Scroll of Abatur
| Diwan Abatur | |
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TheDiwan Abatur(ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡀࡁࡀࡕࡅࡓ; "Scroll of Abatur" ) is aMandaeanreligious text. It is a large illustrated scroll that is over 20 ft. (6.1 m) long.[1]
A similar illustrated Mandaean scroll is theDiwan Nahrawata( "The Scroll of the Rivers" ), a lavishly illustrated geographical treatise which translated into German and published byKurt Rudolphin 1982.[1]
Contents[edit]
TheDiwan Abaturmentions a heavenly tree calledShatrin(Šatrin) where the souls of unbaptized Mandaean children are temporarily nourished for 30 days. On the 30th day,Hibil Ziwabaptizes the souls of the children, who then continue on to theWorld of Light.The tree has a length of 360,000parasangsaccording to theDiwan Abatur.[2]
Additionally, theDiwan Abaturmentions a ship calledShahrat(Šahrat;lit. "she kept watch" ) that ferriessoulsfromTibilacross theHitpunand into the house ofAbatur.[3]
TheScroll of Abaturlists severalmatartasbelonging to the sons ofPtahil,namely Raglʿil, Sharhabiel, El-Sfar,Nbaṭ,Bhaq, andShitil.There are also illustrations and descriptions of matartas belonging to each of the seven planets, with each matarta having an area of 2,000parasangsand being 2,000-3,000 parasangs away from the next matarta.[3]
In theDiwan Abatur,the sons ofPtahilwho each rule different matartas are:[3]
- BihramRba
- Anush
- Hibil
- Kanziel (also spelled Ganziel or Ginziel)
- Raglʿil
- Sharhabiel
- El-Sfar
- Nbaṭ
- Bhaq
- Shitil
Manuscripts and translations[edit]
An English translation of the text was published byE. S. Drowerin 1950 A.D., which was based on manuscript 8 of theDrower Collection(abbreviated DC 8).[3]
A manuscript of theDiwan Abatur,MS. Borgiani Siriaci 175 (abbreviated BS175), is held at theBiblioteca Apostolica Vaticanain Vatican City.[3]
In 2020,Bogdan Burteatranslated theDiwan Abaturinto German.[4]
Gallery[edit]
-
An 18th-century manuscript of theDiwan Abaturin theBodleian Library,Oxford.The illustration on top depicts the shipShahratferrying Mandaean souls towards the house of Abatur, while the lower illustration shows the tree ofShatrinwith the souls of unbaptized children. -
Image ofAbaturfrom theDiwan Abatur -
Image ofAbaturat the scales (Abatur Muzania), from theDiwan Abatur
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abBuckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002).The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people.New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN0-19-515385-5.OCLC65198443.
- ^Nasoraia, Brikha H.S.(2021).The Mandaean gnostic religion: worship practice and deep thought.New Delhi: Sterling.ISBN978-81-950824-1-4.OCLC1272858968.
- ^abcdeDrower, Ethel S. (1950).Diwan Abatur or Progress through the Purgatories.Studi e Testi. Vol. 151. Vatican City: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.
- ^"Diwan Abatur: Ein Text über die Jenseitsreise der Seele nach den Vorstellungen der Mandäer. Edition, Übersetzung, Kommentar. - Research Portal of the HU Berlin".Research Information System of HU Berlin(in German). 2021-04-01.Retrieved2021-11-14.
External links[edit]
- Diwan Abathur(Mandaic text from the Mandaean Network)
- Diwan Abathur(Mandaic text from the Mandaean Network)
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