Neo-Syriac Literature in Context: A Reading of the Durektha On Revealed Truth by Joseph of Telkepe (17th century)

Structure, sources and language of the poem On Revealed Truth by Joseph of Telkepe are presented in the context of early Neo-Aramaic poetry (17th century). The prologue deals with the heavenly orders and the story of Adam’s creation, fall, and redemption. Heavenly orders reflects the standard medieval angelology, as known from the Pseudo-Dyonisius and other apocryphal sources. The story of the devils’ enmity toward Adam enjoyed great popularity among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The central part of the poem is a fine Neo-Aramaic adaptation of a Classical Syriac Christmas hymn attributed to Khamis bar Qardahe (late 13th cent.). The epilogue contains a lament against Muslim oppression. The frequent use of Arabic loan-words appears to have a literary function (hendiadys as a stylistic reflection of the multilingualism which characterizes Aramaic-speaking communities) and polemical purposes. Crossing the boundaries between the two languages, Aramaic and Arabic, a loan may serve to confront the different identities and belief systems that the two languages represent. An Arabic and Islamic term as hadìth is used to reverse the Islamic position in the discussion about language and revelation.