LINGUIST List 17.1550

Fri May 19 2006

Qs: Aramaic Translations of 'Soter'

Editor for this issue: Jessica Boynton <jessicalinguistlist.org>

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Directory         1.    Aaron Shakow, Aramaic Translations of 'Soter'

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Message 1: Aramaic Translations of 'Soter'
Date: 18-May-2006
From: Aaron Shakow <shakowaaol.com>
Subject: Aramaic Translations of 'Soter'


I'm completing a study of the pharmaceuticals trade in the medieval andearly-modern Mediterranean, with a particular focus on its politicaliconography. I've been struck by the apparently sudden appearance of theepithet ''al-faruq'' (allegedly derived from the Aram. 'paroqa') todescribe Galenic theriaca in the late 9th/early 10th century Arabic medicalliterature. It occurred to me that these terms might be renderings of theHellenistic --> Christian 'soter' (or vice versa).

When discussed at all (c.f. Crone and Cook's Hagarism) ''al-faruq'' isalways rendered unproblematically in millenarian terms. If the associationwith 'soter' is sound, this seems potentially unwarranted. AlthoughWalafrid Strabo, for example, does equate the epithet with 'salvator' and'messiah,' he adds, ''id est, rex sacerdos'' [''Glossa ordinaria,'' PL 114,Col.179A]. Back in the day, Cicero was even more equivocal: describing theoffenses of Verres in Sicily, he noted inscriptions to the governor as'soter' and judged the word -- ''qui salutem dedit'' -- nearlyuntranslatable [Cic. Verr. 2.2.63/154] Whether this meant in principleeschatological salvation or 'health-bringing' is debatable, but in contextit's clearly garden-variety political marketing borrowed (at a less exaltedlevel) from the Seleucids and Ptolemies.

In any case, while usages shift over time, a putative historicalassociation between the Arabic medicinal ''theriaca of the 'faruq''' andHellenistic --> Roman legitimation strategies seemed like an interestingfootnote. It bears mentioning, at least, that tiryaq was almost invariablya monopoly of state and was prominent both in diplomatic gift exchange withEuropean states and popular donations to the local populace.

Is there a historically minded participant who can refer me to anyHellenistic or Byzantine-era translations of official Greek decrees intoAramaic or the like which might cement an association of 'soter' and'faruq/paroqa' as political usages? Or failing that, perhaps you can TURFme to a specialized list dealing with the dustier lexicographical questions.

Many thanks for your consideration.

Aaron Shakow

Linguistic Field(s): Historical Linguistics