Including translations of Pseudo-Nilus' "Narrations", Ammonius' "Report on the Slaughter of the Monks of Sinai and Rhaithou", and Anastasius of Sinai's "Tales of the Sinai Fathers".
The Sinai peninsula emerged in late antiquity as a distinct region of the Christian holy land, identified from the fourth century onward as the Old Testament place where the Hebrews had wandered, Moses received the Law, and "God's Majesty descended". At the same time it was part of the late Roman province of Third Palestine and located deep in the heart of "Saracen Country". The historical essay and accompanying texts in this book enable readers to explore the particular ideals and dangers associated with this remote political and religious frontier.
At its core are three Greek narratives previously unavailable in English: Pseudo-Nilus' "Narrations", Ammonius' "Report Concerning the Slaughter of the Monks of Sinai and Rhaithou", and Anastasius' "Tales of the Sinai Fathers". Long known to historians, these narratives, all written c. 400-650, have long been used to reconstruct pilgrimage, monasticism, and Roman-Saracen relations in this area. However, each poses challenging questions of date, origin, and interpretation. In particular, Pseudo-Nilus' "Narrations" represents an innovative blend of Greco-Roman (Achilles Tatius), Jewish (Fourth Maccabees) and Christian (Gregory Nazianzene) models, standing out as the last great example of ancient romance. Detailed introductions and commentaries highlight unusual features and shared problems of each text.
Readers will also find a comprehensive collection of travel accounts and other documents written on or about the late antique Sinai. Intended for specialists and students alike, this book makes an original contribution to the understanding of these texts and their place in the late antique development of the Sinai.
Author(s): Daniel F. Caner, Sebastian Brock, Richard M. Price, Kevin van Bladel (transl.)
Series: Translated Texts for Historians, 53
Publisher: Liverpool University Press
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: XII+346
Preface and Acknowledgements vii
Abbreviations x
Introduction
1. The Formation and History of Third Palestine 4
2. The Christian Development of the Sinai Peninsula 17
3. Assessing the Saracen Menace on the Sinai Frontier 39
4. The Sinai Martyr Tradition 51
5. Death and the Mountain 63
Major Sinai Narratives: Introductions, Translations, and Commentaries
1. Pseudo-Nilus, "Narrations (Narrationes), Concerning the Slaughter of the Monks of Sinai and the Captivity of Theodulus" 73
2. A Ninth-Century Excerpt from Ps.-Nilus, "Narrations", trans. Sebastian Brock 136
3. Nilus of Ancyra, "Letter to Heliodorus" ("Ep." IV.62) 138
4. Ammonius, "Report (Relatio), Concerning the Slaughter of the Monks of Sinai and Rhaithou" 141
5. Anastasius of Sinai, Collection I: "Tales of the Sinai Fathers" ("Diēgēmata paterika"); selections from Collection II: "Edifying Tales" ("Diēgēmata stēriktika") 172
Appendix I: Sinai Pilgrimage Accounts and Travel Documents
6. Ephraim the Syrian, Hymns 19 and 20, trans. Kevin van Bladel 203
7. Egeria, "Travelogue" ("Itinerarium") I–IX, with abridgements by Peter the Deacon 211
8. Theodoret of Cyrrhus, "Religious History" ("Historia religiosa") II.13, VI.7–13 232
9. Emperor Marcian, "Letter to Bishop Macarius and the Monks of Sinai", trans. Richard M. Price 237
10. Jacob of Serug, "Letter" VII ("To the Monks of Sinai"), trans. Kevin van Bladel 242
11, Cosmas Indicopleustes, "Christian Topography" ("Topographica christiana") V, selections 246
12. Piacenza Pilgrim, "Travelogue" ("Itinerarium") 33–42 252
13. Gregory the Great, "Letters" IV.44 ("To Rusticiana") and XI.2 ("To John, Abbot of Mount Sina") 263
14. Nessana Papyri, selections: 266
a. 'P.Colt' 89 ("Account of a Trading Company", c. 6th–7th century)
b. 'P.Colt' 72 ("Order from the Governor for a Guide", c. March 684)
c. 'P.Colt' 73 ("Order from the Governor for a Guide", c. December 683)
Appendix II: Sinai Defences
15. Procopius of Caesarea, "On Buildings" ("De Aedificiis") V.viii.1–9 273
16. Eutychius (Sa’īd ibn Batrīq) of Alexandria, "Annals" ("Annales Ecclesiastici"), selections, trans. Kevin van Bladel 277
17. Theophanes the Confessor, "Chronographia" AM 6123, 6124 (630/1, 631/2 CE) 283
Maps and Plans 287
Bibliography 295
Index 322
