introduction 7
the aramaeans can be located geographically in the Middle euphra-
tes; in central Syria, near Jebel Bishri; in tadmor (palmyra); and in
Babylonia. the aramaeans must thus be viewed in connection with the
above-mentioned other tribes in these regions and their existence, there-
fore, has to be seen as part of a lengthy ethnogenesis and not simply as
immigration.
the expansion of the aramaeans in Syria is decidedly more differenti-
ated than is often assumed in current research. Basically, there are sev-
eral external factors that allowed the aramaeans to take central stage in
Syria. Furthermore, regional differences between upper Mesopotamia
and north, West, Middle, and South Syria must be considered.41
For the purposes of this volume Syria is considered to extend from the
Jazirah region in the east to the Mediterranean in the west and from south-
ern anatolia in the north to damascus in the south. Lebanon in the west
and palestine to the west and east of the Jordan river are excluded. this
comprises the core area of the kingdoms of the ancient aramaeans.42
- on the State of research
aramaic language and culture have not been forgotten. In the West they
were first known by way of several old testament texts (e.g., the Book
of daniel). In addition, there was the reception of the aramaic aḥiqar,
which conveyed the aramaean culture of Syria to the West by means of
various translations and editions.43
the aramaic language has survived as a spoken language in the form
of Western neo-aramaic, for example, in Maʿlula in central Syria, and as
eastern neo-aramaic, for example, in the region of tur ʿabdin in south-
eastern turkey.44
analysis of aramaic sources was greatly enhanced when the French
abbé J.-J. Barthélemy first deciphered the palmyrene script in 1754 and
the phoenician script in 1858.45
41 cf. esp. Sader 1987; ead. 1992; ead. 2000; ead. 2010 and her contribution in this
volume.
42 cf., on the geography, esp. dussaud 1927; Wirth 1971; parpola – porter 2001: 2–4,
8–10; Bagg 2007; id. 2011; Wittke – olshausen – Szydlak (eds.) 2010: 42f, 46f, 48f, and
50f.
43 cf. niehr 2007: 1.
44 cf. the individual studies arnold 1989–1991; id. 2000; Jastrow 1988; id. 1994; id. 2011
and for overviews arnold 2011; Jastrow 1997; Khan 2011.
45 See david 1961; dupont-Sommer 1971; Garbini 2006: 23f; Briquel-chatonnet 2009.