Biblical Hebrew – Aramaic – Syriac
Advanced Course
AY 2023-2024 | Professor: Eberhard Bons
The aim of this course is to provide students with the knowledge, methods and tools required for the advanced analysis of texts written in vocalized and unvocalized Hebrew as well as Aramaic and Syriac.
The course consists of three parts:
- The starting point will be the study of the linguistic phenomena of late biblical Hebrew. In this context, we will first read vocalized texts (e.g. texts from the book of Qohelet), with an emphasis on syntax and vocabulary. This will be followed by the study of non-vocalized texts (Sirach, Qumran, Rabbinic Hebrew).
- The second part of the course will be devoted to an introduction to the Aramaic language: Aramaic of the Empire (Elephantine contracts), epigraphic texts, biblical texts (book of Daniel), Targumim.
- The third part of the course consists of an introduction to Syriac. The most important morphological and syntactic phenomena of the language will be examined in depth. Texts from the Old and New Testament in Syriac will be read in parallel.
Modalities and duration:
Online course, 36 hours between September 2023 and May 2024.
Prerequisites: A good knowledge of Biblical Hebrew is essential.
Spoken languages: Italian, French, English.
Certificate of attendance: At the end of the course, a certificate of attendance will be issued by FSCIRE to those who have actively attended at least 28 out of 36 hours.
Students wishing to take this course should contact via a single e-mail Prof. Eberhard Bons (eb_bons@yahoo.de) and Dr. Anna Mambelli (mambelli@fscire.it) between 15 and 20 September 2023.
The course timetable will be set at an initial online meeting.
