A GUIDE TO NARSAI’S HOMILIES

Memre by Narsai have been published in two large collections (Mingana, 1905; Patriarchal Press, 1970), and several smaller ones, including two in Patrologia Orientalis (34, 40). The present Guide provides a series of concordances between the different editions, together with (in Table 4) an indication of what modern translations are available. After Ephrem and Jacob of Serugh, Narsai is probably the next most famous Syriac poet. His long life spans chronologically the entire fifth century, and geographically the two Empires, his youth and the latter part of his life being spent in the Persian Empire, while his student and earlier teaching years were closely linked with the ‘Persian School’ in Edessa.1 At an uncertain date before the closure of the School (489), Narsai moved across the border to Nisibis, where he was still Director of the School of Nisibis in 496 when the first Statutes of the School were promulgated. The date of his death is unknown, but must have been c.500.2 1 The main source for Narsai’s life is chapter 31 of Barhadbeshabba ‘Arbaya’s Ecclesiastical History (ed. F. Nau, PO 9:5). 2 Mingana’s date of 502, followed by many scholars, is based on the assumption that he left Edessa in 457 (which is far from certain), coupled