In Mani at the Court of the Persian Kings the authors explore evidence arising from their project to edit the Chester Beatty Kephalaia codex. This new text presents Mani at the heart of Sasanian Iran in dialogue with its sages and nobles, acting as a cultural mediator between East and West and interpreter of Christian, Iranian, and Indian traditions. Nine chapters study Mani’s appropriation of the ‘law of Zarades’ and of Iranian epic; suggest a new understanding of his last days; and analyse his formative role in the history of late antique religions. These interdisciplinary studies advance research in several fields and will be of interest to scholars of Manichaeism, Sasanian Iran, and the development of religions in Late Antiquity.
Mani at the Court of the Persian Kings explores new evidence from the Chester Beatty Kephalaia, which presents Mani at the heart of Sasanian Iran, in dialogue with sages and nobles, acting as a cultural mediator between East and West.
The Chapters of the Wisdom of My Lord Mani, a Coptic papyrus codex preserved at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, describes Mani’s mission, teachings and debates with sages in the courts of the Sasanian empire during the reign of Shapur I; with an extended account of his last days and death under Bahram I. The text offers an unprecedented new source for the history of religions in Late Antiquity, including interactions of Manichaean, Zoroastrian, Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist traditions in Iran, remarkably transmitted into the Mediterranean world as part of Manichaean missionary literature. This is the first of four fascicles constituting the editio princeps, based on enhanced digital and multispectral imaging and extended autoptic study of the manuscript.
The founder of Manichaeism, Mani (216-274/277 CE), not only wrote down his teachings to prevent their adulteration, but also created a set of paintings—the Book of Pictures—to be used in the context of oral instruction. That pictorial handscroll and its later editions became canonical art for Mani's followers for a millennium afterwards. This richly illustrated study systematically explores the artistic culture of religious instruction of the Manichaeans based on textual and artistic evidence. It discusses the doctrinal themes (soteriology, prophetology, theology, and cosmology) depicted in Mani’s canonical pictures. Moreover, it identifies 10th-century fragments of canonical picture books, as well as select didactic images adapted to other, non-canonical art objects (murals, hanging scrolls, mortuary banners, and illuminated liturgical manuscripts) in Uygur Central Asia and Tang-Ming China.
The Medinet Madi Library comes of age in this landmark volume as one of the 20th century’s major finds of religious manuscripts. Discovered in Egypt’s Fayum region in 1929, these Coptic codices contain a cross-section of the sacred literature of the Manichaean religion. Early work on the collection in the 1930s was cut short by the ravages of the second world war. Recent decades have brought multiple new editorial projects, on which this volume offers a comprehensive set of status reports, as well as individual studies on aspects of the Manichaean religion informed by the library’s contents.
A cutting-edge analysis of 2,500 years of Persian visual, architectural, and material cultures of power and their role in connecting the world. With the rise of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BCE), Persian institutions of kingship became the model for legitimacy, authority, and prestige across three continents. Despite enormous upheavals, Iranian visual and political cultures connected an ever-wider swath of Afro-Eurasia over the next two millennia, exerting influence at key historical junctures. This book provides the first critical exploration of the role Persian cultures played in articulating the myriad ways power was expressed across Afro-Eurasia between the sixth century BCE and the nineteenth century CE. Exploring topics such as royal cosmologies, fashion, banqueting, manuscript cultures, sacred landscapes, and inscriptions, the volume’s essays analyze the intellectual and political exchanges of art, architecture, ritual, and luxury material within and beyond the Persian world. They show how Perso-Iranian cultures offered neighbors and competitors raw material with which to formulate their own imperial aspirations. Unique among studies of Persia and Iran, this volume explores issues of change, renovation, and interconnectivity in these cultures over the longue durée.
The Manichaean Church in Kellis presents an in-depth study of social organisation within the religious movement known as Manichaeism in Roman Egypt. In particular, it employs papyri from Kellis (Ismant el-Kharab), a village in the Dakhleh Oasis, to explore the socio-religious world of lay Manichaeans in the fourth century CE. Manichaeism has often been perceived as an elitist, esoteric religion. Challenging this view, Teigen draws on social network theory and cultural sociology, and engages with the study of lived ancient religion, in order to apprehend how laypeople in Kellis appropriated Manichaean identity and practice in their everyday lives. This perspective, he argues, not only provides a better understanding of Manichaeism: it also has wider implications for how we understand late antique ‘religion’ as a social phenomenon
The 'Christian Collection: Scripture, History, Theology, Spirituality, and Fiction' anthology brings together a rich tapestry of works that traverse a formidable landscape of Christian thought, belief, and narrative. Featuring an eclectic mix of genres, including theological treatises, historical analyses, spiritual autobiographies, and imaginative fiction, this collection provides a panoramic view of Christian intellectual and cultural heritage. The range of literary styles and the depth of themes exploredranging from the sublime to the divine, from the struggles of faith to the triumphs of spiritual enlightenmentdemonstrate the diversity and significance of the works included. Among these are standout pieces that have shaped religious thoughts and inspired millions worldwide, offering readers a comprehensive insight into the development of Christian ideology and its impact on global culture. The assembled authors and editors form a venerable who's who of literary and theological thought, from ancient church fathers like Saint Augustine and Athanasius of Alexandria to iconic writers such as Dante Alighieri and Leo Tolstoy, up to modern philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche and critical spirits like Voltaire. Their collective contributions frame a dialogue that stretches across centuries, shedding light on pivotal moments and movements within Christianity and its interaction with the world at large. This anthology aligns with significant historical, cultural, and literary movements, presenting a collective voice that encapsulates the spectrum of Christian thought and its evolution over time. This collection is recommended for anyone interested in traversing the vast expanses of Christian literature and thought. From scholars to lay readers, the anthology offers a unique opportunity to explore the multifaceted aspects of Christian theology, history, spirituality, and narrative through a single volume. Delving into this collection promises not only an educational journey through the corridors of Christian thought but also an enriching experience that fosters a deeper understanding of the myriad ways in which Christianity has influenced, and been influenced by, the world. The 'Christian Collection' is an essential reading for those seeking to comprehend the breadth and depth of Christian discourse across ages.
