A Critical Translation of The Capture of Jerusalem by the Persians in 614

FAIN: RQ-255662-17

University of Oregon (Eugene, OR 97403-5219)
Stephen James Shoemaker (Project Director: December 2016 to January 2025)
Sean William Anthony (Co Project Director: February 2017 to January 2025)

Preparation of a print and e-book annotated translation from Old Georgian and Arabic of The Capture of Jerusalem by the Persians in 614, a 7th-century account of the Persian invasion of the city. (27 months)

We will produce a collaborative translation of The Capture of Jerusalem by the Persians in 614, the single most important source for understanding the critical events of the Persian invasion and occupation of the Roman Near East at the beginning of the seventh century. These events transpired on the eve of the Islamic conquests and thus are pivotal for understanding the rise of Islam and its impact on the world of late antiquity. A translation of this text is essential for understanding the role of these events in the transitions of religion and empire at the end of antiquity. Although written originally in Greek, the text survives only in Old Georgian and Arabic translations. It has never been translated into a modern language other than Russian, and that translation is based on a now outdated edition. This project will be a collaborative translation between two scholars of late antiquity, one with expertise in Old Georgian and the other a specialist on Classical Arabic.