Manuscripts

How to Cite This Page

Birol, Simon and Aly Elrefaei. „Manuscripts“. Ahiqar. The Story of Ahiqar in Its Syriac and Arabic Tradition, [Date], ahikar.sub.uni-goettingen.de/website/manuscripts.html.

Overview of the Manuscripts

The Syriac witnesses

A. Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, ms. syr. 434🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Bibliothèque Nationale de France; ms. syr. 434; France Paris

Digital Source

Classical Syriac; Scribe; unknown

History

• type: codex
• origin: , unknown
• date: unknown

Bibliography

• Briquel-Chatonnet, F. 1997. Manuscrits syriaque. de la Bibliothèque nationale de France (nos 356 - 435, entrés depuis 1911), de la bibliothèque Méjanes d'Aix-en-Provence, de la bibliothèque muncipale de Lyon et de la Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire de Strasbourg, Paris: Bibliothèque nationale de France, 178-183.

Editor`s statements

• 2 pp. (fol. 186v-187r)
• East Syriac script
• This manuscript was part of the collection of Graffin.

B. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Sachau 162🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Staatsbibliothek in Berlin; Sachau 162; Germany

Digital Source

Classical Syriac; Scribe; unknown

History

• type: codex
• origin: , Tur Abdin[?]
• date: unknown [15th cent. (?); not after 1583]

Bibliography

• Sachau, E. 1899. Verzeichniss der syrischen Handschriften der Königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin, 2 vols., Berlin: A. Asher & Co., 2:514-9.
• Nau, F. 1920. Documents relatifs à Aḥikar. Textes syriaques édités et traduits. Extrait de la Revue de l’Orient chrétien T. XXI, Paris: Librairie Auguste Picard, 1–13.

Editor`s statements

• 12 pp. (fol. 86v-92r)
• West Syriac script
• The manuscript is heavily damaged at its margins and the text is incomplete.
• Metadata (with a link to the digitized images)are viewable under: http://orient-digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/receive/SBBMSBook_islamhs_00010205
• A transcription of the Ahiqar tale of this manuscript has been transcribed with a French translation in: Nau 1920, 1–13..

C. London, Brit. Libr. Add. 7200🔗

Manuscript Identifier

British Library; Add. 7200; Great Britain

Classical Syriac; Scribe; unknown

History

• type: codex
• origin: , unknown
• date: unknown

Bibliography

• Forshall, J./ Rosen, F. A. 1838. Catalogus codicum manuscriptorum orientalium qui in Museo Britannico asservantur. Pars prima: codices syriacos et carshunicos amplectens, London: British Museum, 93.
• Wright, W. 1870-2. Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum acquired since the year 1838, 3 vols., London: British Museum, 3:1207.

Editor`s statements

• 2 fols. (fol. 114rv)
• East Syriac script
• The manuscript is heavily damaged and an unknown amount of pages of it were lost.

D. Cambridge (MA), Harvard University, Houghton Library, syr. 80🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Harvard University (Cambridge/MA); Syr 80; United States of America

Classical Syriac; Scribe; Pērā bar Bābāw bar 'Amrīḥās

History

• type: codex
• origin: Iran, Oroomiah
• date: September 1898

Bibliography

• Goshen-Gottstein, M. H. 1979. Syriac Manuscripts in the Harvard College Library. A Catalogue, Harvard Semitic Studies 23, Missoula/MT: Brill, 69.

Editor`s statements

• 39 pp.
• East Syriac script
• This manuscript is copied from the now lost cod. Urmiensis 270 (= S4)
• On the margins, there were readings transmitted of the now lost cod. Urmiensis 117 (= S5)
• Note on first page: THE SYRIAC TEXT OF THE LEGEND OF AḤIḲAR FROM A MS. IN THE LIBRARY OF THE AMERICAN MISSION AT OOROMIAH (cod. Urmiensis 270 = S4) with some readings from Cod. Urmiensis 117 (=S5)
• Probably the former possessor of the manuscript and co-editor of the Syriac edition of this text, James Rendel Harris, has made remarks in the text by pencil (not transcribed for this edition).

E. Jerusalem, SMMJ 162🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Jerusalem, St. Mark's Monastery; 162; Israel

Digital Source

Classical Syriac; Scribe; Gabriel of Beth Sbīrīnā

History

• type: codex
• origin: , Mār Eugen near Nisibis
• date: 1847-1871

Bibliography

• Vööbus, A. 1980. Handschriftliche Überlieferung der Mēmrē-Dichtung des Ja‘qōb von Serūg. Die zerstreuten Mēmrē: Die Handschriften (Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium 421, Subsidia 60). Louvain: Secrétariat du CorpusSCO, 62-3.
• Vööbus, A. 1980. Handschriftliche Überlieferung der Mēmrē-Dichtung des Ja‘qōb von Serūg. Die zerstreuten Mēmrē: Die Handschriften (Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium 421, Subsidia 60). Louvain: Secrétariat du CorpusSCO, 24–7

Editor`s statements

• 3 pp. (fol. 113r-114v)
• West Syriac script

F. London, Brit. Libr. Or. 2313🔗

Manuscript Identifier

British Library; Or. 2313; Great Britain

Classical Syriac; Scribe; unknown

History

• type: codex
• origin: , unknown
• date: unknown

Bibliography

• Margoliouth, G. 1899. Descriptive List of Syriac and Karshuni MSS. in the British Museum acquired since 1873, London: British Museum, 8.
• Nöldeke, T. 1913. Untersuchungen zum Achiqar Roman. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Philologisch Historische Klasse NF , vol. 14.4, Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung.

