e-Gorgias (Issue 21, August 2007)

Issue 21
August 2007
Reading Time: 20 minutes

Dr. Thomas Joseph

Mor Ignatius Aphram I Barsoum

2007 marks the fiftieth year since the passing of Patriarch Aphram I (Ephrem) Barsoum. We commemorate his life and work in this special edition of eGorgias. Go to our "News" section to read what Gorgias authors have to say about the Patriarch's legacy. Our Gorgias Enthusiast of the month is Dr. Thomas Joseph, a long-time friend of Gorgias Press who helped with the production of the Gorgias edition of Patriarch Aphram's The Scattered Pearls. Read more about him in our "Enthusiast" section.

Anybody can go to a conference and listen to papers, but after hours is when the real networking begins. Schmoozing just doesn't get any better than over a pint at one of Oxford's storied pubs. Read our Conference Section for details on the Oxford Syriac Patristics Pub Walk during the upcoming International Conference on Patristics Studies.

Be the first person to comment back on the Gorgias Blog! We have entries ranging from still photography to pirates to mustard. Have a look and let us know what you think. That's the whole idea, after all!

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

Recently Released: Our latest titles
Coming Soon: Forthcoming titles from Gorgias Press
From the Acquisitions Desk: By Acquisitions Editor Steve Wiggins
News: The Scholarly Legacy of Mor Ignatius Aphram I Barsoum
August Enthusiast of the Month: Dr. Thomas Joseph
Conferences: Gorgias Press present at upcoming International Conference on Patristics Studies

You can find a full description of any of our books on our website, www.gorgiaspress.com.

	St. Cyril of Alexandria, A New Testament Exegete By Lois M. Farag ISBN 978-1-59333-581-6 Hardback, $115 (BiblioPerks™ $80.50)
This study portrays Cyril of Alexandria as exegete and theologian through an examination of his Commentary on the Gospel John. It begins with an attempt to place Cyril and his commentary within their context. This work argues that Cyril wrote his Commentary on the Gospel of John early in his writing career, almost a decade before becoming bishop. Cyril’s commentary on the Johannine Gospel reveals his exegetical method and his strong Trinitarian theology. The commentary also focuses the nature and work of the Holy Spirit: the indwelling of the Spirit is the beginning of the newness of life.

	The Platonic Theology of Ioane Petritsi By Levan Gigineishvili ISBN 978-1-59333-395-9 Hardback, $99 (BiblioPerks™ $69.30)
Gigineishvili’s study is a comprehensive exposition of the philosophical system of twelfth-century Georgian Christian Neoplatonist philosopher Ioane Petritsi. Petritsi translated and commented Proclus’ "Elements of Theology" – the first complete translation of this treatise ever made. The translation needed the creation of a philosophic language—a medium for transmitting the extravagant philosophic ideas into Georgian—which Petritsi had effectively achieved. Petritsi both explains intricacies of Proclus’ thought and tries to prove the basic affinity between the Platonic and the Biblical traditions. Gigineishvili exposes the entire system of Petritsi’s thought on a background of ideas of Proclus, other Neoplatonists, and of the Church Fathers.

	Midrash and Context By Teugels, Lieve M. & Ulmer, Rivka (eds) ISBN 978-1-59333-582-3 Hardback, $98 (BiblioPerks™ $68.60)
A collection of seven groundbreaking essays on Rabbinic midrash and related texts by a new generation of erudite scholars combining the themes of the 2004 and 2005 SBL midrash sessions: “Jewish and Christian Hermeneutics” and “Midrash and Cultural Studies,” this book is a must have for clergy, students, scholars, and laypersons interested in deepening their understanding of Rabbinic and Patristic biblical interpretation.

	A History of the Babylonians and Assyrians By George Stephen Goodspeed ISBN 978-1-59333-557-1 Hardback, $120 (BiblioPerks™ $84.00)
As an introduction to the ancient history of Iraq, Goodspeed’s book has stood the test of time. The reader is given a detailed rendition of the history of the Old Babylonian, Assyrian, and Neo-Babylonian Empires. Although out of print for many years, the book is consistently cited as a helpful introduction to the subject.

