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e-Gorgias (Issue 17, April 2007)

Issue 17
April 2007
Reading Time: 10 minutes

Those of you who are familiar with our current office facility must be under the impression that we at Gorgias Press hibernate along with the animals during the winter. On the contrary, we do surface from time to time for our monthly staff potlucks, and in fact, we have had books streaming off the press. Check out our many new releases! Did you remember that Earth Day is coming up on April 22? Robert Murray's new book, The Cosmic Covenant, is timely reading as it deals with ecological issues among other things. For those of you who are concerned with the issue of religion and science, you will find interesting Roger Lenaers's book, Nebuchadnezzar's Dream or the End of a Medieval Catholic Church.

Here's a look at this month's eGorgias:


  • Recently Released: We've been busy--the spring thaw has hit Gorgias Press!
  • Coming Soon: Books to be released shortly, as well as new additions to our catalog
  • From the Acquisitions Desk: By Acquisitions Editor Steve Wiggins
  • News: Lecture Tour by David Gaunt
  • Reviews: Books by Moser, Goins and Pennacchietti
  • Conferences: ARAM and Dorushe Conferences






In honor of Earth Day on April 22, this month's Recent Releases begins with Robert Murray's The Cosmic Covenant, which deals with Biblical themes of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation.

The Cosmic Covenant
By Robert Murray

ISBN 978-1-59333-604-2, Hardback, $85

Murray’s study of the covenant theme begins with a chronological survey of the concept, beginning at the creation itself. He traces this theme through the Bible, noting its key components of justice and peace. The concept is a shared one between Judaism and Christianity, and Murray suggests that it continues to have ecological as well as spiritual relevance to the world today.



Nebuchadnezzar's Dream or The End of a Medieval Catholic Church
By Roger Lenaers

ISBN 978-1-59333-583-0, Paperback, $49

The Catholic Church of the Third Millennium has retained its medieval images and formulations. The book suggests different ways for modern Catholics to speak about Scripture, hierarchy, Jesus, the afterlife, sacraments, sin, redemption, sacrifice, supplicating prayer and other issues.



Eastern Crossroads: Essays on Medieval Christian Legacy
By Juan Pedro Monferrer-Sala

ISBN 978-1-59333-610-3, Hardback, $98

The chapters of this volume explore both broad themes and specific topics dealing with several aspects connected with the Eastern Christian Legacy. The volume illustrates the strength of Christian cultural life through the Middle Ages under different socio-political situations, including the context of a predominately Islamic culture.



The Book of the Laws of Countries: A Dialogue on Free Will versus Fate, A Key-Word-in-Context Concordance
By Jerome Alan Lund

ISBN 978-1-59333-374-4, Hardback, $98

This key-word-in-context concordance will facilitate the study of the very early Syriac text called The Book of the Laws of the Countries, a dialogue on free will versus fate between the Edessean philosopher Bardaisan and his interlocutor Awida.



Chaldean Christian Doctrine in the Urmia Dialect
By Paul Bedjan

ISBN 978-1-59333-420-8, Hardback, $68

Paul Bedjan produced this catechism to advance the knowledge of Catholicism among Aramaic-speaking Christians of the Middle East. The book is written in Modern Aramaic, in the dialect of Urmia. The book is of interest not only for pedagogical purposes among the Aramaic speakers, but also will give the Neo-Aramaic scholar a literary text from the late nineteenth century.



Sidon
By Frederick Carl Eiselen

ISBN 978-1-59333-592-2, Hardback, $78

Although the name of "Sidon" is familiar to readers of the Bible, few know much about it. In this seminal study of the city of Sidon the reader is taken through what can be known of the political history and cultural influence, ancient and continuing, of this important city.



The Mameluke or Slave Dynasty of Egypt 1260-1517 A.D.
By William Muir

ISBN 978-1-59333-697-4, Hardback, $76

Alert to the implications of Egyptian politics to the world of the Middle Ages, Muir offers a detailed look at the rule of the slave-soldier caste known as the Mamelukes who ruled Egypt from 1260 to 1517. Each ruler of the Bahrite and Circassian dynasties is given a full chapter, and the role of the Mamelukes under the Ottoman Empire is reviewed.



