Cuneus Prophetarum
Encyclopedia
Cuneus Prophetarum is a philosophical, theological and scientific treatise
written by Pjetër Bogdani
, an Albanian
philosopher, originally published in Padua
in 1685 in the Albanian
and Latin language. It is considered to be the most prominent work of early Albanian literature.
in 1685 in Padua, northern Italy.
The original Latin title of the treatise is: Cuneus prophetarum de Christo salvatore mundi et eius evangelica veritate, italice et epirotice contexta, et in duas partes diuisa a Petro Bogdano Macedone, Sacr. Congr. de Prop. Fide alumno, Philosophiae & Sacrae Theologiae Doctore, olim Episcopo Scodrensi & Administratore Antibarensi, nunc vero Archiepiscopo Scuporum ac totius regni Serviae Administratore.
The English translation of the title is The Band of the Prophets Concerning Christ, Saviour of the World and his Gospel Truth, edited in Italian and Epirotic(Albanian) and divided into two parts by Pjetër Bogdani of Macedonia, student of the Holy Congregation of the Propaganda Fide, doctor of philosophy and holy theology, formerly Bishop of Shkodra and Administrator of Antivari and now Archbishop of Skopje and Administrator of all the Kingdom of Serbia.
The treatise was reprinted, in Italian and Albanian, in 1691 and 1702 by the House of Albizzi as L' infallibile verità della cattolica fede (The infallible truth of the Catholic faith)
. The main subjects of the first volume derive from the Old Testament
and its four chapters are:
The second volume is entitled De vita Jesu Christi salvatoris mundi (On the life of Jesus Christ, saviour of the world), its main theological subjects derive from the New Testament
, while its chapters include:
The fourth chapter of the second volume includes a translation from the Book of Daniel
in Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Latin and Syriac. This volume includes also a chapter on the life of Antichrist, an index in Albanian and Italian and a three-page supplementary appendix titled Antichita della Casa Bogdana (Antiquity of the House of the Bogdanis) regarding Pjetër Bogdani's family and genealogy.
. It covers issues of philosophy, science and theology as well as subjects regarding astronomy, physics, geography and history. Its works of poetry and prose examine motifs of literary theory. Cuneus Prophetarum is regarded as a humanist
work of Baroque literature
with a philosophical aim of approaching and knowing divinity and examining the problem of existence. The language used by Bogdani is an archaic form of Albanian and its use is regarded as one of the early literary forms of Albanian language.
Kryshten i shyityruory (The Sanctified Christian) written by Anton Santori
and published in 1855 in Naples contains parts of Cuneus Prophetarum. Santori included excerpts of Cuneus Prophetarum in his book to symbolize the continuity of Albanian religious literature.
Treatise
A treatise is a formal and systematic written discourse on some subject, generally longer and treating it in greater depth than an essay, and more concerned with investigating or exposing the principles of the subject.-Noteworthy treatises:...
written by Pjetër Bogdani
Pjetër Bogdani
Pjetër Bogdani , known in Italian as Pietro Bogdano, is the most original writer of early literature in Albania. He is author of the Cuneus Prophetarum , 1685, the first prose work of substance written originally in Albanian Pjetër Bogdani (ca. 1630 - 1689), known in Italian as Pietro Bogdano, is...
, an Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
philosopher, originally published in Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
in 1685 in the Albanian
Albanian language
Albanian is an Indo-European language spoken by approximately 7.6 million people, primarily in Albania and Kosovo but also in other areas of the Balkans in which there is an Albanian population, including western Macedonia, southern Montenegro, southern Serbia and northwestern Greece...
and Latin language. It is considered to be the most prominent work of early Albanian literature.
History
Pjetër Bogdani had finished writing Cuneus Prophetarum by 1675 but was refused the rights to publish it by the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith that ordered its translation to allow the book's publication. After ten years the book was published with the assistance of Gregorio Barbarigo, cardinal of PaduaPadua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
in 1685 in Padua, northern Italy.