	Winters in Algeria By Frederick Arthur Bridgman ISBN 978-1-59333-599-1 Hardback, $112 (BiblioPerks™ $78.40)
In the 1870s, American painter Frederick Bridgman traveled from his home in Paris to Algiers. Although he traveled to paint, his journeys so impressed him that he produced a written account that appeared in “Harpers Monthly.” That account became the basis of this book. His travelogue describes the people and customs, the layout of the towns, the celebration of the Muslim religion, the black community in an Islamic context, and the legends of the people of historic Algeria.

	S. Ephraemi Syri, Rabulae Episcopi Edesseni, Balaei, Aliorumque Opera Selecta By J. Josephus Overbeck ISBN 978-1-59333-517-5 Hardback, $128 (BiblioPerks™ $89.60)
A useful source for Syrian documents generally hard to find, this compendium of the writings of St. Ephraem the Syrian, Rabbula, Bishop of Edessa, and Balai, the hymnographer, is a necessary addition to any Syriac scholar’s library. Presented in Syriac, they are available now as a handy resource.

We have a broad mix of titles coming your way!

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

Exegesis in the Targum of Psalms: The Old, the New, and the Rewritten By Timothy Edwards
The Old, the New and the Rewritten illustrates how Targum Psalms creatively interprets selected psalms and how those interpretations relate to other Jewish and Christian traditions, including early translations of the psalms, rabbinic Midrashim, the New Testament and early Church Fathers. The study of these Psalms suggests viewing Targum Psalms as a creative partner in the world of biblical interpretation, as opposed to a compilation of already existing midrashic material. Edwards portrays the Targum as a link between the written and oral Torah that leads its readers on a path to tradition.
ISBN 978-1-59333-432-1, Hardback, $102 (BiblioPerks™ $71.40)

Terms for Eternity: Aiônios and Aïdios in Classical and Christian Texts By David Konstan Ilaria Ramelli
This book explores two ancient Greek terms for eternity, aiônios and aïdios, from their earliest occurrence in Pre-Socratic philosophy and Plato down through the patristic fathers, where they play a crucial role in debates over eternal punishment vs. universal salvation.
ISBN 978-1-59333-694-3 , Hardback, $103 (BiblioPerks™ $72.10)

The Military Consilium in Republican Rome By Pamela Delia Johnston
The consilium, or advisory council, played an important role in the everyday activities of the Roman magistrate in his role as military commander. This work is an in-depth look at the commander's consilium from its first depicted appearances in the accounts of the legendary period to 31 BC. The concilium adapted to meet changing needs and serves to illustrate how Romans felt about their own society. The role of the commander's consilium can be seen as a pragmatic compromise between the desire for competent leadership and personal ambition on the one hand, and the Romans' ever-present fear of tyrannical behavior on the other hand.
ISBN 978-1-59333-373-7, Hardback, $99 (BiblioPerks™ $69.30)

Negotiating Island Identities By Ina Berg
Negotiating Island Identities explores the history of interaction between Crete and the Cycladic islands from the late Middle to Late Bronze II periods when Minoan influence was at its peak. Based on a thorough investigation of pottery assemblages from key sites, the book advocates a rethink of established acculturation scenarios (such as “Minoanisation”) in relation to the Cycladic islands. Openness or closure towards outside influences was not predetermined by cultural, geographical or ecological variables but was socially constructed. Island communities could consciously fashion their worlds and make choices about the nature and degree of interaction with their neighbours.
ISBN 978-1-59333-725-4, Hardback, $102 (BiblioPerks™ $71.40)

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, $156 (BiblioPerks™ $109.20)

Subscription for American Journal of Ancient History By T. Corey Brennan, ed.
The American Journal of Ancient History is directed towards the interests of the members of the Association of Ancient Historians. It publishes articles concerning the history of the ancient Mediterranean world and the history of other countries in their relations with it. The journal will be produced in one volume annually, beginning in 2008. The price for the subscription is $50 per issue; institutional and individual rates are the same.
ISBN 0362-8914, Paperback, $50