Editor`s statements

• 18 pp. (fol. 172r-180v)
• East Syriac script
• The manuscript is heavily damaged by water and some pages were lost.

G. Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, Sachau 336🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin; Sachau 336; Germany

Digital Source

Classical Syriac; Scribe; Deacon Francis Mīri

History

• type: codex
• origin: Iraq, Tellkepe
• date: 1883

Bibliography

• Sachau, E. 1899. Verzeichniss der syrischen Handschriften der Königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin, 2 vols., Berlin: A. Asher & Co., pp. 1:437-42.
• Grünberg, S. 1917. Die weisen Sprüche des Achikar, nach der syrischen Hs Cod. Sachau Nr. 336 der Kgl. Bibliothek in Berlin, Gießen: H. Itzkowski, 1917.
• Guzik, M. H. 1936. Die Achikar-Erzählung nach der syrischen Handschrift Cod. Sachau Nr. 336 der Preussischen Staatsbibliothek in Berlin, Krakau: Renaissance.
• Ebied, R./ Al-Jeloo, N. "Some Further Letters in Syriac, Neo-Aramaic and Arabic Addressed to Eduard Sachau by Jeremiah Shāmīr." Journal of Assyrian Academic Studies 24,1 (2010): 1-45.
• Nöldeke, T. 1913. Untersuchungen zum Achiqar Roman. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Philologisch Historische Klasse NF , vol. 14.4, Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung.

Editor`s statements

• 76 fols. (fol. 17v-55r)
• East Syriac script
• The version of the Ahiqar tale of this manuscript has been transcribed in: Grünberg 1917.
• The sayings of the Ahiqar tale of this manuscript have been transcribed and translated into German in: Guzik 1937.
• The Metadata (with a link to the digitized images) are viewable under: http://orient-digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/receive/SBBMSBook_islamhs_00010373

H. St. Petersburg, Sado no. 9🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Private property; Sado Collection ms. no. 9; Russia

Classical Syriac; Scribe; John of Gawar; Owner (who made further scribal notes); Anonymous [maybe Josef (son of the copyist John of Gawar)?]

History

• type: codex
• origin: Iran, Urmia
• date: 19.02.1904

Bibliography

• Teule, H. G. B./ Kessel, G. 2012. "The Mikhail Sado Collection of Syriac Manuscripts in St. Petersburg." In: Eastern Christians and their written Heritage. Manuscripts, Scribes and Context, Eastern Christan Studies 14, edited by J. P. Monferrer-Sala, H. G. B. Teule, Sofía Torallas Tovar, Leuven/ Paris/ Walpole, MA: Peeters, 55-6.

Editor`s statements

• 30 pp.
• Part of the Private Collection of the late Mikhail Sado
• East Syriac script
• Paper of Russian provenance.
• The manuscript is slightly damaged.
• At the last page, it is said that this booklet was written in 1906 by a deacon who was the son of the deacon John of Gawar. At the frontpage, the name deacon John, son of John of Gawar, is mentioned. At the last page, Josef, who is the son of the aforementioned deacon is named as the possessors of the manuscript in 1922.

I. Bibliothèque Nationale de France et universitaire de Strasbourg, Ms. 4122🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire de Strasbourg; Manuscrit 4122; France

Digital Source

Classical Syriac; Scribe; Augustine Thomas

History

• type: codex
• origin: Iran, Khorsabad in Oroomiah (Iran)
• date: 25.12.1898

Bibliography

• Briquel-Chatonnet, F. 1997. Manuscrits syriaque. de la Bibliothèque nationale de France (nos 356 - 435, entrés depuis 1911), de la bibliothèque Méjanes d'Aix-en-Provence, de la bibliothèque muncipale de Lyon et de la Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire de Strasbourg, Paris: Bibliothèque nationale de France, 210.

Editor`s statements

• 26 pp.
• East Syriac script

J. Aleppo, SCAA 7/229🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Aleppo; Ar 7/229; Syria

Digital Source

Classical Syriac; Scribe; unknown

History

• type: codex
• origin: , unknonw
• date: unknown [18th cent. (?)]

