One of the few scholars of biblical languages to reach so far into the cultural world of antiquity, de Lagarde here offers a brief contribution to the study of Bactrian lexicography. This brief study grew out of the author’s long-standing appreciation for the related Persian languages and literature. While not a full-fledged dictionary, de Lagarde here provides discussions of over one hundred words, some of them offered in considerable detail. Today located in what is northern Afghanistan, Bactria was an important influence both in the periods of Persian and Seleucid domination in the realm of central Asia. For the linguist interested in the history of the study of this particular language, this handbook will prove an invaluable tool.

Paul Anton de Lagarde (1827-1891) was a biblical scholar and student of ancient languages. Having studied at Berlin, Halle, London, and Paris, he had a wide exposure to international thought. He eventually taught at Göttingen. Despite his participation in the anti-Semitism of his day, he was a gifted student of Semitic languages. His voluminous linguistic works are still recognized for their insights into oriental languages. He made important contributions to the study of Syriac, Aramaic, Arabic, Hebrew, and Coptic, as well as Greek and Latin.