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Chris Salem

A Journey Through the History of Aramaic and Syriac


Aramaic is an ancient Semitic language that has a rich history stretching back over two and a half thousand years.


The earliest written records of Aramaic date back to the 10th century BCE, and it is believed to have originated in the region of ancient Aram, which covered parts of modern-day Syria and Lebanon.


Over time, Aramaic spread throughout the ancient Near East and became the dominant language of the region, used for both everyday communication and for important documents such as contracts and legal texts.


One of the most significant events in the history of Aramaic was its adoption as the official language of the Assyrian, Babylonian, and Achaemenid Empires, which ruled over a vast area stretching from modern-day Iran to Egypt and including parts of Central Asia and India.


This helped to spread the language even further and cemented its position as a major language in the region.


During the time of the Babylonian Exile in the 6th century BCE, Aramaic became the lingua franca of the Jewish people and was used for writing the Babylonian Talmud.


In the centuries that followed, it continued to be widely used by Jews for religious and cultural purposes, and many important Jewish texts were written in Aramaic, including the Targums (Aramaic translations of the Hebrew Bible) and the Midrash.


With the spread of Christianity, Aramaic also became an important language in early Christian communities, and it is believed that Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic.


Some of the earliest Christian texts, such as the Peshitta (an Aramaic translation of the Bible), were written in the language, and it continued to be used by Christian communities in the Near East for many centuries.


In the 7th century CE, the Arab Muslim armies conquered the region and brought with them the Arabic language, which gradually replaced Aramaic as the dominant language.


However, Aramaic continued to be spoken by some communities, particularly in isolated areas, and it has survived to this day in the form of several modern Aramaic dialects, such as the Neo-Aramaic dialect spoken by the Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac people in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey today.


Despite its decline as a spoken language, the influence of Aramaic on other languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, has been significant, and its legacy can still be seen in the words and phrases borrowed from Aramaic into these and other languages.


Additionally, Aramaic remains an important language for scholars studying the history and culture of the ancient Near East.


Syriac


Syriac is an Aramaic language that was widely spoken in the Near East from the 3rd to the 7th century CE. It was the lingua franca of the region during this time and was used as a language of commerce, diplomacy, and scholarship. The language has its roots in the ancient city of Edessa (modern-day Şanlıurfa, Turkey).


Syriac was written using the Syriac alphabet, a writing system that was developed from the Aramaic alphabet. The language has two main dialects: Eastern Syriac and Western Syriac.


Eastern Syriac was used in the eastern part of the Near East and was the liturgical language of the Church of the East, while Western Syriac was used in the western part of the Near East and was the liturgical language of the Syrian Orthodox Church.


One of the most important literary works in Syriac is the Peshitta, the standard version of the Bible in Syriac, which was translated from the Hebrew and Greek texts.


The Peshitta is considered to be one of the earliest translations of the Bible into a Semitic language and is still used by several Christian communities in the Near East today.


Syriac also played a significant role in the development of early Christian theology and philosophy.


Many works by early Christian writers, such as Ephrem the Syrian, Aphrahat, and Jacob of Serugh, were written in Syriac and have been instrumental in shaping the beliefs and practices of the Syrian Churches.


Today, Syriac is still used as a liturgical language by several Christian communities in the Near East, including the Chaldean Catholic Church, the Syrian Orthodox Church, and the Assyrian Church of the East.


However, the number of native speakers of the language has declined significantly over the centuries, and it is considered to be an endangered language.


Nevertheless, there are efforts underway to revive and preserve the language, including the use of Syriac in schools and the publication of books and other materials in the language.


Aramaic Studies by Mahir Awrahim


The Aramaic Studies brings you a life-changing opportunity to delve into the ancient and captivating world of Aramaic and Syriac. This language and history & culture course will provide you with a certificate of completion from the Aramaic Studies upon graduation.


For Wayne State University students, there is a chance to further enhance your learning experience through a scholarship opportunity via the WSU scholarship portal, Scholarship Universe.


This class will not only teach you how to read, write, and speak the language, but it will also prepare you for the foreign language Replacement Exam, if required by your school.


With the potential to replace up to four foreign language classes, this is a chance to expand your knowledge and experience in a unique and meaningful way.


Mahir Awrahem brings to you "ALAP BETH: An Introduction To Modern Syriac - Eastern Dialect" in its 5th edition, 2023.


Click here to discover the options and prices available to bring this incredible journey to life.


Unlock the doors to the past, explore the rich heritage of Aramaic and Syriac, and emerge with a deeper understanding of the world and its history.


Additional reading:


  1. "A Grammar of Biblical Aramaic" by Marcus Jastrow

  2. "The Aramaic Language: Its Distribution and Subdivisions" by A.S. Kaye

  3. "A History of the Aramaic Language" by Joseph Naveh

  4. "Aramaic Documents of the Fifth Century BC" edited by Bezalel Porten

  5. "The Aramaic Bible: Targums in their Historical Context" edited by Martin McNamara

  6. "Syriac Christianity in the Eastern Mediterranean" by Reinhard Pummer

  7. "Syriac Literature: An Introduction" by Sebastian Brock

  8. "The Bible in the Syriac Tradition" edited by George Kiraz

  9. "Early Christian Writings in the Syriac Tradition" edited by Sebastian Brock

  10. "The Peshitta: Its Early Text and History" by Martin McNamara.

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