Zazai of Gawazta | |
|---|---|
ࡆࡀࡆࡀࡉ ࡖࡂࡀࡅࡀࡆࡕࡀ | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 3rd century AD |
| Died | late 3rd century AD? |
| Known for | One of the earliest known copyists ofMandaean texts |
| Other names | Zazai ḏ-Gawazta br Hawa |
| Occupation | Mandaean priest |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Mandaeism |
Zazai of Gawazta (Zazai ḏ-Gawazta,Classical Mandaic:ࡆࡀࡆࡀࡉ ࡖࡂࡀࡅࡀࡆࡕࡀ; alsoZazai ḏ-Gawazta bar Hawa,Classical Mandaic:ࡆࡀࡆࡀࡉ ࡖࡂࡀࡅࡀࡆࡕࡀ ࡁࡓ ࡄࡀࡅࡀ,lit. 'Zazai of Gawazta, son of Hawa' orZazai of Gawazta, son of Naṭar[1]) was a 3rd-centuryMandaean priest. He is listed as the first copyist in thecolophons of manyMandaean texts.[2]
Zazai of Gawazta is mentioned as the first copyist in theQulasta colophons 1 (CP 1–74), 4 (CP 104–169), 5 (CP 170–199), and 8 (CP 305–329) of DC 53.[1]: 173 He is also attested in the colophons of1012 Questions,Scroll of Exalted Kingship,Baptism of Hibil Ziwa,Zihrun Raza Kasia,Alma Rišaia Zuṭa, andDmut Kušṭa. In the colophon of theLeft Ginza, Zazai's son and/or initiate Ṭabia (lit. 'gazelle') is listed as a copyist, but not Zazai himself.[1]: 200 [3]: 58
Zazai of Gawazta was a contemporary of Sasanian EmperorBahram I (r. 271–274), who persecuted non-Zoroastrian minorities and was known for his execution ofMani.[4] Zazai of Gawazta's role in initiating the systematic codification of Mandaean texts can be seen as an effort to protect Mandaeism during a time of intense religious persecution.[2]: 4
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