The Cosmology attributed to Anania Širakac‘i

: a revised critical edition, English translation, and a study of its sources and context

Abstract

The object of the present dissertation is a treatise attributed to Anania Širakac‘i known as Tiezeragitut‘iwn, “Cosmology”. We propose a revised edition of this text, composed in Classical Armenian, its first complete English translation, and an analysis of medieval sources that offer a frame for its possible origin.

Part I focusses on Anania Širakac‘i as a historical figure and scholar and on the medieval sources concerning him and his activity. We argue that Širakac‘i was asked to produce a computus at the time of Catholicos Anastas, and discuss the possibility that the Cosmology was composed on the same occasion. Our analysis includes the question of Širakac‘i’s “k‘nnikon”, highlighting the strength and weaknesses of proposed interpretations of medieval sources depending on this term’s supposed meaning and use. We also devote a section to the influence that different cultural trends had on the representation of Širakac‘i, which, we argue, were in part derived from ideological interpretations of the Cosmology. Finally, we provide an overview of the major sources that this treatise draws from: works by St Basil of Caesarea, Aristotle and Philo of Alexandria. Parts II is devoted to the textual tradition of the Cosmology, presenting its printed editions and translations, the text’s recensions, a catalogue of manuscripts copies and an explanation of the work that was carried out for our revised edition. The latter constitutes part III, and it is preceded by a few premises and the siglae used for the manuscripts in the apparatus. Our English translation of this treatise is found in part IV, annotated with comments on contents, linguistic issues, translation choices, and parallels with other works, including sources. Part V presents some concluding remarks.

We also attach two appendices: Appendix I consists of a list of works attributed to Anania Širakac‘i; a tool to accompany the the reader through discussion on the corpus and potential relationships amongt texts. Appendix II contains an index of Biblical quotations and parallels identified in the Cosmology, including a comparison with the Hexaemeron of St Basil of Caesarea, via which most, but not all, citations came to be included in the Cosmology.

Date of Award	16 Jun 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of St Andrews
Supervisor	Valentina Calzolari (Supervisor), Timothy William Greenwood (Supervisor) & James Trevor Palmer (Supervisor)