Bibliography

Editor`s statements

• 9 pages (fol. 10r-14r)
• West Syriac script
• The manuscript has been described in: See: w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/512861
• fol. 10v is blank
• In some cases, the copyist explains Syriac words with their Arabic counterpart

K. Cambridge, Univ. Cant. Add. 2020🔗

Manuscript Identifier

University of Cambridge - Cambridge University Library; Add. 2020; Great Britain

Classical Syriac; Scribe; Priest Hormizd bar Ḥadbšabbā

History

• type: codex
• origin: Iraq, Alqosh
• date: 18.10.1697

Bibliography

• F. C. Conybeare, Harris, J. R., Lewis, A. S., Eds., The Story of Aḥiḳar from the Syriac, Arabic, Armenian, Ethiopic, Greek and Slavonic Versions, London: C. J. Clay and Sons, 1898.
• F. C. Conybeare, Harris, J. R., Lewis, A. S., Eds., The Story of Aḥiḳar from the Aramaic, Syriac, Arabic, Armenian, Ethiopic, Old Turkish, Greek and Slavonic Versions, 2nd ed., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1913.
• P. Y. Dolabani, Ed., Aḥīqar sāprā w-ḥakīmā, Mardin: Maṭbaʻtā d-Mardīn, 1962.
• Nöldeke, T. 1913. Untersuchungen zum Achiqar Roman. Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen, Philologisch Historische Klasse NF , vol. 14.4, Berlin: Weidmannsche Buchhandlung.
• Wright, W. 1901. A catalogue of the Syriac manuscripts preserved in the library of the University of Cambridge, 2 vols., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2:583-9.

Editor`s statements

• 24 fols. (fol. 66v-78r)
• East Syriac script
• Copied for the Church Mār Mīlēs at Tell-haš
• The creation of this manuscript has been sponsored by Priest Yaldā and Zīzē of Alqosh

L. Birmingham, Mingana Syriac 433🔗

Manuscript Identifier

University of Birmingham; 433; Great Britain

Classical Syriac; Scribe; unknown

History

• type: codex
• origin: , unknown
• date: ca. 1820

Bibliography

• Mingana, A. 1933-9. Catalogue of the Mingana Collection of Manuscripts now in the Possession of the Trustees of the Woodbrooke Settlement, 3. vols., Cambridge: W. Heffer and Sons, 1:767-8.
• Brock, S. "Notes on some Texts in the Mingana Collection", Journal of Semitic Studies 14,2 (1969): 205-226.

Editor`s statements

• 48 pp. (fol. 1b-25a)
• East Syriac script

M. Ms. Graffin🔗

Manuscript Identifier

unknown; unknown; France[?]

Scribe; Abbot Elias; Sponsor; Addai Scher [Chaldean Bishop of Seert]

History

• type: codex
• origin: , Monastery of Rabban Hormizd (near Mosul)
• date: 13.4.1910

Bibliography

• Nau, F. "Documents relatifs à Aḥikar. Textes syriaques édités et traduits", Revue de l’Orient chrétien 21 (1918/1919): 274–307 and 356-400.
• Nau, F. 1920. Documents relatifs à Aḥikar. Textes syriaques édités et traduits. Extrait de la Revue de l’Orient chrétien T. XXI, Paris: Librairie Auguste Picard, 14–71.

Editor`s statements

• The manuscript is lost.
• According to Nau, it consists of 56 pages.
• The manuscript was written on Bishop Addai Scher's behalf by his nephew Elias [Abbot of the monastery of Rabban Hormizd (near Mosul)].
• The transcription by Nau has been published in West Syriac script, though the manuscript was probably written in East Syriac script.

N. Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, ms. syr. 422 (= Ms. Pognon)🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Bibliothèque Nationale de France; syr. 422; France

Classical Syriac; Scribe; unknown

History

• type: codex
• origin: , unknown
• date: unknown [19th cent. (?)]

Bibliography

• Briquel-Chatonnet, F. 1997. Manuscrits syriaque. de la Bibliothèque nationale de France (nos 356 - 435, entrés depuis 1911), de la bibliothèque Méjanes d'Aix-en-Provence, de la bibliothèque muncipale de Lyon et de la Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire de Strasbourg, Paris: Bibliothèque nationale de France, 159-62.
• Nau, F. "Documents relatifs à Aḥikar. Textes syriaques édités et traduits", Revue de l’Orient chrétien 21 (1918/1919): 274–307 and 356–400.
• Nau, F. "Documents relatifs à Aḥikar. Textes syriaques édités et traduits", Revue de l’Orient chrétien 21 (1918/1919): 274–307 and 356-400.
• Nau, F. 1920. Documents relatifs à Aḥikar. Textes syriaques édités et traduits. Extrait de la Revue de l’Orient chrétien T. XXI, Paris: Librairie Auguste Picard, 72–92.

