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Mandaean Book of Kings

The Mandaean Book of Kings (GR 18) is the eighteenth tractate of the Right Ginza, presenting a schematic history of the world from creation to the Islamic conquest.|||Part of the Ginza Rabba manuscripts.|||Final compilation in Islamic times, based on earlier traditions.|||Canonical in Mandaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.|||Presents a seven-age schema of world history, culminating in the Islamic conquest. Important for understanding Mandaean historiography and their view of world empires.|||Lidzbarski, M. Ginzā. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1925.|||Buckley, J. J. " The Mandaean Book of Kings." ARAM 13 (2001): 187–197.|||Ginza Rabba — Internet Archive|https://archive.org/details/ginza-rabba|Full English translation.

Collection: Mandaean & Manichaean Canon: varies

Canon Status

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

Date & Provenance

Final compilation in Islamic times, based on earlier traditions.

Language & Manuscripts

Part of the Ginza Rabba manuscripts.

Why It Matters for Study

Presents a seven-age schema of world history, culminating in the Islamic conquest. Important for understanding Mandaean historiography and their view of world empires.

" After the Persian kings there will be Arabian kings. They will reign over the world." — Right Ginza 18 (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

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

  • " After the Persian kings there will be Arabian kings. They will reign over the world." — Right Ginza 18 (paraphrase) " After the Persian kings there will be Arabian kings. They will reign over the world." — Right Ginza 18 (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

Lidzbarski, M. Ginzā. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1925.
Buckley, J. J. " The Mandaean Book of Kings." ARAM 13 (2001): 187–197.
Ginza Rabba — Internet Archive|https://archive.org/details/ginza-rabba|Full English translation.