Miriai

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Miriai
Born1st century CE
Palestine
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In Mandaean scriptures, Miriai or Meryey (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡉࡓࡉࡀࡉ) was a Jewish woman who converted to Mandaeism. Miriai is one of the most important figures in the Mandaean Book of John, which contains detailed stories and speeches of Miriai. Miriai lived in a Jewish village next to a Mandaean village in Palestine during the first century CE.[1] According to the Mandaean Book of John, she was a contemporary of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.[2]

Story[]

In Mandaean scriptures such as the Mandaean Book of John, Miriai criticizes the Jewish religious tradition from which she had come from while extolling the virtues of Mandaeism.[2] Miriai is considered to have descended from "priest-kings" of Judea, and one of her duties was to clean the Jewish temple.[3] Due to her conversion to Mandaeism and lateness in getting home, Miriai's father condemns her and calls her a prostitute.[4] Ultimately, Miriai is depicted as a Mandaean priest and teacher.[3]

The Mandaean Book of John often mentions Miriai together with Enišbai (Elizabeth), the mother of John the Baptist, as two holy women who lived in the vicinity of Jerusalem.[5]

In other religions[]

The Mandaic name Miriai is cognate with the Hebrew name Miriam. Miriai may ultimately be linked to Mary, the mother of Jesus, but the Mandaean story of Miriai is not apparently related to any stories in the canonical Christian gospels.[1]

According to Charles G. Häberl, Christians identify Miriai with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Muslims identify Miriai with Miriam, older sister of Moses. Mandaeans do not identify both Mary and Miriam as being Miriai, insisting that she was a different woman bearing the same name. Some identify Miriai with Mary Magdalene.[6]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
  2. ^ a b Häberl, Charles (2020). The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary. Berlin Boston: De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-048651-3. OCLC 1129155601.
  3. ^ a b McGrath, James F.,"Reading the Story of Miriai on Two Levels: Evidence from Mandaean Anti-Jewish Polemic about the Origins and Setting of Early Mandaeism".ARAM Periodical / (2010): 583–592.
  4. ^ Deutsch, Nathanial. The Date Palm and the Wellspring: Mandaeism and Jewish Mysticism. ARAM, 11-12 (1999-2000), 209-223
  5. ^ Gelbert, Carlos (2017). The Teachings of the Mandaean John the Baptist. Fairfield, NSW, Australia: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034678. OCLC 1000148487.
  6. ^ Häberl, Charles (8 December 2020). "Meryey, Standing at the Boundary". YouTube. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
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