American Journal of Ancient History (New Series 2.2, 2003 [2007]) By T. Corey Brennan, ed.
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

American Journal of Ancient History (New Series 3-4, 2004-2005 [2007]) By T. Corey Brennan, ed.
The continuation of the historic American Journal of Ancient History this volume contains nine articles and comprises the contents of volumes 3 and 4 of the New Series (2004-2005 [2007]).
ISBN 978-1-59333-782-7, Paperback, $50

Early and Later Jewish Influence on Christianity By F C Burkitt
Selected from the essays of the influential volume “The Legacy of Israel,” the three contributions in this volume explore early and later Jewish influence on Christianity. Written by F. C. Burkitt, A. Meillet, and L. Magnus, the articles consider the patristic period and modern European literary usage of Hebrew scripture and tradition.
ISBN 978-1-59333-692-9, Paperback, $38 (BiblioPerks™ $26.60)

The Life of Al-Ghazzali By Duncan B. MacDonald
Al-Ghazzali’s contributions to Muslim theology cannot be overestimated and Professor MacDonald brings to life the thoughts and experiences of this medieval theologian, philosopher, and mystic, with special attention to his religious experiences and opinions.
ISBN 978-1-59333-863-3, Paperback, $38 (BiblioPerks™ $26.60)

Athos and its Monasteries By F. W. Hasluck
The reader is taken through an historical synopsis of the complex from the beginnings of Athos through the nineteenth century. In this detailed and amply illustrated study, Hasluck begins with a description of the foundation of the monastic system on Athos and moves through the centuries and considers the administration of the monastery and its architecture in the light of early twentieth-century standards. A second part to the book includes a description of the twenty sovereign monasteries. This book remains a valuable resource for those interested in a major role played in Greek history by the region of Mount Athos.
ISBN 978-1-59333-767-4, Hardback, $97 (BiblioPerks™ $67.90)

The Emperor Julian and the Jews By Michael Adler
This study explores the Emperor Julian's actions in regards to the Jews, especially his advances toward rebuilding the Jewish Temple. It offers the reader an insight into an aspect of Julian’s reign not often examined by Christian historians.
ISBN 978-1-59333-857-2, Paperback, $38 (BiblioPerks™ $26.60)

Bar Hebraeus' Book of the Pupils of the Eye By Herman F. Janssens
The Book of the Pupils of the Eye is Bar Hebraeus’s introduction to Aristotle’s Organon. This volume makes the Sryiac text available to the interested scholar or student.
ISBN 978-1-59333-859-6, Paperback, $45 (BiblioPerks™ $31.50)

Bardaisan and the Odes of Solomon By William Romaine Newbold
A compelling discussion of the origins and authorship of the Odes of Solomon, this work provides great insight into the person of Bar Daysan as well as the research surrounding the text of the Odes of Solomon.
ISBN 978-1-59333-860-2, Paperback, $32 (BiblioPerks™ $22.40)

Islam Corrects Judaism By Sidney Adams Weston
Herein a 13th century Alexandrian Jewish convert to Islam records his understanding of the truth of Islam over Judaism. Dr. Sidney A. Weston edits, translates and comments on this text making it accessible to the scholar and enthusiast alike.
ISBN 978-1-59333-862-6, Paperback, $38 (BiblioPerks™ $26.60)

Summertime is a frenetic time for acquisitions at an academic press. It is the season that authors bring projects to conclusion after their hectic year of teaching and send them along for our consideration. Academic presses thrive on the recommendations of satisfied authors – if you have published material with us please recommend us to your colleagues. If you haven’t published with us, why not consider sending us your manuscript? Unlike many larger presses, your work receives individual attention at Gorgias Press. Our editors are approachable and willing to work with authors to bring their projects through to completion.

For some recent, successful publications, be sure to check out our new books by David Fiensy (Jesus the Galilean), Elise Crosby (History, Poetry and Genealogy of the Yemen), Stephen Thomas (Deification in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition), or Levan Gigineishvili (The Platonic Theology of Ioane Petritsi). Not only do these books provide a cache of new research, they also show the breadth of our publishing interests. Be sure to tell your colleagues about us!

