List of Mandaic manuscripts


This article contains a list of Mandaic manuscripts, which are almost entirely Mandaean religious texts written in Classical Mandaic.
Well-known Mandaean texts include the Ginza Rabba, the Mandaean Book of John, and the Qulasta. Texts for Mandaean priests include The 1012 Questions, among others. Some, like the Ginza Rabba, are codices, while others, such as the various diwans, are illustrated scrolls.

Background

Mandaean copyists or scribes may transcribe texts as a meritorious deed for one's own forgiveness of sins, or they may be hired to copy a text for another person. Mandaean sacred scriptures, such as the Ginza Rabba are traditionally kept in wooden chests wrapped in layers of white cotton and silk cloth. These protected manuscripts are generally not touched by ordinary laypeople, although learned laymen who demonstrate proper knowledge and respect for the manuscripts are usually granted access by priests, similar to the level of respect given to the Guru Granth Sahib in Sikhism. Gloves are worn while handling copies of the Ginza Rabba that are used for liturgical purposes.

Types

Mandaean religious texts can be written in book or codex form or as scrolls that are often illustrated. The illustrations, usually labeled with lengthy written explanations, typically contain abstract geometric drawings of uthras that are reminiscent of cubism or prehistoric rock art.
In Mandaean texts, the end of each chapter or section is typically denoted by the Mandaean letters s—a, which are separated by a long ligature.
Some scrolls are talismans, amulets, or exorcisms, all of which are subtypes of phylacteries. Others consist of prayers such as ࡓࡀࡄࡌࡉࡀ, ࡏࡍࡉࡀࡍࡉࡀ, and ࡓࡅࡔࡅࡌࡀ. Many scrolls contain symbolic descriptions of rituals, such as various types of and rituals. Mandaean texts typically have colophons giving detailed information about the scribes who had transcribed them, as well as dates, lineages, and other historical information.
Drower recognizes six main groups of Mandaean literature.
  1. esoteric texts, exclusively for priests
  2. ritual texts, exclusively for priests
  3. hymns, psalms, and prayers
  4. hortatory and general texts
  5. astrological texts
  6. magical writings

    History

Little is known about the redactors or authors of the texts. The contents date to both pre-Islamic and Islamic periods. The oldest Mandaean magical text is dated to the 4th and 5th centuries CE.
During the past few decades, Majid Fandi Al-Mubaraki, a Mandaean living in Australia, has digitized many Mandaean texts using typesetted Mandaic script.

Texts

This section lists the titles of various Mandaic religious texts.

Main scriptures

The primary three scriptures containing the most important narratives, liturgies, and doctrines of Mandaeism are the Ginza Rabba, Mandaean Book of John, and Qulasta. They are widely used by both lay Mandaeans and Mandaean priests. The Haran Gawaita is a text that discusses the origins and history of the Mandaean people.
;Primary scriptures
;History
Magical texts such as zrazta, qmaha, and the like are listed below. Note that these manuscript designations are interchangeable, with different manuscript titles providing varying designations.
  • Šafta texts
  • *Qaština
  • *Dahlulia
  • *Pišra ḏ-Ainia
  • *Pišra ḏ-Šambra
  • *Pišra ḏ-Šumqa
  • *Pišra ḏ-Pugdama ḏ-Mia
  • *Pašar Haršia
  • *Pašar Mihla
  • *Masihfan Rba
  • Qmaha texts
  • *Riš Tus Tanina
  • *Bit Mišqal Ainia
  • *Nirig, Sira, and Libat
  • *Šuba lbišna, ʿSirna hthimna, and Yawar Ziwa
  • *Šiul
  • *Ṣir Sahria
  • *Br ʿngaria
  • *Yurba
  • *Gastata
  • Zrazta texts
  • *Hibil Ziwa
  • *Ptahil Rba
  • *Šuba Šibiahia
  • Šalhafta texts
  • *Mahra
  • Books
  • *Haršia Bišia
  • Lead amulets
  • *The Descent of Iauar, a lead amulet from the Schøyen Collection. .

