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Haran Gawaita

The Haran Gawaita (Inner Harran) is a Mandaean text that purports to tell the history of the Mandaeans and their arrival in Media as Nasoraeans. It continues the historical narrative of the Mandaean Book of Kings.|||Mandaic manuscripts, published for the first time in 1953.|||Composed in the Islamic period (after the 7th century CE), though it contains earlier traditions.|||Canonical in Mandaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.|||The primary historical text of the Mandaeans. Describes the departure of the Nasoraeans from Judea before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE and their settlement in the Parthian Empire.|||Drower, E. S. The Haran Gawaita and the Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1953.|||Buckley, J. J. " The Mandaean Book of Kings." ARAM 13 (2001): 187–197.|||Haran Gawaita — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haran_Gawaita|Background and scholarly discussion.;; Mandaean Texts — Sacred Texts|https://www.sacred-texts.com/gno/|Selections from Mandaean texts.|||" And they left Jerusalem and went to the land of Media, and they we're called Nasoraeans." — Haran Gawaita (paraphrase)

Collection: Mandaean & Manichaean Canon: varies

Canon Status

Canonical in Mandaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.

Date & Provenance

Composed in the Islamic period (after the 7th century CE), though it contains earlier traditions.

Language & Manuscripts

Mandaic manuscripts, published for the first time in 1953.

Why It Matters for Study

The primary historical text of the Mandaeans. Describes the departure of the Nasoraeans from Judea before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE and their settlement in the Parthian Empire.

" And they left Jerusalem and went to the land of Media, and they we're called Nasoraeans." — Haran Gawaita (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " And they left Jerusalem and went to the land of Media, and they we're called Nasoraeans." — Haran Gawaita (paraphrase) " And they left Jerusalem and went to the land of Media, and they we're called Nasoraeans." — Haran Gawaita (paraphrase)

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Drower, E. S. The Haran Gawaita and the Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1953.
Buckley, J. J. " The Mandaean Book of Kings." ARAM 13 (2001): 187–197.
Haran Gawaita — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haran_Gawaita|Background and scholarly discussion.;; Mandaean Texts — Sacred Texts|https://www.sacred-texts.com/gno/|Selections from Mandaean texts.