Syriac Historical Writing

Abbreviations:

  • ET = English translation
  • FT = French translation
  • GT = German translation
  • LT = Latin translation

Main West Syriac Chronicles1

Pseudo-Zacharias Rhetor:Ecclesiastical History (6th cent.)

Also includes Joseph and Aseneth7 Sleepers of EphesusSilvester, and Baptism of Constantine.

John of Ephesus: Ecclesiastical History (6th cent.)2

Pseduo-Dionysius of Tellmahre: Chronicle ('Zuqnin Chronicle') (8th cent.)

Dionysius of Tellmahre: Ecclesiastical and Secular History (9th cent.)

Michael the Great: Chronicle (12th cent.)3

Anonymous: Chronicle ad annum 1234

Barhebraeus: Chronicle4

Barhebraeus: Ecclesiastical History

 

Shorter West Syriac Chronicles

Chronicle of Edessa (6th cent.)

Maronite Chronicle

Jacob of Edessa (d.708), Chronicle

Anonymous fragments in Berlin, Sachau 315 (on AD 501–6, 763–4)

Chronicle of disasters 712–716

Chronicle ad annum 724

Chronicle ad annum 775

Chronicle ad annum 813

Chronicle ad annum 819

Chronicle ad annum 846

 

East Syriac Chronicles

Fragment in Vatican Syriac 179

Barhadbeshabba `Arbaya: Ecclesiastical History

Chronicle of Arbela

Anonymous Chronicle ('Guidi's Chronicle/Khuzistan Chronicle')

John of Phenek, Rish Melle

Elijah of Nisibis: Opus Chronologicum

 

East Syriac Sources in Arabic (Including Translations of Lost Syriac Originals)

Chronicle of Seert5

Mari, 'Amr and Sliba, De Patriarchis Nestorianorum Commentaria

 

Melkite

Short Melkite Chronicle

 

Seventh-Century Apocalyptic Literature

Pseudo-Methodius

Edessene fragment

Gospel of the Twelve Apostles

 

Monastic Histories

History of the Monastery of Beth Qoqa (early 9th cent.)

Isho`dnah, Liber Castitatis (9th cent.)

Thomas of Marga, Liber Superiorum (9th cent.)

 

Some Secondary Literature on Chronicles in General