The original Latin title of the treatise is: Cuneus prophetarum de Christo salvatore mundi et eius evangelica veritate, italice et epirotice contexta, et in duas partes diuisa a Petro Bogdano Macedone, Sacr. Congr. de Prop. Fide alumno, Philosophiae & Sacrae Theologiae Doctore, olim Episcopo Scodrensi & Administratore Antibarensi, nunc vero Archiepiscopo Scuporum ac totius regni Serviae Administratore.
The English translation of the title is The Band of the Prophets Concerning Christ, Saviour of the World and his Gospel Truth, edited in Italian and Epirotic(Albanian) and divided into two parts by Pjetër Bogdani of Macedonia, student of the Holy Congregation of the Propaganda Fide, doctor of philosophy and holy theology, formerly Bishop of Shkodra and Administrator of Antivari and now Archbishop of Skopje and Administrator of all the Kingdom of Serbia.
The treatise was reprinted, in Italian and Albanian, in 1691 and 1702 by the House of Albizzi as L' infallibile verità della cattolica fede (The infallible truth of the Catholic faith)
Content
Cuneus Prophetarum is divided in two volumes of four chapters each, containing two parallel columns, one written in Albanian while the other contains its Latin (in 1685 edition) or its Italian (in 1691 and 1702 edition) translation. The introductory part of the first volume contains dedications and eulogies in Albanian, Italian, Latin and Serbian. It also includes two eight-line poems written in Albanian. The first poem written by Llukë Bogdani, cousin of Pjetër Bogdani is titled Pjetër Bogdanit,argjupeshkëpit Skupsë, kushërinit tim dashunit (To my dear cousin Pjetër Bogdani, Archbishop of Shkup), while the second one is a philosophical poem written by Llukë Summa, a monk from ShkodërShkodër
Shkodër , is a city located on Lake of Shkoder in northwestern Albania in the District of Shkodër, of which it is the capital. It is one of the oldest and most historic towns in Albania, as well as an important cultural and economic centre. Shkodër's estimated population is 90,000; if the...
. The main subjects of the first volume derive from the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and its four chapters are:
- How God created man.
- The prophets and their metaphors concerning the coming of the Messiah.
- The lives of the prophets and their prophecies.
- The lives of the ten sibyls.
The second volume is entitled De vita Jesu Christi salvatoris mundi (On the life of Jesus Christ, saviour of the world), its main theological subjects derive from the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, while its chapters include:
- The life of Jesus Christ.
- The miracles of Jesus Christ.
- The suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
- The resurrection and the second coming of Christ.
The fourth chapter of the second volume includes a translation from the Book of Daniel
Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel is a book in the Hebrew Bible. The book tells of how Daniel, and his Judean companions, were inducted into Babylon during Jewish exile, and how their positions elevated in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. The court tales span events that occur during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar,...
in Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Latin and Syriac. This volume includes also a chapter on the life of Antichrist, an index in Albanian and Italian and a three-page supplementary appendix titled Antichita della Casa Bogdana (Antiquity of the House of the Bogdanis) regarding Pjetër Bogdani's family and genealogy.
Legacy
Cuneus Prophetarum is considered to be the most prominent work of early Albanian literatureAlbanian literature
The Albanian literature is the literature written by Albanians.-Renaissance:The expansion of the Ottoman Empire pushed many Albanians from their homeland during the period of the Western European Renaissance humanism...
. It covers issues of philosophy, science and theology as well as subjects regarding astronomy, physics, geography and history. Its works of poetry and prose examine motifs of literary theory. Cuneus Prophetarum is regarded as a humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
work of Baroque literature
Early Modern literature
The history of literature of the Early Modern period . Early Modern literature succeeds Medieval literature, and in Europe in particular Renaissance literature....
with a philosophical aim of approaching and knowing divinity and examining the problem of existence. The language used by Bogdani is an archaic form of Albanian and its use is regarded as one of the early literary forms of Albanian language.
Kryshten i shyityruory (The Sanctified Christian) written by Anton Santori
Anton Santori
Francesco Antonio Santori also known as Ndon Santori was an Italian writer, poet and playwright of Arbëreshë descent...
and published in 1855 in Naples contains parts of Cuneus Prophetarum. Santori included excerpts of Cuneus Prophetarum in his book to symbolize the continuity of Albanian religious literature.