    Library collections

The majority of known Mandaean texts are currently held at libraries in Oxford, London, and Paris.

Bodleian Library

;Bodleian Library manuscripts
  • Oxford Scroll G; Bodleian Library. Two texts for repelling evil spirits.
  • Codex Marsh. 691 ; Bodleian Library. Dates to September 5, 1529 A.D., in Huwayza. It is the oldest Mandaean manuscript held in a European library, since Thomas Marshall's servant had donated the book to the Bodleian Library in 1689 or 1690, after Marshall's death. Codex of prayers with 116 pages. Unpublished.
  • Hunt. 6, unpublished.
  • Hunt. 71 . Copied by Adam bar Sam in Basra, on August 15, 1659 A.D..
  • MS Asiat. Misc. C 12: Diwan ḏ-Qadaha Rba Šuma ḏ-Mara ḏ-Rabuta u-Dmut Kušṭa or simply Dmut Kušṭa, unpublished. Copied by Yahia Ram Zihrun, son of Mhatam in 1818 in Qurna.
  • MS Asiat. Misc. C 13: Diuan u-Tafsir ḏ-Raza ḏ-Abahata. Copied at Mučarra in 1238 A.H. by Iahia Ram Zihrun br Mhatam. The text lists the names Barmeil, Bihdad, Bihram, Šišlam, Šišlameil, Manhareil, Nureil, Zihrun, Sahqeil, Haiil, and Reil. .
  • MS Syr. E 15.
  • MS Syr. E 18, unpublished.
  • MS Syr. F 2 . Copied in 1203 A.H. near Shushtar.
  • MS Syr. G 2 : Qaština and Šambra. Copied by Iahia Ramzihrun br Mhatam br Mhata Iuhana in Qurna in 1231 A.H.. CAL texts of and .

    British Library

;British Library manuscripts
  • Add. 23,599, Add. 23,600, and Add. 23,601: three Ginzas catalogued under the same title, Liber Adami Mendaice.
  • * Add. 23,599 was presented to Queen Victoria by the rishama Sheikh Yahana 10 December 1872, via Colonel Herbert, Consul General of Baghdad.
  • * Add. 23,600 was donated to the British Museum in April 1860 by the widow of Colonel J. E. Taylor, the British Vice-Consul at Baghdad. It has 315 folios and was copied by Adam Yuhana, the father of Yahia Bihram.
  • * Add. 23,601 was copied by Adam Yuhana, son of Sam and dates to 1824.
  • Add. 23,602A, Kholasta sive liturgica Sabiorum Libri Joannis Fragmenta Mendaice. 101 pages. Folia 76–98 and 99–101 contain parts of the Mandaean Book of John.
  • Add. 23,602B, Kholasta sive liturgica Sabiorum Libri Joannis Fragmenta Mendaice: book of fragments probably obtained by Colonel John George Taylor. Contains fragments of Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziua and Alma Rišaia Rba. Folia 15–18 contain parts of the Mandaean Book of John. Documented in Wright.
  • Or. 1236 : Sidra Rba Mandaitic
  • Or. 6592, text called Šarh ḏ-Taraṣa ḏ-Taga ḏ-Šišlam Rba. It was copied in Muḥammara in 1289 A.H., itself copied from a composite text.
  • Or. 6593, apotropaic contents. The two rolls A and B are in one container. Both date from 1869, with the first one from Muhammerah and the second one from Qurna.
  • Small lead plates held at the British Museum