Editor`s statements

• 80 fols. (fol. 96r-136r)
• East Syriac script
• This manuscript has been possessed by Henri Pognon and was later part of the collection of F. Graffin.
• Fols. 133r and 133v are blank

O. Mosul, DFM 430🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Dominican Friars of Mosul; 430; Iraq

Digital Source

Classical Syriac

History

• type: codex
• origin: Iraq, Mosul
• date: 1850-1933

Bibliography

Editor`s statements

• 54 pp.
• East Syriac script
• The manuscript is described in: https://w3id.org/vhmml/readingRoom/view/134604
• Fol. 25rv is placed on a wrong place. This page was originally set between fol. 9v and 10r.
• End is missing

P. Alqosh, Notre-Dame des Semences, mss. syr. 612 (= Codex 207)🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Bibliothèque Syro-Chaldéenne du couvent de Notre-Dame des Semences près d’Alqoš (Iraq); syr. 612; Iraq

Classical Syriac; Scribe; unknown

History

• type: codex
• origin: , unknown
• date: 1883-1929

Bibliography

• Vosté, J.-M. 1929. Catalogue de la Bibliothèque syro-chaldéenne du Couvent de Notre-Dame des Semences près d'Alqosh (Iraq), Rome and Paris: Bureaux of the «angelicum», P. Geuthner, p. 77.

Editor`s statements

• 71 pp. (fol. 1r-36r)
• East Syriac script

Q. Alqosh, Notre-Dame des Semences, mss. syr. 611 (= Codex 205)🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Bibliothèque Syro-Chaldéenne du couvent de Notre-Dame des Semences près d’Alqoš (Iraq); syr. 611; Iraq

Classical Syriac; Scribe; Stefan Raïs

History

• type: codex
• origin: , unknown
• date: 1883

Bibliography

• Vosté, J.-M. 1929. Catalogue de la Bibliothèque syro-chaldéenne du Couvent de Notre-Dame des Semences près d'Alqosh (Iraq), Rome and Paris: Bureaux of the «angelicum», P. Geuthner, pp. 76-7.

Editor`s statements

• 44 pp. (fol. 1r-22v)
• East Syriac script
• First remark (fol. 22a): ܫܿܠܡܬ ܒܐܝܼܕ̈ܝ ܐܣܛܝܦܿܢ ܪܝܣ ܟܢܫܐ ܡܼܢ ܬܪ̈ܬܝܢ ܐܢܨܚ̈ܬܼܐ ܥܬܝܼܩ̈ܬܐ܆ ܏ܗ܆ ܫܢܬ ܐܦܦܓ ܒܕܝܪܐ ܆ ܠܡܪܢ ܒܝܼܪܚ ܢܝܼܣܢ ܂܂܂܂܂܂܂܂܂܂ ܩܫܝܫܐ ܐܪܡܝܐ This [manuscript] has been finished by Stefan Raïs; it has been collected from two older versions; In April 1883 AD in the monastery [gap] ... Priest Jeremiah
• Second remark (fol. 22b=: ܐܬܢܣܒܼܬ ܡܼܢ ܬܪܝܢ ܢܘܣܟ̈ܐ܆ ܏ܗ܆ ܐܢܨ̈ܚܬܐ ܚܼܕܐ ܟܼܝܪ̈ܬ ܐܝܼܕ̈ܝ ܩܫܝܼܫܵܐ ܗܘܡܘ ܘܐܚܪܬܐ ܘܼܝܹܢ ܡܼܢ ܩܪܝܼܬܐ ܟܪܡܠܝܫ ܐܪܒܲܐܝܼܬܼ ܐܝܼܬܹܝܗܿ ܗ̄ܘܼܵܬܼ ܒܪܡ ܗܿܝ ܕܩܫܝܼܫܐ ܗܘܡܘ ܐܒܼܕܬ ܠܗܿ ܗܫܵܐ܆ ܘܐܚܪܬܐ ܦܝܼܝܫܐ ܒܟܪܡܠܸܝܫ ܩܪܝܼܬܼܵܐ ܘܩܪܝܬܐ ܒܟܪܡܠܝܫ ܐܒܕܬ ܠܗܿ [This copy] has been based on two manuscripts: one of them was the hand writing of Priest Hōmō and the other one was from the village of Karamlīš -- it was [written] in Arabic. However, I have lost yet that one of Priest Hōmō, but the other one remained in Karamlīš; I have lost it in Karamlīš.

The Arabic and Karshuni witnesses

A. Cod. Arab. 236. Transcript🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Royal Danish Library; Cod. Arab. 236; Denemark

History

• type: codex
• origin: Syria, Aleppo
• date: 1670

Bibliography

• Codices Orientales Bibliothecae Regiae Havniensis jussu et auspiciis Regis Daniae Augustissimi Christiani VIII. enumerati et descripti: Ps. 2. Codices Hebraici et Arabici Bibliothecae Regiae Hafniensis jussu et auspiciis regiis enumerati et descripti (Hafniae: Schultz, 1851), pp. 139- 140
• Irmeli Perho, Catalogue of Arabic manuscripts, codices arabici et codices arabici additamenta, vol. 2, 3 vol (Copenhagen: NIAS Press, 2007), p. 913.

