Pierre-Louis Malosse writes that there is a new URL for the ‘Centre Libanios’ (Works of Libanius, bibliography, news… in French) :
Author: Roger Pearse
Rescuing a bit of Eusebius from oblivion
One of the things which I hoped for, in translating Eusebius “Gospel Questions”, was to find unknown material in the fragments that aren’t in Migne. Yesterday that hope was justified. In an obscure publication in Moscow in the 18th century of a catena, an extract from Ad Marinum 2 produced results:
At the line marked by my footnote 2, where I saw something was rather unusual about the Greek, it turns out that the Greek word for “dawning” came twice, and the scribe of the MS used by Mai (so also Migne and Zamagni) cut two whole lines by going on from the second one after just reaching the first. So we’ll be the first to give our thirsty readers the real thing!
That said, it’s only the usual verbosely repetitive hammering-in of a point already obvious; but still, it’s very nice to have a text that does make sense without straining the Greek, as I did, or ignoring the problem altogether like Mai and Zamagni.
Two more lines of ancient literature, rescued from the darkness. It is a small but definite triumph.
New UK copyright consultation
This article reports that the UK authorities are looking for input from ordinary people on how copyright affects them (by the 6th February).; how they can’t (legally) copy their own CD’s, how you can’t access out of print books because some fool has a 100 years of copyright on it, how libraries abuse copyright to keep people from taking photographs of state-owned manuscripts and putting them online, etc. Why not tell them?
Patristic carnival XIX
The 19th carnival of blog posts on patristics is now online here. Thanks to Phil Snider for compiling it!
Greek scriptures unearthed in Smyrna?
A curious article about an archaeological dig in Smyrna is highlighted by Mike Aquilina at Way of the Fathers.
Eusebius, Agapius project news
Long term readers of this blog will know that I commissioned a translation into English of Eusebius of Caesarea’s book about differences between the gospels and their solutions (Quaestiones ad Stephanum/Marinum).
The Greek remains of this text are now almost entirely translated. The last few fragments from catenas remain; but almost all of the mass of fragments in Migne (reprinted from Mai, which is what we are using) are done.
There is no progress on the Syriac or Coptic front, tho, which is disappointing. I’m considering asking my Greek translator to do the other minor works of Eusebius — the epitomes of the Commentary on Luke, On Easter — while we wait.
Once the work is complete, the intention is still to publish it myself and sell copies to people to cover the translation costs; and, when that is done, to make it available online.
I think a book about problems in the gospels and how to overcome them ought to have a popular market as a paperback among Christians. Not sure what to call the book, tho. Maybe:
Eusebius of Caesarea
Commentary on the Gospels
A fourth century writer resolves differences between them
What do people think?
I’ve also begun to translate the first half of the world history of the 10th century Arabic Christian writer, Agapius. This looks very likely to be of considerable interest.
BBC4 programme on science and islam
Quite by accident last night I found myself watching a BBC4 programme on Science and Islam. Jim Khalili presented it, and did so extremely well and very clearly. This was episode 2, entitled “Empire of Reason”, and in it he discussed the interest in scientific and technical works in the Abbasid caliphate, and various innovations made during that period by people like al-Biruni.
There was mention of the translation of Greek works in the time of al-Mamun (labelled the “Translation Movement”), although Hunain ibn Ishaq was not mentioned by name. But in a one hour programme, detail will be omitted in favour of bright images, and this the programme did well.
Like all popular programmes, the narrative jumped around a bit. I doubt that anyone without a clear idea of Islamic history would have been able to follow who did what when, but this is not a vice in such a programme, which is really intended to spark interest. I did wonder who the intended audience was, tho. But who cares? Let’s be glad of the chance to learn.
The story was told without restraint or qualification. Khalili was an unabashed apologist for how wonderful “Islamic science” was, and how it was the basis of all modern science (!). Of course this is rather a half-truth, but, since he is an Iraqi, we may forgive his pardonable pride in his own racial and religious group. Wouldn’t we all rather hear an enthusiast anyway? The problem seemed to be in what was omitted, and how various elements were given a spin which calmer evaluation might disallow. I would have liked to see more on how the scholars of the period made use of non-Greek sources.
Various experiments were conducted on-screen, and explained very well indeed. He also did meetings with people looking at Arabic books, including images of manuscripts. This was very nice to see. I think we could all do with a better knowledge of Islamic literature. One question, tho — are any of these texts available online and in English? I have my doubts. Is there, indeed, any equivalent to Brockelmann’s massive lists of Arabic authors and texts? I doubt it.