Happy reading,

Steve Wiggins, Acquisitions Editor

Jesus the Galilean By David A. Fiensy
Who was Jesus, really? That question has been debated by academics for the last two centuries, and contributions to this important issue in the history of Christianity are still making an impact on public opinion. Jesus the Galilean takes soundings in the life of the historical Jesus based on four readings from the Gospel of Mark which represent some of the most controversial issues in the current scholarly discussion about the historical Jesus. Using such resources as the background of the New Testament, archaeological studies, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Mishnah, and the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, this book explores what can be known about the historical Jesus in the historic Galilee.
ISBN 978-1-59333-313-3, Hardback, $89 (BiblioPerks™ $62.30)

The History, Poetry, and Genealogy of the Yemen By Elise W. Crosby
The history, poetry, and genealogy of the Yemen is the earliest known history of pre-Islamic Yemen. Attributed to the South Arabian historian ‘Abid b. Sharya al-Jurhumi d. 680 A.D.), it recounts in prose and poetry six saga cycles of ancient personages and events of the Yemen. Here, two sagas, the dispersion of Sam’s descendants from Babel to the Yemen, and the destruction of the tribes of ‘Ad and Thamud, are translated with complete annotation. The tales of Luqman b. ‘Ad and his seven vultures, Sulayman and Bilqis, the Himyarite kings, and Tasm and Jadis are given in full synopses.
ISBN 978-1-59333-394-2, Hardback, $102 (BiblioPerks™ $71.40)

Deification in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition: A Biblical Perspective By Stephen Thomas
A popularly-written study of the biblical roots of the Eastern Orthodox Church’s mystical understanding of the knowledge of God. This unique study brings together the best of contemporary exegesis with the tradition of Eastern Christianity and illustrates the biblical roots of the Eastern Church's understanding of grace as the energy of God. The book presents, in lay terms, the shape for an Orthodox biblical theology for the 21st century and will be of interest to all Christians for whom the Bible is divine revelation and for whom tradition continues to be creative.
ISBN 978-1-59333-324-9, Hardback, $102 (BiblioPerks™ $71.40)

The Platonic Theology of Ioane Petritsi By Levan Gigineishvili
Gigineishvili’s study is a comprehensive exposition of the philosophical system of twelfth-century Georgian Christian Neoplatonist philosopher Ioane Petritsi. Petritsi translated and commented Proclus’ "Elements of Theology" – the first complete translation of this treatise ever made. The translation needed the creation of a philosophic language—a medium for transmitting the extravagant philosophic ideas into Georgian—which Petritsi had effectively achieved. Petritsi both explains intricacies of Proclus’ thought and tries to prove the basic affinity between the Platonic and the Biblical traditions. Gigineishvili exposes the entire system of Petritsi’s thought on a background of ideas of Proclus, other Neoplatonists, and of the Church Fathers.
ISBN 978-1-59333-395-9, Hardback, $99 (BiblioPerks™ $69.30

The Scholarly Legacy of Mor Ignatius Aphram I Barsoum

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the passing of Mor Ignatius Aphram I Barsoum, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East (1887-1957). In this issue of eGorgias, we take time to remember his life and recall his scholarly legacy. Several of Barsoum's writings are available from Gorgias Press, including the important The Scattered Pearls: History of Syriac Literature and Sciences.

A full biography of Barsoum can be found on the Syriac Orthodox Resources website. He was born in 1887 in Mosul, Iraq. In addition to his religious training he also studied French, Turkish, Arabic and Syriac. He was ordained as a priest in 1911 and managed the press of Deir al-Za'faran monastery.

Barsoum was active in international politics. After his consecration as Mor Severius, the bishop of Syria in 1918, he was chosen to represent the Syriac community in the peace settlement in Paris in 1919. Here he spoke not only for the rights of the Syrians, but for the rights of Arab nations as well. In the years following, Barsoum was an apostolic delegate to the World Conference on Faith and Order; he also visited the U.S. as an emissary of the Patriarch. Here he consecrated churches, ordained priests, and lectured on the Syriac language, serving at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago until 1929.