Editor`s statements

• scribe: [al-Khuri] Shahedeh (fol.41b)
• Naskh
• /ḍ/ is vocalized /ẓ/ such as: مظى instead of مضى
• /ḍ/ is vocalized /ṭ/ such as: تقطي instead of تقضي
• /ḏ/ is not punctuated
• there are numerous orthographic mistakes, most of them are to be put on account of the copyist

B. Cod. Arabe. 3637.Transcript🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Bibliothèque Nationale de France; Paris. Arabe 3637; France

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 1772

Bibliography

• Notices de manuscrits arabes rédigées par Georges Vajda. Notices des manuscrits Arabe 3630 à 4155, p. 8
• W. M. G. de Slane, Catalogue Des Manuscrits Arabes (Bibliothèque Nationale. Département des Manuscrits. Paris: Impr. Nationale, 1883-1895), p. 621.

Editor`s statements

• Translated to French by Caussin de Perceval, Les mille et une nuits continuès, VIII, 1806. Transcribed and compared with Paris maunscipt 3656 and the Arabic text fo Mrs. Lewis by L. Leroy in: "Histoire d'Haikar le sage d'après les manuscrits arabes 3637 et 3656 de Paris (1)", ROC 13 (1908): 367-388; ROC 14 (1909): 50- 70, 143-154.
• English translation by Burton in: SUPPLEMENTAL NIGHTS To The Book Of The Thousand And One Nights, vol.6.
• The dots are often omitted: "يعتدر" means "heavy rain", instead of "يعتذر" which means "find excuse"

C. Borg. Arab. 201🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Vatican Library; Borg. ar. 201; Vatican

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 19th century

Bibliography

• Graf, GCAL I, p. 218; Delio V. Proverbio, Turcica Vaticana. Città del Vaticano (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 2010), p. 199.
• E. Tisserant, Inventaire sommaire des manuscrits arabes du fonds Borgia à la Bibliothèque Vaticane, in Miscellanea Francesco Ehrle. Scritti di storia e paleografia pubblicati sotto gli auspici di S. S. Pio XI in occasione dell'ottantesimo natalizio dell'E.mo cardinale Francesco Ehrle, V: Biblioteca ed Archivio Vaticano. Biblioteche diverse, Roma 1924, pp. 1-34 (20).

Editor`s statements

• the last two sections of the story including Ahikar return to Assyria and his parables are missing from the MS.
• Nadan is written Nathan
• orthographic mistakes like: كلمن instead of كل من
• orthographic irregularities: فاحذرتك instead of فأحضرتك

D. Vat. Arab. 2054🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Vatican Library; Vat. ar. 2054; Vatican

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 02.07.1814

Bibliography

• Delio V. Proverbio, Turcica Vaticana. Città del Vaticano (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 2010), p. 199.

Editor`s statements

• scribe: Anṭūn Ḥamwi
• This fragment has only a small part of the narrative and the rest of the story is missing

E. Vat. Arab. 74 ff. 119r-123v🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Vatican Library; Vat. ar. 74 (Scandar 40); Vatican

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 1455

Bibliography

• Graf, GCAL 1, p. 218; Delio V. Proverbio, Turcica Vaticana. Città del Vaticano (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 2010), p. 199.

Editor`s statements

• singular translation from the Syriac by Musa ibn Aṭšah
• the MS has only the sayings. Narrative and parables are missing
• Ahikar is transcribed Abīḥ-qār

F. Sbath 25 ff. 1v-46r🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Vatican Library; Sbath 25; Vatican

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 12th century

Bibliography

• Graf, GCAL I, 219; Gregorius Paulos Bahnam, Aḥīqār al-Ḥakīm (Syriac Academy Publications: Bagdad, 1976).
• Paul Sbath, Bibliothèque de Manuscrits Paul Sbath, Prêtre Syrien d'Alep vol. 1, 3 vol (Cairo, 1928), pp. 18-19.
• Delio V. Proverbio, Turcica Vaticana. Città del Vaticano (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 2010), p. 199.

Editor`s statements

• the oldest known manuscript up to date for the Arabic version of Ahikar
• scribe: Ibrāhīm bn sʿīd bn ṣālḥ bn msʿūd bn Ibrāhīm bn msʿūd
• some words have been faded and there is a small gap in the sayings
• comparing with other MSS, personal names have been differently transcribed: (Ḥāqār, šfnā, Yābūsm) instaed of (Haiqār, Ishfaghni, Abū Samik)

G. Or. 1292. The Arabic Text in Leiden.🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Leiden University Library; Or. 1292b; Netherlands

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: unknown

Bibliography

• Jan Just Witkam, Inventory of the Oriental manuscripts in Leiden University Library, vol. 2, 28 vol (Leiden, 2007), p. 102.
• P. Voorhoeve, Handlist of Arabic manuscripts in the Library of the University of Leiden and other collections in the Netherlands (Leiden University Press, 1980), p. 422.

