
Lidzbarski was born in Rus ...
: ''Ginzā. Der Schatz oder Das große Buch der Mandäer''. Göttingen, 1925.
* Mark Lidzbarski: ''Das Johannesbuch der Mandäer''. Gießen: Töpelmann, 1915, 1966/
* Mark Lidzbarski: ''Das mandäische Seelenbuch'', in: ZDMG 61 (1907), 689–698.
*
Richard Reitzenstein
Richard August Reitzenstein (2 April 1861, Breslau – 23 March 1931, Göttingen) was a German classical philologist and scholar of Ancient Greek religion, hermetism and Gnosticism. He is described by Kurt Rudolph as “one of the most stimulati ...
: ''Das mandäische Buch des Herrn der Größe und die Evangelienüberlieferung''. Heidelberg-Winter, 1919.
*
Julius Euting
Julius Euting (11 July 1839 – 2 January 1913) was a German Orientalist.
Life
Director of the National and University Library of Strasbourg, he completed his first studies at the Eberhard-Ludwigs-Gymnasium in Stuttgart and at the local semi ...
: ''Qolastā oder Gesänge und Lehren von der Taufe und dem Ausgang der Seele''. Stuttgart, 1867.
* B. Poertner: ''Mandäischer Diwan''. Eine photographische. Aufnahme; Straßburg, 1904.
* W. Brandt: ''Mandäische Schriften'' übersetzt und erläutert. Göttingen, 1893/
*
Matthias Norberg
Matthias Norberg (1747–1826) was a Swedish professor of Greek and Oriental languages at Lund University.
Life
He was born in 1747 in Nätra, Ångermanland in northern Sweden.
Matthias Norberg belonged to a very wealthy northern farming famil ...
: ''Codex Nasaraeus Liber Adami appellatus''. 3 vols. London, 1815–16.
*
Julius Heinrich Petermann
Julius Heinrich Petermann (born August 12, 1801 in Glauchau; died June 10, 1876 in Bad Nauheim) was a German Orientalist.[Theodor Nöldeke
Theodor Nöldeke (; born 2 March 1836 – 25 December 1930) was a German orientalist and scholar. His research interests ranged over Old Testament studies, Semitic languages and Arabic, Persian and Syriac literature. Nöldeke translated several ...]
: ''Mandäische Grammatik''. Halle, 1875
* Werner Foerster: ''A Selection of Gnostic Texts''. Oxford, 1974
*
Kurt Rudolph
Kurt Rudolph (3 April 1929
University of Leipzig – 13 May 2020) was a German researcher of < ...
: ''Theogonie, Kosmogonie und Anthropogonie in den mandäischen Schriften. Eine literarkritische und traditionsgeschichtliche Untersuchung.'' Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 1965 (''Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments'' 88, ), (Zugleich: Leipzig, Univ., Phil. Habil.-Schr., 1961).
*
Kurt Rudolph
Kurt Rudolph (3 April 1929
University of Leipzig – 13 May 2020) was a German researcher of < ...
: ''Der mandäische "Diwan der Flüsse''. Abhandlungen der Sächsischen Akadademie der Wissenschaft. Phil.-Hist. Klasse 70 Heft 1, Leipzig, 1982.
* Kurt Rudolph. ''Mandaeism'' In: David Noel Freedman (ed.), The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Doubleday 1992, ISBN 3-438-01121-2, Bd. 4, S. 500–502.
*
Rudolf Macuch: ''Und das Leben ist siegreich'' Mandäistische Forschungen 1, Harrassowitz Verlag 2008
*
Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley
Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley (born Jorunn Jacobsen in 1944 in Norway) is an American religious studies scholar and historian of religion known for her work on Mandaeism and Gnosticism. She was a former Professor of Religion at Bowdoin College. She is k ...
: ''The Colophons in the Canonical Prayerbook of the Mandaeans''.
Journal of Near Eastern Studies
The ''Journal of Near Eastern Studies'' is an academic journal published by the University of Chicago Press, covering research on the ancient and medieval civilisations of the Near East, including their archaeology, art, history, literature, ling ...
, Vol. 51, No. 1 (Jan. 1992), 33–50.
*
Willis Barnstone
Willis Barnstone (born November 13, 1927) is an American poet, religious scholar, and translator. He was born in Lewiston, Maine and lives in Oakland, California. He has translated works by Jorge Luis Borges, Antonio Machado, Rainer Maria Rilke, ...
: ''The other Bible''. Harper, 1984
* Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon: ''Mandäer''. 1905–1909
See also
* ''
Pistis Sophia
''Pistis Sophia'' ( grc-koi, Πίστις Σοφία) is a Gnostic text discovered in 1773, possibly written between the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. The existing manuscript, which some scholars place in the late 4th century, relates one Gnostic g ...
''
*
Nag Hammadi library
The Nag Hammadi library (also known as the " Chenoboskion Manuscripts" and the "Gnostic Gospels") is a collection of early Christian and Gnostic texts discovered near the Upper Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi in 1945.
Thirteen leather-bound papyr ...
*
Apocryphon
Apocryphon ("secret writing"), plural apocrypha, was a Greek term for a genre of Jewish and Early Christian writings that were meant to impart "secret teachings" or gnosis (knowledge) that could not be publicly taught. Such private instruction to ...
*
Incantation bowl
An incantation bowl, also known as a demon bowl, devil-trap bowl, or magic bowl, is a form of early protective magic found in what is now Iraq and Iran. Produced in the Middle East during late antiquity from the sixth to eighth centuries, particu ...
*
Mandaic lead rolls
Mandaic lead rolls, sometimes also known as Mandaic amulets or sheets, which are related to Palestinian and Syrian metal amulets, are a specific term for a writing medium containing incantations in the Mandaic alphabet, Mandaic script incised onto ...
References
External links
Essenes.netThe Eyes Encyclopedia of the Knowledge(Mandaean Network)
Mandäistische Forschungenbook series from
Harrassowitz Verlag
Harrassowitz Verlag is a German academic publishing house, based in Wiesbaden. It publishes about 250 scholarly books and periodicals per year on Oriental, Slavic, and Book and Library Studies. The publishing house is part of the company Otto Ha ...
Online texts
Ginzā(1925)
''Drašâ ḏ-Jōhânā''(1905)
Qolastā in ''Mandäische Liturgien''(1925)
An incantation bowl
;Mandaean Network texts
(Mandaic text from the Mandaean Network)
(Mandaic text from the Mandaean Network)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mandaean texts
Literature by ethnicity
Literature by language
Religious bibliographies