    Bibliothèque nationale de France

;Bibliothèque nationale de France Code Sabéen manuscripts
The Code Sabéen manuscripts are held at the National Library of France. Much of the following information is derived from an 1874 catalogue of Syriac manuscripts compiled by, which lists descriptions for Mss. Sabéen 1–19. Many of the manuscripts can be viewed online at the Bibliothèque nationale de France's Gallica digital library.
  • , also known as MS Paris A : Ginza Rabba. Copied at Maqdam, Iraq by Ram Baktiar bar Bihram Šadan. Julius Heinrich Petermann's Ginza transcription into Mandaic and Syriac was primarily based on this manuscript, although he consulted Mss. Paris B, C, and D as well. The is mostly based on this manuscript.
  • Code Sabéen 2, also known as MS Paris B: Ginza that was translated into Latin by Matthias Norberg. Copied at Basra and Maqdam by the chief priest Baktiar-Bulbul bar Ram Ziwa in 1042 A.H. for Adam Zihrun bar Sharat.
  • Code Sabéen 3, also known as MS Paris C: Ginza copied at Howaiza, in 1091 A.H.. The first half of the first part was copied by Ram Yuhana bar Hawa. The second half of the first part was copied by Yahÿa Adam bar Rabbai Bakhtiar Bulbul. The second part was copied for Ram Yuhana bar Hawa, by Yahya Sam bar Bihram.
  • , also known as MS Paris D: Ginza copied at a location on the Shamaniya Canal, for Abdallah or Bihram, son of Anhara. There appears to have been many copyists. The introductory formula has the name Bihram bar Simath. In the colophon of the first part and the second part, Yahya Bihram, son of Adam Yuhana, names himself expressly as the copyist of the manuscript. The date is unclear, but is sometime in the early 1700s. The colophon of the first part mentions the date 1100 A.H. Matthias Norberg's Mandaic transcription and Latin translation of the Ginza was primarily based on this manuscript.
  • : Prayers, many of which are also found in the Left Ginza.
  • : Ginza copied from MS Colbert 1715 by L. Picques in 1683 A.D. The notes are originally from MS Colbert 382.
  • Code Sabéen 8: Mandaean Book of John. Copied by Adam Zihrun bar Zaki Shitil in Khalafabad, Iran, in August or September 1630 A.D. during the month of Hitia.
  • Code Sabéen 9: Mandaean Book of John. Copied in 1102 A.H. at Duraq, Iran by Adam Zihrun bar Mhatam on January 18, 1691.
  • Code Sabéen 10: Mandaean Book of John. Copied by Zihrun bar Adam in al-Mīnā’, Basra, on October 13, 1616.
  • Code Sabéen 11: Mandaean Book of John copied from Sabéen 8 by L. Picques. Many passages are accompanied by Latin translations.
  • : Qulasta. Copied at Kamalawa in 978 A.H. by Adam Shitlan br Yahia Sam br Zihrun Bihram. Lacks prayers 5-10. Included in Euting.
  • Code Sabéen 13: Qulasta. Copied at Basra in 1105 A.H..
  • Code Sabéen 14: Qulasta. Copied from Colbert m.s. 4108 by L. Picques and partially translated into Latin.
  • Code Sabéen 15. This manuscript is a partial copy of The Marriage of the Great Šišlam and also includes prayers from the Sidra ḏ-Nišmata. Copied at Basra in 1086 A.H. by Yahya bar Sam bar Zakia Shitil. Included in Euting.
  • Code Sabéen 16 : Scroll, 1360 cm x 16 cm. 409 lines on the cosmogony, beliefs, duties of bishops and priests, and of the faithful, etc., in the form of questions and answers. These questions are believed to have been addressed by Hibil Ziwa Yawar to Nbat Rabba. Copied at Howaiza in 1127 A.H..
  • Code Sabéen 17
  • Code Sabéen 18
  • Code Sabéen 23
  • Code Sabéen 24: Texts about magical amulets.
  • . This manuscript is a copy of The Book of the Zodiac, and also a partial copy of The Marriage of the Great Šišlam. However, it contains a longer appendix of more recent date.
  • : Qmahia.
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