Editor`s statements

• same version of this MS is found in John Rylands Library, Manchester No.650

H. Mingana Arabic Christian 93 (84)🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham; Mingana ar. christ. 93[84]; Great Britain

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 1780

Bibliography

• A. Mingana, Catalogue of the Mingana Collection of Manuscripts, vol. 2, 3 vol (Cambridge: Heffer, 1933), pp. 130-132; Graf, GCAL I, p. 219.

Editor`s statements

• Egyptian Naskhi
• Sennacherib is written Sankharib
• orthographic mistakes: كرامتن instead of كرامة
• /ẓ/is written /ḍ/: غلض instaed of غلظ

I. Cod. Sach. 339. Transcrip🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Staatsbibliothek in Berlin; Sachau 290 (=Sachau 339); Germany

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: , Tur Abdin
• date: 19th century

Bibliography

• E. Sachau, Verzeichniss der syrischen Handschriften der Königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin (Berlin: Behrend, 1899), p. 815.
• M. Lidzbarski, "Zum weisen Achikar" ZDMG 48/4 (1894): 671- 675
• M. Lidzbarski, Die neu-aramäischen Handschriften der Königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin I (Weimar: Felber, 1896), 1-77: Arabic and Neo-Syriac. Ibid, II, 1-41, German translation of the Neo-Syriac text.

Editor`s statements

• the Arabic text is written with a fine naskh calligraphy
• the Arabic text is translated on the opposite page of the manuscript to Neo-Syriac resp. Turoyo (dialect of Tur 'Abdin)".
• the Arabic Text is transcribed in: Die neu-aramäischen Handschriften der Königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin, Bd. 1. Weimar: Felber, 1896, p. 1- 77; German translation by Lidzbarski in: Die neu-aramäischen Handschriften der Königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin, Bd. 1. Weimar: Felber, 1896, p. 1- 41.
• the first group of sayings are missing from this manuscript
• It is an Arabic abridgment of the Syriac version(Nau, pp. 86–87)
• the Arabic text offers a much more original recension than that published by Salhani in the Contes arabes (Lidzbarski, Zum weisen Achikar, 671)
• Hamza /ء/ is written /y/ as in: عظمايه instead of عظمائه

J. Vat. Syriac. 424 ff. 304r-327v🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Vatican Library; Vat. sir. 424; Vatican

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 1417

Bibliography

• S. E. Assemani and A. Assemani, "Codices chaldaici sive syriaci Vaticani Assemaniani", in Scriptorum veterum nova collectio e Vaticanis codicibus edita, vol. 5. 2 (Rome: Vatican apostolic publisher, 1831), pp. 67-68.
• Delio V. Proverbio, Turcica Vaticana. Città del Vaticano (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 2010), p. 199.

Editor`s statements

K. Brit_Libr_Or_9321🔗

Manuscript Identifier

British Library; Brit. Libr. Or. 9321; Great Britain

History

• type: codex
• origin: Iraq, Alqosh
• date: 1896

Bibliography

• Handlist of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since 1899, p. 2.
• Braida, Emanuela, ''The Romance of Aḥiqar the Wise in the Neo-Aramaic MS London Sachau 9321'', Journal of the Canadian Society for Syriac Studies 14 (2014): 50-78.
• Braida, Emanuela, ''The Romance of Aḥiqar the Wise in the Neo-Aramaic MS London Sachau 9321: Part II'', Journal of the Canadian Society for Syriac Studies 15 (2015): 41-50.
• Braida, Emanuela, "Neo-Aramaic Garshuni: Observations Based on Manuscripts." Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies 17.1 (2014): 17–31.
• Talia, Shawqi N. "The story of Ahiqar in Syriac and neo-Aramaic: a textual, linguistic and historical comparison", Parole de l’Orient 40 (2015), 429-445.
• Mengozzi, A, "The Neo-Aramaic manuscripts of the British Library: notes on the study of the durikyata as a Neo-Syriac genre," Le Muséon 112 (1999), 459-494.

Editor`s statements

• bilingual manuscript contains a Sureth version of the Story of Ahiqar together with its translation into Arabic. This text was copied in Baghdad by the priest Gibrayl Quryaquza on Sachau’s request at the end of the 19th century (see Braida, ""Neo-Aramaic Garshuni", 26)
• the copist writes ā with a sequence of madda and hamza: ـــــــــــــَآء instead of calssical ـــــــاء e.g., الحكمآء, الغنآء
• king of Persian is called king of Persia and Elam
• this MS uses speical words not found in other Arabic MSS such as (أخمص قدمي، قلية، مقالي،تتدمدم، جذوة، بابوج،قرطب)

L. Paris. ar. 3656🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Bibliothèque Nationale de France; Paris Arabe 3656; France

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 1689

Bibliography

• Notices de manuscrits arabes rédigées par Georges Vajda. Notices des manuscrits Arabe 3630 à 4155, p. 30.
• W. M. G. de Slane, Catalogue Des Manuscrits Arabes (Bibliothèque Nationale. Département des Manuscrits. Paris : Impr. Nationale, 1883-1895), p. 624.
• L. Leroy, "Histoire d'Haikar le sage d'après les manuscrits arabes 3637 et 3656 de Paris," ROC 13 (1908): 367-388; idem, ROC 14 (1909): 50- 70. 143-154.

