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Cave of Treasures

The Cave of Treasures is a Syriac Christian work attributed to Ephrem the Syrian, recounting the history of the patriarchs and kings from Creation to the Crucifixion.|||Survives in Syriac, Arabic, and Ge'ez.|||Most likely composed between the middle of the 6th century and the first decades of the 7th century. Authored by a West-Syrian writer in Sasanian-controlled northern Mesopotamia.|||Not canonical in any tradition.|||History of the patriarchs and kings from Creation to the Crucifixion. Contains legends about Adam, Seth, Noah, Abraham, and the kings of Israel.|||Budge, E. A. W. The Book of the Cave of Treasures. Religious Tract Society, 1927.|||Minov, S. " Date and Provenance of the Syriac Cave of Treasures." Oxford, 2017.|||Cave of Treasures — Internet Archive|https://archive.org/details/bookofcaveoftrea00budg|Budge's edition and translation.;; Cave of Treasures — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_Treasures|Background and scholarly discussion.|||" And Adam dwelt in the Cave of Treasures, and he guarded the gold, and the myrrh, and the frankincense." — Cave of Treasures (paraphrase)

Collection: Other Ancient Religious Texts Canon: varies

Canon Status

Not canonical in any tradition.

Date & Provenance

Most likely composed between the middle of the 6th century and the first decades of the 7th century. Authored by a West-Syrian writer in Sasanian-controlled northern Mesopotamia.

Language & Manuscripts

Survives in Syriac, Arabic, and Ge'ez.

Why It Matters for Study

History of the patriarchs and kings from Creation to the Crucifixion. Contains legends about Adam, Seth, Noah, Abraham, and the kings of Israel.

" And Adam dwelt in the Cave of Treasures, and he guarded the gold, and the myrrh, and the frankincense." — Cave of Treasures (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

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

  • " And Adam dwelt in the Cave of Treasures, and he guarded the gold, and the myrrh, and the frankincense." — Cave of Treasures (paraphrase) " And Adam dwelt in the Cave of Treasures, and he guarded the gold, and the myrrh, and the frankincense." — Cave of Treasures (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

Budge, E. A. W. The Book of the Cave of Treasures. Religious Tract Society, 1927.
Minov, S. " Date and Provenance of the Syriac Cave of Treasures." Oxford, 2017.
Cave of Treasures — Internet Archive|https://archive.org/details/bookofcaveoftrea00budg|Budge's edition and translation.;; Cave of Treasures — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_Treasures|Background and scholarly discussion.