The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire (Translated Texts for Historians LUP)

"The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran are adherents of the last surviving Gnostic tradition from the period of Late Antiquity, and the Book of Kings is the capstone to one of their most sacred scriptures. A universal history in four parts, it concisely outlines the entire 480,000 year span of the material world, from its creation to its destruction in the maw of the great Leviathan, with details including a succession of antediluvian cataclysms that have previously wiped out all human life, the reigns of the kings who have reigned over humanity and are still yet to reign, a lament on the end of pagan antiquity under the reign of the Arabs, and the apocalyptic drama attending those who have the misfortune to live at the end of the world era. For the first time ever, this work appears in English in its entirety, complete and unabridged, and directly translated from original Mandaic manuscripts, with the events mentioned within it coordinated with our calendar. It also includes an extensive commentary illustrating its relationship to contemporary historical writing and with the sacred literature of Zoroastrians, Jews, Christians, Muslims, and other neighbouring religious communities living under Sasanian rule."-- Back cover Cover Contents Acknowledgements Abbreviations and Sigla Introduction The Mandaeans Mandaean Cosmology Mandaean Prophets Mandaean Scriptures Mandaeans Today A People's History for a People Without History A Note on Translation A Note on Transcription Dating The Book Of Kings The Colophons Internal Evidence Part One: Targum Part Two: Kinglist The Persian Kings Part Three: Chronicle Part Four: Apocalypse Lament on the Reign of the Arab Kings The Tale of the Seven Kings The Five Final Kings The End of the Worlds Commentary 1 The Mandaic Targum 2 The Iranian King Lists 2.1 The Earliest Kings 2.2 Villains and Heroes 2.3 Kayanians Proper 2.4 The Later Kayanians 2.5 The Final Millennium 2.6 The Persian Kings 3 The Chronicle 3.1 AP 790 803 (467 481 CE) 3.2 485 536 CE 4 The Apocalypse 4.1 The Arab Kings (531 602 CE) 4.2 602 628 CE 4.3 The Tale of the Seven Kings 4.4 The Five Final Kings 4.5 The End of the Worlds Conclusions Map Appendix I Colophon (MS A) Appendix 2 Mandaic Glossary Appendix 3 Calendar Conversion Table Appendix 4 Timeline of Madaean History Bibliography Index