Editor`s statements

• the masnuscript has a gap of several leaves

M. Cambrigde Add 3497🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Cambridge University Library ; Cambrigde Add. 3497; Great Britian

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: Bequest of F. Chance (1825-1897) in no date

Bibliography

• E. G. Browne, A hand-list of the Muhammadan manuscripts, including all those written in the Arabic character, preserved in the Library of the University of Cambridge (Cambridge, 1900), p. 335; Graf, GCAL I, p. 219.

Editor`s statements

• the MSS is written in clear naskh

N. DFM 00614🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Dominican Friars of Mosul; DFM 00614; Iraq

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: Iraq, Mosul
• date: 1885

Bibliography

Editor`s statements

• scribe:ʿbd al-krīm (fol.103v)
• the copist writes ā with a sequence of madda as in نسآء
• the copist transcribes some lines in Karshuni
• diacritical points and signs are widely used

O. GCAA 00486🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Archdiocese of Aleppo (Melchite); GCAA 00486; Syria

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: Syria, Aleppo
• date: 18th century

Bibliography

• Francisco del Río Sánchez et al., Catalogue des manuscrits conservés dans la bibliothèque de l’archevêché grec-catholique d’Alep (Syrie) (2003)

Editor`s statements

• Naskh
• gaps are found in the sayings,the second narrative section, and in the parables
• /ḏ/ is not punctuated
• /ẓ/ is vocalized /ḍ/ as in عضيم instead of عظيم

P. Salhani🔗

Manuscript Identifier

History

• type:
• origin: ,
• date:

Bibliography

• A. Salihani, Ed., Contes arabes: édités d'après un ms. de l'Université S. Joseph. Beirut: Impr. catholique, 1890, p. 1-20.
• M. Lidzbarski, Die neu-aramäischen Handschriften der Königlichen Bibliothek zu Berlin, vol. 2, 2 vol. Weimar: Emil Felber, 1896. Pp. 3-41.
• Anis Fariha, Ahikar al-Hakim- from the ancient Near East (in Arabic) (Beirut, 1962).

Editor`s statements

• the text has lost much of its original form of narrative, the narration in the first person, in the names, and in the absence of whole pieces (Lidzbarski, Die neu-aramäischen Handschriften 2, p. 4)
• Nadan is vocalized Nathan
• The dots are sometimes omitted: داع

Q. Brit.Mus. cod. Add. 7209 Transcrip.karsh🔗

Manuscript Identifier

British Library; Brit. Mus. Add. 7209; Great Britain

History

• type: codex
• origin: unknown, unknown
• date: 1560

Bibliography

• Van Dyke Arbic Bible, 1865
• Van Dyke Arbic Bible, 1865
• J. Forshall and Rosen, F. A., Catalogus codicum manuscriptorum orientalium qui in Museo Britannico asservantur. Pars prima: codices syriacos et carshunicos amplectens. London: British Museum, 1838, p. 111 (No.14).
• W. Wright, Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum acquired since the year 1838, vol. 3, 3 vol. London: British Library, 1872, p. 1238.

Editor`s statements

• This manuscript was used in the edition of Conybeare (The story of Ahikar, 1898)to supplement in some places
• The English translation provided here shares many expressions with the text of Mrs. Lewis in Conybear's edition.
• there are numerous orthographic mistakes scuh as:خدمتوك، قتلتوك، تركتوك، حظور، واوقار، وحودنا

R. Mingana Syriac 133🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham; Mingana syr. 133; Great Britain

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 1809

Bibliography

• A. Mingana, Catalogue of the Mingana Collection of Manuscripts now in the Possession of the Trustees of the Woodbrooke Settlement [1], vol. 1, 3 vol. Cambridge: W. Heffer and Sons, 1933, pp. 308-309.

Editor`s statements

• scribe:Joseph, son of Isaac an-Najjar, son of 'Abd al-Karim
• script: West Syrian

S. Mingana Syriac 258.Transcrip. karsh🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham; Mingana Syr. 258; Great Britain

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 1570

Bibliography

• A. Mingana, Catalogue of the Mingana Collection of Manuscripts now in the Possession of the Trustees of the Woodbrooke Settlement [1], vol. 1, 3 vol. Cambridge: W. Heffer and Sons, 1933 ,pp, 514-515.