In fact scientific texts from antiquity seem conspicuous by the lack of English translations. Many of these are only extant in Arabic; works by Galen, and Hero’s Mechanica spring to mind. As for being online…!
One very reluctant comment: I do have to say that I think the programme was probably intended by the BBC as anti-western propaganda. But let us restrain our disgust, at them, as far as possible. No blame attaches to the presenter for supporting his own side; indeed his enthusiasm is a bonus – even if, in his enthusiasm, he seemed to forget that Cordoba cannot be used as an example of Abbasid splendour! Let us freely acknowledge the debt we owe to the Islamic world for advances in various areas made during this period. The subject matter is interesting, and it’s easy enough to watch. If we can remember that this is not a balanced picture — that it is just one side of the coin –, then the series itself is full of interest. Recommended.
PS: I see that Jim al-Khalili has started a blog. Read the first post here. I also discover an article that he wrote for the Guardian, in which he states that “I am on a mission to … present the positive face of Islam.” Hmm.
People willing to type up some ancient Greek wanted
Do you have too much money? If not, you may be interested in this post by Eric at Archaic Christianity. He’s prepared to pay people to type in some unicode ancient Greek for him. Might be a quick way to earn a few bucks, if you’re short of cash and have a bit of spare time.
The resulting text will be made available and public domain, so the effort will benefit everyone.
Manuscript digitisation gathers pace
Jim Davila’s excellent PaleoJudaica blog highlights a number of interesting non-Jewish items this week. I don’t seem to be able to link to his individual posts, so here are some excerpts.
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PHOTOGRAPHS of the Cologne Mani Codex are available online here.
The Cologne Manichaean codex is a tiny parchment codex from middle Egypt, containing an account of the youth of Mani. Digitising it and placing it online is such an excellent idea. This is where the internet scores. Suddenly people can SEE the thing! I wonder if an English translation of the text is around, tho?
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ARAMAIC WATCH: More on the manuscript digitization project in Kerala, India: Kerala to preserve Christian heritage
Jim has posted on this before and links to other posts. It seems that the mass of Syriac manuscripts in Kerala are to be photographed. Let us hope they go online! But the easy availability of digital cameras makes digitisation simple. Well done, the Kerala clergymen who seem to be leading this one. They’re also trying to encourage interest in Syriac.
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PHILIP JENKINS’S BOOK, The Lost History of Christianity, is reviewed by Brother Jeffrey Gros, F.S.C. in the Catholic Review Online.
This is a book that discusses Oriental Christianity, and which has been criticised to me for being too Christian, and not Christian enough. I’m going to have a read once the paperback comes out here. Anything which will increase the number of people interested in the obscure Syriac and Arabic Christianity must be a good thing.
It’s raining books!
A tap on the door, as I try to deal with the week’s post, and a neighbour bearing a parcel from Brepols. Yes, it’s the remaining two fascicles of the Patrologia Orientalis of Agapius. I wrote to them over the Christmas period, asking for them, and never heard back. Prompt service indeed!
This brings to an end a week which has snowed books. I mentioned Zamagni’s edition of Eusebius Gospel Questions yesterday; today it arrived — massively quick service that from Amazon.fr — and looks excellent. I decided last weekend that I needed to read Catullus and Tibulus, for what they say about the Roman book trade. On Monday I ordered an out-of-copyright Loeb; a couple of days later it arrived at work. Together with a mail-order pack of 20 100w lightbulbs (used in every house in Britain but now removed from every shop), no day has gone by without a delivery.
It’s frankly overwhelming. I’ve been trying to read N. G. Wilson’s Scholars of Byzantium, and being distracted. Wilson deals with the survival of Greek classical literature in the Eastern Roman Empire, to 1453 — and does it magnificently. It’s a truly splendid book. To read it is a liberal education, and if I could give copies to my friends and know that they would read it, I would. It’s been brought back into print via a print-on-demand service; go and buy it!
The two fascicles of the PO are interesting to see. One is a shiny new anastatic reprint of 2003, but very good quality. The other has uncut edges, and yellowing paper, and looks like an original printing — almost a century old! Evidently not many people ever wanted to buy Agapius! In a way, isn’t it a privilege to be able to get them? Isn’t it a blessing that Brepols keep these in print? Good for them!