The Ancient Egyptians and the Origin of Civilization
By G. Elliot Smith

ISBN 978-1-59333-609-7, Hardback, $76

This monograph, in its second, hard-to-locate edition, proposes a connection between prehistoric monumental European sites and those of the Pyramid Age in Egypt. Using ethnicity as a basis, Smith ties the ancient peoples of Egypt to those of Syria and discusses how Egyptian culture spread from its point of origin.



An Englishwoman in a Turkish Harem
By Grace Ellison

ISBN 978-1-59333-211-2, Hardback, $65

Grace Ellison (d. 1935) actively encouraged dialogues between Turkish and British women at the outset of the twentieth century. Despite an impressive legacy, Ellison and her work have almost disappeared from the historical record; the republication of this 1915 work aims to address this neglect.



Aramaic (Syriac) Grammar
By Thomas Arayathinal

ISBN 978-1-59333-512-0, Hardback, $198

Arayathinal’s grammar is among the most comprehensive Syriac grammars ever produced. Designed as a teaching text, this volume is also a solid reference grammar for use by advanced scholars and beginners alike.










Click here for a complete list of our soon-to-be-published books.

Jesus the Galilean By David A. Fiensy
As the subtitle indicates, this monograph takes soundings in Jesus’ life. It does not attempt to present a systematic description of Jesus’ theology. Rather, it will work primarily on four texts: Mark 6:1-4; 10:17-22; 7:1-23; and 11:15-17.
ISBN 978-1-59333-313-3, Hardback, $68

Drower's Folk-Tales of Iraq By Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley
A collection of folktales from Iraq, dating from the 1930s, found in the archives of the famous English Lady E. S. Drower (1879-1972), who was novelist, folklorist, specialist on the Mandaeans, and writer of travel accounts. The stories–carrying recognizable Near Eastern folk-tale features–feature monsters and heroes, maidens and fairies and they give a vivid picture of a now extinct oral folktale tradition. The Gorgias Press edition includes the 1931 tales as well as the previously unpublished tales.
ISBN 978-1-59333-360-7, Hardback, $120

Theodora By Gregorios Boulos Behnam
Theodora is a historical play showing that the Byzantine Empress Theodora (d. 548) was a saintly lady with sublime character and decorum. She was the daughter of a Syrian priest and belonged to the Syrian Church. She protected the Fathers of her church from the persecution of the Byzantine church and state.
ISBN 978-1-59333-314-0, Paperback, $29

Scribal Habits of Codex Sinaiticus By Dirk Jongkind
Codex Sinaiticus is one of the most famous and important manuscripts of the Bible. The book studies a variety of textual and non-textual phenomena of this manuscript in order to learn more about the individual scribes who were responsible for copying the text.
ISBN 978-1-59333-422-2, Hardback, $78

American Journal of Ancient History (New Series 2.2, 2003 [2007]) By T. Corey, ed. Brennan
The continuation of the historic American Journal of Ancient History this volume contains three articles: “Urartu and the Medikos logos of Herodotus” by Laura D. Steele, “‘The athletes of war’: An evaluation of the agonistic elements in Greek warfare” by John Dayton, and “Agesilaus’ Egyptian enterprise” by Stephen Ruzicka. This is volume 2, number 2 of the New Series (2003 [2007]).
ISBN 978-1-59333-746-9, Paperback, $50

The Origins of the Islamic State in 2 Volumes By abu-l 'Abbas Ahmad ibn-jabir Al-Baladhuri
This set is one of the most reliable sources on the beginnings of Islamic statehood. It covers the wars of Prophet Muhammad, the ridda wars, the conquests of Syria, Armenia, Egypt, the Maghrib, and the occupation of Iraq and Persia. The set also covers the spread of Islam into the outer-lying areas of the Middle East.
ISBN 978-1-59333-763-6, Hardback, $179

Studies in Arabic and Hebrew Letters in Honor of Raymond P. Scheindlin By Michael Rand and Jonathan P. Decter, eds.
This volume contains contributions, in English and Hebrew, on the following topics: Biblical criticism, Medieval Biblical lexicography, Classical and Post-Classical piyyut, Medieval Hebrew poetry and science, Judeo-Arabic poetry and epistolography, Classical Arabic poetry and prose, and the history of Jewish Studies in America.
ISBN 978-1-59333-701-8, Hardback, $86

The Military Consilium in Republican Rome By Pamela Delia Johnston
The consilium, or advisory council, is found in virtually every aspect of Roman life, especially in the military sphere. This work examines in detail the composition and workings of the commander's consilium in the mid-to late Republican period.
ISBN 978-1-59333-373-7, Hardback, $76

