Indian Antiquary Vol 32

SR No.: 032524
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 550
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 162

156
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(APRIL, 1903.
VIII. - Postsoript. 1. - Ethiopic versions of the Acts of St. Thomas. Since the above paper was written, there has been an opportunity of seeing the two works referred to on page 3 above. Malan's Conflicts of the Apostles is out of date. The translation was made from a faulty modern MS. as shewn by Mr. Budge. The other work, entitled The Contendings of the Apostles, Gadla Hawdrydd, contains the Ethiopie texts in Vol. 1 edited by Mr. E. A. Wallis Budge from two MSS. formerly belonging to King Theodore of Abyssinia, and brought from Magdala in 1868. Vol. 2 contains
translation, The MSS. were probably written in the 15th and 17th century. The oldest MS. known is in Paris, and is dated 1379 A. D.
Lipsius writing in 1883, as appears from Mr. Budge's preface, was of opiniort that these Ethiopic works were translated from the Coptic between 400 and 540. But Mr. Badge gives good reasons for concluding them to have been made from Arabic versions, probably during the early part of the 14th century. These Arabic versions would have taken the place of earlier ones in Sahidic Coptic, the dialect of Upper Egypt, when the one language had been superseded by the other. Some fragments of the Sahidic versions still exist. The Ethiopio versions of the Acts of St. Thomas would, therefore, appear to be of only small importance for oar parposes. But we may note the proper names which appear in them, and a few other points.
The Ethiopic work contains two separate accounts about St. Thomas. The first, pp. 319-356 of the translation, has not much resemblance to the Syriac as a whole, and seems to be in a confused state. The second, pp. 404-465, entitled “The Acts of St. Thomas in India," is very like the Syriao as far as it goes; but it belongs to a part of the book, which Mr. Badge considers to consist of selections from less ancient works than the proper “Gadla-Hawâryât," which seems to end at p. 368.
To take the second account first; here are some passages :
When St. Thomas was at Jerusalem "& certain merchant who was from the county [sic] of "India ... and his name was Abnês, and he was sent from the king of Gônâ."
After the apostle and the merchant leave, “they sailed on happily until they arrived in the "country of India, and came to the city of the king." Then the marriage feast is described, us usual.
In the 2nd Act :-"Now when the Apostle had entered into the country of India with 'Abnes, "the merchant, 'Abnês departed to salute Gondapôr the king." In the same Act "Gâdôn the “brother of the king" is mentioned.
There are no other proper names, and there is nothing else worth noting. This account does not go farther than the 6th Act of the Syriac ; 80 we do not reach the court of Mazdai.
As regards the other account, which is moreover the only one in Malan's book: it is in two sections. The first is "The Preaching of Saint Thomas in India." There we have, for the Habbân and Gūdnaphar of the Syriac, "a certain officer of king Kanţâķôrôs," also “ 'Arbâsôb, an officer of "Kontörős, king of India." When the apostle reaches India, this king requires him to build
palace, and directs "Laktyános (Vecios) the governor," elsewhere "Lakiyos," to supply him with materials, after which we hear no more of the king. What follows about the governor's wife "'Arsônwa (Arsenia)," has some resemblance to the story of Mygdonis in the Syriac ; but that was in another king's country. Afterwards, St. Thomas is directed by our Lord to go to "a city in "the East, which is called Kantôrya (Qnantaria);" and he does so,
The next section is "The Martyrdom of Saint Thomas in India." It does not seem to join on naturally to the previous section. After establishing a church and clergy in India, "he departed "unto the city of Haldt, which is by Macedonia ;" but the story is evidently corrupt, as what follows