The Chronicle of 1234

During the first half of the 13th century an unknown West Syriac writer composed an important and extensive world chronicle in Syriac, running from Creation to 1234 AD. The author probably came from Edessa.

The work has not come down to us complete, but contains several gaps. It is in two parts. The first is devoted to ecclesiastical history, the other to secular history. Among the sources used is the Book of Jubilees which is not certainly used by any other Syriac writer. For the 7th and 8th centuries the author has used the lost Ecclesiastical History of Dionysius of Tel-Mahre.

Bibliography

• Syriac text of vol. 1, CSCO Syr. 36 (1920)
• Latin translation of vol. 1 by J.-B. Chabot, CSCO Syr. 56 (1937)
• Syriac text of vol. 2, CSCO Syr. 37 (1916)
• French translation of vol. 2 by A. Abouna and J.-M. Fiey, CSCO Syr. 154 (1974)

Reference

1. Sebastian Brock, A brief outline of Syriac Literature (1997), p.74, 140.