The History of the Governors of Egypt by Abu 'Umar Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Kindi By Nicholas August Koenig
Published for the first time in this book is the History of the Governors of Egypt by Abu Umar Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Kindi (d. 870). Edited from a single manuscript by Nicholas Koenig, this study is as close as possible to a critical edition when only one manuscript survives.
ISBN 978-1-59333-766-7, Hardback, $62

Athos and its Monasteries By F. W. Hasluck
In this treatment of Mount Athos, perhaps the most famous of Greek monasteries, Hasluck takes the reader through an historical synopsis of the complex from the beginnings of Athos through the nineteenth century. Also included is a description of the history and architecture of the twenty sovereign monasteries on Mount Athos.
ISBN 978-1-59333-767-4, Hardback, $74

Negotiating Island Identities By Ina Berg
This volume interweaves archaeological data and current theoretical approaches to illuminate socio-economic strategies behind increasing imports and imitations of Minoan pottery shapes, styles and technologies in the Middle to Late Bronze Age Cyclades.
ISBN 978-1-59333-725-4, Hardback, $78






Dear E-Gorgias Readers,

April is shaping up to be an exciting month for new Gorgias titles – be on the lookout for new releases in the next couple of weeks! We are pleased to be receiving the submissions of several new books and proposals, so keep on getting the word out that we are willing to look at quality proposals.

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream or The End of a Medieval Catholic Church by Roger Lenaers is now out, as is The Book of the Laws of Countries: A Dialogue on Free Will versus Fate, A Key-Word-in-Context Concordance by Jerome Alan Lund. Reprints of G. Elliot Smith’s classic The Ancient Egyptians and the Origin of Civilization and Frederick Carl Eiselen’s Sidon are now also out.

Many projects are in the wings for Ugaritic, Syriac, and Biblical studies as well. Gorgias Press is pleased to be continuing to work into the Classics field where a couple of new projects have come our way. Be sure to keep an eye on our website for new publications.

Keep on reading!

Steve Wiggins, Acquisitions Editor






Gorgias Author David Gaunt Lecture Tour in California, May 3-11, 2007

David Gaunt, author of Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia During World War I, will be in California in May for a series of lectures on the Armenian and Assyrian Genocides of 1915. Professor Gaunt will speak at several institutions between May 3 and May 11, including Stanford University, U.C. Berkeley, California State Stanislaus, California State Fresno, UCLA, the Assyrian American Association of Southern California, and the Analysis Research and Planning for Armenia Institute (ARPA). In addition, he will be interviewed on Ashur TV and the Loma Linda Broadcasting Network.

The main sponsors of the tour are the Assyrian American National Federation (AANF) and the National Armenian Association for Studies and Research (NAASR). For more information regarding the tour, contact Jacklin Bejan or Marc Mamigonian.

Here is Dr. Gaunt's schedule from the information available as of April 6:

  • May 3: Stanford University. Lecture at 7:30 p.m. at Tresidder Union, Cypress Room, 2nd floor, 459 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA 94305.
  • May 4: University of California at Berkeley. Lecture at 7:30 p.m.
  • May 5: Ashur TV (Assyrian Satellite Program). Television interview at 11:00 a.m.
  • May 6: California State University, Stanislaus. Lecture at 4:00 p.m. at Demergasso-Bava Hall, Room 166, 801 West Monte Vista Avenue, Turlock, CA 95832.
  • May 8: California State University, Fresno
  • May 9: Assyrian American Association of Southern California. Lecture at 7:00 p.m. at The Assyrian Center, 509 Cahuenga Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601.
  • May 10: Loma Linda Broadcasting Network. Television interview 10:00 a.m.
  • May 10: UCLA. Lecture at 6:00 p.m. at Moore Hall, Room 100 (use parking lot 6 at the corner of Westwood and Strathmore and follow signs), Los Angeles, CA 90095.
  • May 11: Analysis Research and Planning for Armenia (ARPA Institute), Sherman Oaks, CA. Lecture at 7:00 p.m. at Merdinian Armenian Christian School, 13330 Riverside Drive, Sherman Oaks, CA.