In 1933, Barsoum succeeded the late Patriarch Elias III as Patriarch of Antioch, assuming the name Mor Ignatius Aphram I Barsoum. He was active in his position, founding a seminary and establishing new dioceses. At his death in 1957, he was buried in Homs, where he had had to relocate the Patriarchate after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Barsoum wrote extensively in Arabic on matters of theology, church history, liturgy, and lexicography; a volume of his poetry was also published. His most well-known work, The Scattered Pearls: History of Syriac Literature and Sciences, is an extensive survey of Syriac literature. The survey sets itself apart from earlier, similar works in that it covers Syriac sources up to the twentieth century. It is of historical importance because hundreds of the manuscripts personally examined by Barsoum were lost during World War I. Written in Arabic (the title in the original is al-Lul’u al-Manthur), it was translated into Syriac by Mor Philoxenos Dolabani in 1967. In 2000, The Scattered Pearls was translated into English by Matti Moosa, making it available to a large number of new readers. Dr. Moosa relates some of the difficulties he encountered during the translation:

"The translation of al-Lul'u al-Manthur was a real challenge. The fact that it was written in a nineteenth-century Arabic style and permeated with a myriad of Arabicized Syriac church and religious terms made it difficult for Arabic readers, Syrians or otherwise, to read even a few pages without putting it aside in frustration. Quite often I mused over some passages, seeking to make sense of the narrative, until finally I comprehended them. Another source of difficulty was the author’s unclear reference to the writings of Western scholars and their Arabicized names. Like traditional Arab writers, Barsoum keeps referring to "he" and "they" without identifying who this "he" is or who "they" are. The Arabic transliteration of Syriac names posed another problem. For example, the bishop of the Arab tribes, known in Syriac as Mar Jirjis (Saint George), should be Mar Gewargi; Moses bar Kepha should be Moshe bar Kepho; Jacob Baradaeus should be Ya'qub Burud’ono, and Bar Hebraeus should be Bar 'Ebroyo. This difficulty, however, is understandable, since the patriarch was writing in Arabic for Arabic-speaking readers."

The Gorgias publication of Moosa's English translation (second revised edition, 2003) has been welcomed. Syriac scholar Sebastian Brock states:

"I first learnt of Patriarch Barsaum's invaluable book, The Scattered Pearls, some 40 years ago, from an Egyptian friend, who very kindly got hold of a xerox copy of the Arabic 2nd edition (this was in the late 1960s); a little later, thanks to Malfono Abrohom Nuro, then living in Lebanon, I became the proud possessor of Mor Philoxenos Dolabani's Syriac translation - which was particularly useful when I had to review Rudolf Macuch's book on the history of later Syriac literature (Geschichte der spät- und neusyrischen Literatur, 1976) for the Journal of Semitic Studies, since Macuch made a great deal of use of that work, sometimes more or less taking over whole chunks of it: this was in fact a great service to western scholars, who had little idea at that time about the importance of Barsaum's book. Now that the Gorgias Press has published an English translation of it, the situation is happily changed, and one quite often finds scholars making references to The Scattered Pearls in their footnotes."

Gorgias Press is pleased to have an active role in continuing the scholarly legacy of Mor Ignatius Aphram I Barsoum by providing English translations of his works. The titles we offer are listed below.

	The Scattered Pearls: History of Syriac Literature and Sciences By Aphram (Ephrem) I Barsoum ISBN 1-931956-04-9 Hardback, $124 (BiblioPerks™ $86.80)
The only history of Syriac literature to make use of hundreds of manuscripts from the east.