Editor`s statements

• West Syrian
• the parables are incomplete
• orthographic mistakes: خدمتوك instead of خدمتك
• The negligent hand of the copyist has caused many orthographic errors: كنتوا، وصلتوا، اخطيتوا،فعلتوا
• the name which Ahikar has given to himself in Egypt is Abīšām

T. MS orient 2652.Transcrip. karsh🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Forschungsbibliothek Gotha; Ms. orient. A 2652; Germany

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: unknown

Bibliography

• W. Pertsch, Die orientalischen Handschriften der Herzoglichen Bibliothek zu Gotha, vol. 4 (Gotha, 1883 ), p, 405 (No.5).
• C. H. Cornill, Das Buch der weisen Philisophen (Leipzig, 1875), p. 32.

Editor`s statements

• The codex is apparently transcribed from a purely Arabic, but strongly mixed with Syriac (Cornill, 40)
• Cornill translated 15 sayings from this ocdex into his Ethiopian edition of Ahikar

U. Vat. Syriac. 199, ff.261v-280v🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Vatican Library; Vat. sir. 199; Vatican

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: Syria, An Nabk
• date: 1545

Bibliography

• J. S. Assemani and Assemani, S. E., Bibliothecae Apostolicae Vaticanae codicum manuscriptorum catalogus, in tres partes distributus, in quarum prima Orientales, in altera Graeci, in tertia Latini, Italici aliorumque Europaeorum idiomatum codices, vol. 3, 3 vol. Paris: Maisonneuve, 1759, p. 447; Graf, GCAL I, p. 218.
• Delio V. Proverbio, Turcica Vaticana. Città del Vaticano (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 2010), p. 199.

Editor`s statements

• scribe: Bešārh ibn ʿbd al-ʿzīz (fol. 417)

V. Vat. sir. 159. ff.293rb-299va. Transcrip.Karsh🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Vatican Library; Vat. sir. 159; Vatican

Digital Source

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 1625

Bibliography

• J. S. Assemani and Assemani, S. E., Bibliothecae Apostolicae Vaticanae codicum manuscriptorum catalogus, in tres partes distributus, in quarum prima Orientales, in altera Graeci, in tertia Latini, Italici aliorumque Europaeorum idiomatum codices, vol. 3, 3 vol. Paris: Maisonneuve, 1759, p. 315.
• Delio V. Proverbio, Turcica Vaticana. Città del Vaticano (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 2010), p. 199.
• E. Kuhn, “Zum weisen Akyrios”, Byzantinische Zeitschrift , vol. 1, pp. 127-130, 1892

Editor`s statements

• Scribe: Ephraemi Gargarenfis
• the careless hand of scribe has caused many orthographic irregularities and mistakes: قلتوا، اخذتوا should be قلتُ، أخذتُ
• Ahiqar is written with the Arabic definite article-al- الحيقار al-ḥīqār (resemlbes to the archaic form mentioned by ʿdī bn zīd (6th century)
• Abikam is written Abīšām

W. Cod. Add. 2886. Transcript. karsh🔗

Manuscript Identifier

University Library, Cambridge University; Camb. Add. 2886; Great Britain

Digital Source

Jacobite Karshuni

History

• type: codex
• origin: Syria, An Nabk
• date: 1783

Bibliography

• W. Wright, A Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts Preserved in the Library of the University of Cambridge, vol. 2, 2 vol. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1901, pp. 732-739.

Editor`s statements

• Scribe: rabban 'Abdallāh of ṣadad, son of the deacon Nāmūsī, son of Tilījān, of the family of Abū Thābit (f. 200v)
• the text is not vocalized and is characterized by an uncertain syntax, morphology and spelling (especially as regards the notation of the hamzah)
• Transliterated and translated to English in: F. C. Conybeare, J. Rendel Harris, and Agnes Smith Lewis (eds.,) The Story of Aḥikar: from the Aramaic, Syriac, Arabic, Armenian, Ethiopic, Old Turkish, Greek and Slavonic versions (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1913), 1-33 (arab. Pag.), Eng. trans. 130-161, APOT II, 729a-776b
• the editor (Mrs. Lewis) added to the text of this manuscript ten passages, three of which are borrowed from the edition of Salhani (Contes arabes, 1890), p. 3, 4, 8, and seven from Brit. Mus. 7209, p. 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28.

X. Mingana Syriac 237🔗

Manuscript Identifier

Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham; Mingana syr. 237; Great Britain

History

• type: codex
• origin: ,
• date: 1750

Bibliography

• Mingana, Alphonse, Catalogue of the Mingana Collection of Manuscripts now in the Possession of the Trustees of the Woodbrooke Settlement, vol. 1, Cambridge 1933, 483-484; Graf, GCAL I, p. 219.
• Brock, Sebastian P., "A Piece of Wisdom Literature in Syriac", Journal of Semitic Studies 13:2 (1968): 212-217

Editor`s statements

• West Syrian
• This fragment is a conversation between Pharaoh and Ahikar