International scholars have been reading and reviewing Gorgias books. Here are excerpts from recent reviews for three books:

"The present book excellently fills a gap in scholarship":
A Review of Moser's Teacher of Holiness: The Holy Spirit in Origen's Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans

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Maureen Beyer Moser's book on Origen's commentary on the Epistle to the Romans has been reviewed by Ilaria L.E. Ramelli of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan. Ramelli notes Moser's up-to-date bibliography, which includes English, French and Italian sources. She praises Moser's methodology in using the Greek fragments of Origen's commentary to supplement the integral Latin version by Rufinus, as Rufinus's cultural context and pneumatology were different from Origen's. Moser makes a substantial new contribution to Origen scholarship with her extensive study of Origen's pneumatology as specifically related to the Epistle to the Romans; Ramelli notes, "Thus, the present book excellently fills a gap in scholarship."

Teacher of Holiness: The Holy Spirit in Origen's Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans
By Maureen Beyer Moser

ISBN 1-59333-149-5, Hardback, $76

This book explores the pneumatology of Origen's Commentary on Romans. Origen's pedagogical understanding of the Spirit, who serves as both God's exitus and humanity's reditus, is pivotal to Origen's theology.

"An excellent pedagogical tool": A Review of Goins's A Vulgate Old Testament Reader

A review of this book by Scott E. Goins has appeared in the latest issue of the International Review of Biblical Studies (Vol. 52: 2005-6). The book is described as "a helpful introduction to the Latin of the Vulgate." The book is commended as "an excellent pedagogical tool, recommended to those who wish to keep their Latin intact."

A Vulgate Old Testament Reader
By Scott E Goins

ISBN 1-59333-215-7, Hardback, $65
ISBN 1-59333-232-7, Paperback, $48

This book contains several selections from Jerome's Latin Vulgate Old Testament, including the stories of Joseph, Moses, and David, as well as several Psalms. Notes explain points of grammar and difficult passages.

"An interesting collection of information": A Review of Pennacchietti's Three Mirrors for Two Biblical Ladies: Susanna and the Queen of Sheba in the Eyes of Jews, Christians and Muslims

The January 2007 issue of Scripture Bulletin (vol. 37, no. 1) contains a review of Fabrizio A. Pennacchietti's book by Deborah W. Rooke of King's College London. The review details the structure of the book, including its discussion of an Arabic manuscript entitled The story of the skull and the king, around which Pennacchietti's treatment of the story of Susanna is based. The essay on the Queen of Sheba "is an interesting collection of information about the varied legendary traditions that have grown up around the Queen of Sheba."

Three Mirrors for Two Biblical Ladies: The Queen of Sheba and Susanna in the Eyes of Jews, Christians, and Muslims
By Fabrizio Angelo Pennacchietti

ISBN 1-59333-363-3, Hardback, $38

The Queen of Sheba and the slandered Susanna are biblical figures who have seized the imagination of generations of Jews, Christians and Muslims in every age and land, taking on the image best fitted to their expectations.










Gorgias Press will be exhibiting at the conferences and meetings listed below, offering a special discount to conference attendees for not just the books in display but for all items in our current catalog. In addition, our editors will also be present at these meetings should you have a manuscript proposal which you would like to discuss with us.

George Kiraz to speak at ARAM Conference

George Kiraz, President of Gorgias Press, will be one of the featured speakers at the ARAM Society Conference. The conference will be held at the Oriental Institute in Chicago, April 10-12. His paper, entitled, "Tabetha Syriac: Child Language Acquisition of Classical Syriac - The First Five Years," is a case study of none other than the CEO of Gorgias's Harp of the Gazelle imprint, Tabetha Kiraz, who speaks classical Syriac exclusively with her baba ("daddy", in case you're not familiar with the language!). You can read about Tabetha by clicking on the "Staff" link on the Gorgias Press home page. An abstract of George's paper will appear in the May eGorgias.

Gorgias Press at Dorushe Annual Graduate Student Conference on Syriac Studies

The Department of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University, in cooperation with Beth Mardutho’s Dorushe Graduate Student Association, is pleased to announce the 2007 Dorushe Graduate Student Syriac Studies Conference. This year's conference will be held at Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. on April 14-15, 2007. In addition to graduate student papers, Dr. David Taylor, Oxford University, will deliver keynote remarks. Don't forget to stop by the Gorgias Press table and say hello!

Gorgias Press at Annual Meeting of the Association of Ancient Historians

'Tis the season for conferences! Look for us at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Ancient Historians in Princeton, NJ, May 3-6, 2007 as well.






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