سید سعیدرضا منتظری

Drawing on Manichaean Middle Iranian texts and adopting a textual approach, the present article tries to define the meaning and usage of some technical terms (termini tecnichi) in Manichaean theology, especially the words “angel” (frystg, fryštg) and “apostle, messenger” (frystg, fryštg). The use of a word for two meanings and/ or two concepts in the Manichaica was a result of the redefinition that each of the different Manichaean communities presented for the concepts of ‘angel’ and ‘apostle, messenger’. The article shows that the Iranian term frys/štg has been redefined and expanded in meaning in Manichaean literature under the influence of Syriac writings; a redefinition that could generate an angel from an apostle / a messenger and a king from the angel. Here, we also examined the technical terms xwdʾy/ xwdʾwn ‘lord’, by / bg ‘god’, yzd ‘god’ and bgpwhr / βγpšy / βγpšʾk ‘son of God’ (βγpwryšt / βγpšyt ‘the sons of God’) βγpwr(ʾ)yc ‘daughter of God’ showing the contexts in which these terms appear and what examples they refer to. Our study shows that some of them were used not only for angels and historical figures (like Mani and Manichaean leaders and electi, as well as previous apostles), but also included at least one of Manichaean gods, i.e. ‘Third Messenger’.

One of the important linguistic aspects in the field of literature and culture is the identification of linguistic roots, lexical changes in multiple languages, and the discovery of the historical evolution of meanings. Essentially, research in the field of linguistics is crucial for increasing human knowledge. The goal of research in word etymology is to find answers in recognizing cultural fluctuations in literature and various human cultures. It is clear that languages influence each other throughout history. Every linguistic change in each historical period reflects a particular cultural approach of that time. In other words, linguistic changes are a reflection of changes in the values and beliefs of a culture and may even lead to the transformation of a culture. The present study aims to investigate the word "Qahramānah" using a descriptive and library-based approach, which is especially significant in the realm of women's culture. The author's effort in this investigation is to explain the mutual influence of languages, the etymology of the word "Qahramānah" in Persian, Turkish, and Kurdish, and the transfer of the word from Persian to Arabic, as well as its use in the words of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Imam Ali (AS). The Results, based on the evidence, indicated that the word "Qahramānah" originates from Middle Persian in Pahlavi, and later found its way into Arabic and religious sources based on the factors mentioned in the article.