	History of the Syriac Dioceses By Aphram (Ephrem) I Barsoum ISBN 978-1-59333-218-1 Hardback, $124 (BiblioPerks™ $86.80)
The History of Syriac Dioceses, by the late Patriarch Aphram I of Antioch and all the East, is a synopsis of a much larger study still in manuscript form. This selected portion of this history, published for the first time in English translation along with the original Arabic text, offers the reader an in-depth treatment of the conditions of the Syrian Orthodox Church in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

	The History of Tur Abdin By Aphram (Ephrem) I Barsoum ISBN 978-1-59333-715-5 Hardback, $94 (BiblioPerks™ $65.80
Until now this first insider-history of Tur Abdin has been unavailable to non-Semitic readers. Written by Patriarch Ignatius Aphram Barsoum in Syriac, this history of the mountainous region in southeastern Asia Minor called Tur Abdin has not found wide readership because of language barriers. This new edition produced by Gorgias Press is a trilingual edition: the original Syriac, and Arabic and English translations.

	The Shorter Catechism of the Syrian Orthodox Church By Aphram (Ephrem) I Barsoum ISBN 1-59333-454-0 Paperback, $32 (BiblioPerks™ $22.40)
Barsoum's catechism covers Christian doctrine according to the Syriac Orthodox tradition.

	Histoire des Sciences et de la Litterature Syriaque By Aphram (Ephrem) I Barsoum ISBN 1-59333-452-4 Paperback, $89 (BiblioPerks™ $62.30
Barsaum's Histoire (known as al-Lulu al-Manthur in the original Arabic) gives the history of Syriac sciences and literary production from the beginning of Syriac until the twentieth century.

Our August Enthusiast of the Month, Thomas Joseph, is a fitting choice for this special issue on Patriarch Aphram I, as he played a significant part in helping Gorgias Press with the preparation of the Patriarch’s The Scattered Pearls.

Thomas Joseph is a native of Kerala, India, but has resided in Southern California for the past 18 years. He holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in engineering from the Institute of Technology, BHU and the University of Southern California respectively, as well as a Ph.D. in Information Systems from UCLA. In 1995 he launched the Syriac Orthodox Resources web site along with Dr. George Kiraz, and this site continues to be widely cited for information on the Syriac Orthodox Church. In 1998, when George launched the academic journal Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies, Thomas assumed responsibility as technical editor, a position he has held ever since. He also serves on the board of Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute.

Thomas has the following to say about Gorgias Press.

"In the early 1990s, while a doctoral student at UCLA, I was introduced to the field of Syriac Studies through the books I discovered in UCLA's extensive libraries. Since many of these were out of print, I would make photocopies for my personal reference. However it was George Kiraz who formally introduced me to this academic discipline in 1996 when we started to collaborate to enhance the Syriac Orthodox Resources site. When George and Christine visited me in October 2001 in Orlando and showed me the proof of their first reprint and announced their plans to launch Gorgias Press, I admired his decision. If anyone could successfully establish a publishing house catering to this niche, it was George. I was eager as well to replace my photocopies with bound books. From a part-time operation out of George's study, Gorgias Press has established itself as a premier publisher in the field and has expanded into several others - a testimony to the tenacity and resourcefulness of George and Christine and their unique understanding of the needs of scholarship in these fields. I have been more than a loyal customer since the very early days of Gorgias Press. I have assisted George in the preparation of The Scattered Pearls by Patriarch Aphrem I for press, and recently with George's own New Syriac Primer--both immensely gratifying experiences. I am very glad to learn that Gorgias Press will soon begin publication of the print edition of Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies. I congratulate Gorgias Press for its rapid growth into a reputable publishing house and wish George and Christine success in all their endeavors and plans for the Press."

Thomas leads information architecture at a large financial institution in Southern California. He is married to Renu and has a daughter, Sarah.

	The Scattered Pearls: History of Syriac Literature and Sciences By Aphram (Ephrem) I Barsoum ISBN 1-931956-04-9 Hardback, $124 (BiblioPerks™ $86.80)
The only history of Syriac literature to make use of hundreds of manuscripts from the east.

	Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies (All Volumes Subscription) By George (ed) Kiraz ISBN 1097-3702 Institutional subscription $82.80; Individual $58
Widely regarded as a premier journal dedicated to the study of Syriac, Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies was established in 1998 as a venue devoted exclusively to the discipline. An organ of Beth Mardutho, the Syriac Institute, the journal appears semi-annually in its electronic form and will be printed in annual editions. A peer-reviewed journal, Hugoye is a respected academic source for up-to-date information about the state of Syriac studies and for discovering what is going on in the field. Contributors include some of the most respected names in the world of Syriac today.

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.

Gorgias Press will be present at the following conferences:

XV International Conference on Patristics Studies, University of Oxford, 6-11 August 2007

Dorushe (The Syriac Studies Graduate Student Association) Presents:

The Inaugural Oxford Syriac Patristics Pub Walk

So you think you know all about Syriac language and literature?

Care to match your wits with others while imbibing in Oxford's finest brews?

Then join Dorushe for an entertaining Pub Walk around Oxford on Thursday, August 9th during the XV International Conference on Patristics Studies. We will play a game of Syriac Trivia at each pub we visit. Winners will receive a free book courtesy of Gorgias Press.

Come for trivia and for fun!

We will meet in front of the Examination Schools at 7pm on Thursday, August 9th.

For more information contact Jonathan Loopstra at jonathanloopstra@gmail.com or Jeanne-Nicole Saint-Laurent at Jeanne-Nicole_Saint-Laurent@brown.edu.

Conference Report: Society of Biblical Literature International Meeting, 22-26 July, Vienna, Austria

Gorgias Press was represented at the SBL International Conference by Jeffrey Volkmer, who shares the following report:

The recent Society of Biblical Literature International Conference met at the University of Vienna and Gorgias Press was on hand to support biblical scholarship and to offer a selection of its ever-growing collection of titles germane to biblical studies. Gone from this year’s conference were questions regarding the type and genre of books published by Gorgias, and this along with a marked increase in interest from prospective authors wishing to be published, demonstrates just how far the press has come in being immediately recognizable and respected for its quality titles. These encouraging observations were not restricted to the content between the covers of our books, however, but there were also quite a number of congregants who took a positive notice to the covers themselves – quite a high compliment given the fact that our book exhibit was in a room festooned with art from the likes of Gustav Klimt and Franz Matsch!
On the whole, when compared to last’s year’s convening of the SBL conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, it was striking to see how much the press’s rapid expansion mirrors the increased level of familiarity and respect among those engaged with biblical studies. Finally, it is worth mentioning that two of our most popular-selling titles from the conference were John Healey’s introductory grammar, Leshono Suryoyo, and Sebastian Brock’s An Introduction to Syriac Studies, a deeply encouraging sign to anyone engaged in Syriac studies and a testament to the effect of making such books widely available. We can only hope that both of these trends continue.

The following books were bestsellers at the conference:

	Scribal Habits of Codex Sinaiticus By Dirk Jongkind ISBN 978-1-59333-422-2 Hardback, $102 (BiblioPerks™ $71.40)
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.

	Early Syriac Translation Technique & the textual criticism of the Greek Gospels By Peter John Williams ISBN 1-59333-096-0 Hardback, $98 (BiblioPerks™ $68.60)
This systematic investigation of the relationship between the Syriac Gospels and their Greek Vorlage, formulates clear rules for the use of Syriac witnesses in textual criticism and also shows the errors that can arise if these rules are ignored.

	Leshono Suryoyo: First Studies in Syriac By John Healey ISBN 1-59333-190-8 Hardback w/ CD, $85 (BiblioPerks™ $59.50)
John Healey’s, Leshono Suryoyo, is an introductory grammar for those wishing to learn to read Classical Syriac, one of the major literary dialects of Aramaic and the language of one of the main groups of Middle Eastern churches, including the Syrian Orthodox Church, the Church of the East, and the Chaldaean Church. From the first centuries of the Christian era, Syriac was used by the main theological and historical writers of this tradition (Ephrem the Syrian, Philoxenus of Mabbogh, Thomas of Marga, and Barhebraeus). It also continues to be used in worship.

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e-Gorgias (Issue 21, August 2007)