“The Cave of Treasures and Formation of Syriac Christian Identity in Late Antique Mesopotamia: Between Tradition and Innovation,” in: B. Bitton-Ashkelony and L. Perrone (eds.), Between Personal and Institutional Religion (CELAMA 15; Turnhout: Brepols, 2013), 155-194. (original) (raw)

The paper examines the formation of Syriac Christian identity in Late Antique Mesopotamia, focusing on the work known as the Cave of Treasures. Written in the sixth or seventh century, it represents a particular version of Christian history that creatively merges biblical accounts, highlighting innovations and an anti-Jewish bias while engaging with Iranian cultural elements. The study aims to fill the gap in scholarship regarding Syriac-speaking Christian cultures and their identity development in contrast to Greek and Latin traditions.