Rafat Ballu M.A.

A New Critical Edition, English Translation, and Commentary of the Syriac Manuscript „The Cause of All Causes“ (10th–12th Century)
The current doctoral research at Heidelberg University focuses on the text ( ܟܬܒܐ ܥܠܬܐ ܕܟܠ ܥܠܠܢ „The Book of the Cause of All Causes“), a monumental manuscript that served as an encyclopedia of its time, dating back to between the 10th and 12th centuries. Characterized by its diverse methodological approaches, this comprehensive project aims to produce a fresh critical edition, the first scholarly English translation, and an in-depth commentary. Furthermore, the research involves a detailed comparative analysis, evaluating the text against older manuscript copies than those previously utilized by Karl Kayser in his landmark German study, thereby providing new insights into classical Semitic philology and manuscript traditions.