Pahlavi Psalter
Encyclopedia
The Pahlavi Psalter is the name given to a 12-page non-contiguous section of a Middle Persian
translation of a Syriac
book of psalms.
The Pahlavi Psalter was discovered in 1905 by the second German Turpan expedition under Albert von Le Coq
.
Together with a mass of other fragmentary Christian manuscripts discovered in the ruins of the library of Shui-pang at Bulayiq (near Turpan, in what is today the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China
), the documents were sent to Berlin
for analysis, where the fragments remain today.
The Pahlavi Psalter is the oldest surviving example of Pahlavi literature
, that is, literature composed using the Pahlavi writing system. The surviving fragments probably date to the 6th or 7th century CE. The translation itself dates to not before the mid-6th century since it reflects liturgical additions to the Syriac original by Mar Aba I, who was Patriarch of the Church of the East c. 540 - 552.
The script of the psalter, like that of all other examples of Pahlavi literature, is also an Aramaic-derived script
(see Pahlavi for details). However, unlike "Book Pahlavi" script, which is a later but more common form of the consonantary and has 12 or 13 graphemes, the script of the psalms has 5 symbols more. The variant of the script used for the psalter was for almost a century the only evidence of that specific variant, which consequently came to be referred to as "Psalter Pahlavi" script. More recently however, another sample of the writing was discovered in the inscriptions on a bronze processional cross found at Herat
(in present-day Afghanistan
). Due to the dearth of comparable material, some words and phrases in both sources remain undeciphered.
Middle Persian
Middle Persian , indigenously known as "Pârsig" sometimes referred to as Pahlavi or Pehlevi, is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well. Middle Persian is classified as a...
translation of a Syriac
Syriac language
Syriac is a dialect of Middle Aramaic that was once spoken across much of the Fertile Crescent. Having first appeared as a script in the 1st century AD after being spoken as an unwritten language for five centuries, Classical Syriac became a major literary language throughout the Middle East from...
book of psalms.
The Pahlavi Psalter was discovered in 1905 by the second German Turpan expedition under Albert von Le Coq
Albert von Le Coq
Albert von Le Coq was a German archaeologist and explorer of Central Asia. He was heir to a sizable fortune derived from breweries and wineries scattered throughout Central and Eastern Europe, thus allowing him the luxury of travel and study at the - no longer existing - Ethnology Museum in Berlin...
.
Together with a mass of other fragmentary Christian manuscripts discovered in the ruins of the library of Shui-pang at Bulayiq (near Turpan, in what is today the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
), the documents were sent to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
for analysis, where the fragments remain today.
The Pahlavi Psalter is the oldest surviving example of Pahlavi literature
Pahlavi literature
Middle Persian literature also called Pahlavi literature is Persian literature of the 1st millennium AD, especially of the Sassanid period.- Literature of Pahlavi :Pahlavi Literature can be divided in three parts:...
, that is, literature composed using the Pahlavi writing system. The surviving fragments probably date to the 6th or 7th century CE. The translation itself dates to not before the mid-6th century since it reflects liturgical additions to the Syriac original by Mar Aba I, who was Patriarch of the Church of the East c. 540 - 552.
The script of the psalter, like that of all other examples of Pahlavi literature, is also an Aramaic-derived script
Aramaic alphabet
The Aramaic alphabet is adapted from the Phoenician alphabet and became distinctive from it by the 8th century BC. The letters all represent consonants, some of which are matres lectionis, which also indicate long vowels....
(see Pahlavi for details). However, unlike "Book Pahlavi" script, which is a later but more common form of the consonantary and has 12 or 13 graphemes, the script of the psalms has 5 symbols more. The variant of the script used for the psalter was for almost a century the only evidence of that specific variant, which consequently came to be referred to as "Psalter Pahlavi" script. More recently however, another sample of the writing was discovered in the inscriptions on a bronze processional cross found at Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
(in present-day Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
). Due to the dearth of comparable material, some words and phrases in both sources remain undeciphered.