Paul the Persian
Encyclopedia
Paul the Persian or Paulus Persa was a 6th-century Persian philosopher who worked at the court of the Sassanid king Khosrau I
. and figure in the Church of the East
(also called Nestorian Church). He wrote several treatises and commentaries on Aristotle
, which had some influence on medieval Islamic philosophy
. Having once aspired to be the metropolitan bishop of Persia, he later converted to Zoroastrianism. Paul’s apostasy is described in a similar manner in the Arabic Chronicle of Séert, but the modern scholar Teixidor has questioned the historical value of these reports. He is identified by some scholars with Paulus of Nisibis
(d. 571 CE) and with Paul of Basra. According to Jackson, he was "a Christian who may have studied Greek philosophy in the schools of Nisibis and Gundeshapur
". He is remembered for his writings in Syriac for his royal patron. These include his notes in Syriac on Aristotle
's Logic
, in which he declares the superiority of science over faith.
historian Bar-Hebraeus
. These sources indicate that he was born in Dershahr in Persia. Bar-Hebraeus mentions that he lived during the time of the Nestorian patriarch Ezekiel
(567-580). According to Bar-Hebraeus, Paul was a cleric in the Church of the East
and well versed in ecclesiastical and philosophical matters.
Paul wrote two known works. He produced an introduction to the philosophy of Aristotle, which was delivered before the Persian
King Chosroes I
, and later translated into Syriac by Severus Sebokht. The same work was also translated into Arabic at a later date. The other work extant is On Interpretation, which has never been published.
Both the Chronicle of Seert and Bar-Hebraeus record that he aspired to become metropolitan of Fars
, and, failing to be elected, converted to Zoroastrianism
. However this is not otherwise documented and may merely be the product of the rivalry between the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church
and the Nestorian Church of the East. The entry in the Chronicle of Seert reads:
Khosrau I
Khosrau I , also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just Khosrau I (also called Chosroes I in classical sources, most commonly known in Persian as Anushirvan or Anushirwan, Persian: انوشيروان meaning the immortal soul), also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just...
. and figure in the Church of the East
Church of the East
The Church of the East tāʾ d-Maḏnḥāʾ), also known as the Nestorian Church, is a Christian church, part of the Syriac tradition of Eastern Christianity. Originally the church of the Persian Sassanid Empire, it quickly spread widely through Asia...
(also called Nestorian Church). He wrote several treatises and commentaries on Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
, which had some influence on medieval Islamic philosophy
Islamic philosophy
Islamic philosophy is a branch of Islamic studies. It is the continuous search for Hekma in the light of Islamic view of life, universe, ethics, society, and so on...
. Having once aspired to be the metropolitan bishop of Persia, he later converted to Zoroastrianism. Paul’s apostasy is described in a similar manner in the Arabic Chronicle of Séert, but the modern scholar Teixidor has questioned the historical value of these reports. He is identified by some scholars with Paulus of Nisibis
Nisibis
Nusaybin Nisêbîn) is a city in Mardin Province, Turkey, populated mainly by Kurds. Earlier Arameans, Arabs, and Armenians lived in the city. The population of the city is 83,832 as of 2009.-Ancient Period:...
(d. 571 CE) and with Paul of Basra. According to Jackson, he was "a Christian who may have studied Greek philosophy in the schools of Nisibis and Gundeshapur
Gundeshapur
Gundeshapur Gundeshapur Gundeshapur (Persian گندیشاپور, Gund-ī Shāh Pūr, Gondeshapur, Jondishapoor, Jondishapur, and Jondishapour, Gundishapur, Gondêšâpur, Jund-e Shapur, Jundê-Shâpûr, etc...
". He is remembered for his writings in Syriac for his royal patron. These include his notes in Syriac on Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
's Logic
Organon
The Organon is the name given by Aristotle's followers, the Peripatetics, to the standard collection of his six works on logic:* Categories* On Interpretation* Prior Analytics* Posterior Analytics...
, in which he declares the superiority of science over faith.
Life
Paul the Persian is known from the 9th-century The Chronicle of Seert and from the Chronicon Ecclesiasticum of the 13th-century JacobiteSyriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
historian Bar-Hebraeus
Bar-Hebraeus
Gregory Bar Hebraeus was a catholicos of the Syriac Orthodox Church in the 13th century...
. These sources indicate that he was born in Dershahr in Persia. Bar-Hebraeus mentions that he lived during the time of the Nestorian patriarch Ezekiel
Ezekiel (Nestorian Patriarch)
Ezekiel was Patriarch of the Church of the East from 567 to 581. His name is included in the traditional list of patriarchs of the Church of the East...
(567-580). According to Bar-Hebraeus, Paul was a cleric in the Church of the East
Church of the East
The Church of the East tāʾ d-Maḏnḥāʾ), also known as the Nestorian Church, is a Christian church, part of the Syriac tradition of Eastern Christianity. Originally the church of the Persian Sassanid Empire, it quickly spread widely through Asia...
and well versed in ecclesiastical and philosophical matters.
Paul wrote two known works. He produced an introduction to the philosophy of Aristotle, which was delivered before the Persian
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
King Chosroes I
Khosrau I
Khosrau I , also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just Khosrau I (also called Chosroes I in classical sources, most commonly known in Persian as Anushirvan or Anushirwan, Persian: انوشيروان meaning the immortal soul), also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just...
, and later translated into Syriac by Severus Sebokht. The same work was also translated into Arabic at a later date. The other work extant is On Interpretation, which has never been published.
Both the Chronicle of Seert and Bar-Hebraeus record that he aspired to become metropolitan of Fars
Fars (East Syrian Ecclesiastical Province)
The province of Fars, the historic cradle of Persian civilisation, was a metropolitan province of the Church of the East between the sixth and twelfth centuries...
, and, failing to be elected, converted to Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
. However this is not otherwise documented and may merely be the product of the rivalry between the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
and the Nestorian Church of the East. The entry in the Chronicle of Seert reads:
Works
- Prolegomena to Philosophy and Logic
- Treatise on the Logic of Aristotle the Philosopher addressed to King Khhuosrowousrowau (in Syriac; British Museum ms. 988 [Add. 144660], ff. 55v-67rv; Wright 1872, 1872, p. 1161); translated into Latin by Land
External links
- Encyclopedia Iranica: Paul the Persian
- WikiSyriaca article
- BBLK article in German on Paul of Nisibis who may be the same person