SYRIAN LITERATURE

         Formation of Syrian literature begins with the acceptance of Christianity.  The only Syrian literary work survived up to this date which was written before Christianity is the book written by Ahikar the first minister of king Senharib at 681 BC.  Many stories of this book which contains counsels and wisdom was added to in later centuries.  It is estimated that Ahikar’s book was written either in above mentioned times or in the times of the book of Tobiyya (Tobit) written in 50 BC.  After explorations was found that, beside the myths written over the tombs of Edessa’s (Urfa) kings Abgars, also there was few poem lines written by Aramian philosopher and poet Vafa, who lived long time before the Christian era.  Yet we can’t say that these sources being kept to our days constitutes the foundation of Syrian literature.  Therefore we may essentially say, the Syrian literature sprung from Christianity and from the Church.  This literature is the intellectual product of church fathers of Syrian and was memorized by individuals.  Syrian fathers being flamed with zeal after embracing the Christian faith, have destroyed all pagan books and all the remnant of paganism science to protect the later generations from the trap of paganism.  Being identified wholly with Christianity later generations carried Christianity on to first and second centuries.  As to the rest Syrians they follow the steps of their fathers in the love of learning, up to 4th and 5th centuries.  They became experts in literary arts and produced wonderful literary works.
        Syrian scholars spent great effort on translation and comment of the New Testament.  They rather intensive their interest on such as morphology, linguistics, speech and poem sciences.  Beside these they also worked on logic, philosophy, natural sciences, mathematics, astronomy, geology and medicine.  These worthy scholars has also dived in the depths of theoretical religion science, morals, law of the church and society; and made important works.  They worked on society and religion history, on church music; they also touched story telling arts area.  In general they cover all known human educational areas.  Many scholars who took the knowledge torch to the remote parts of the East and the West were raised from among the Syrian.  In spite of rich, excellency and superiority of the Greek literature works, they did not exceed the excellency of the Syrian literature, even if they used to be as a model to the Syrian and Latin literature.
        The character of Syrian literature is ceremonial, religious, historical and traditional according to the New Testament.  In guarding and spreading the Holy Bible Syrian proved excellent effort, as well as in other related writings and in translation and comment of the New Testament.  The religion ceremonial books and prayers composed throughout many generation of the Syrian, can be shown as an evidence of their superior delight, their mentality and their outstanding state at the long religious disputes between other Christian churches.  Syrian produced many valuable religious books proving their efficiency in literature they effect deeply the mysticism of Christianity.  Syrian people are possessing the most correct historical documents at the times of Romans, Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, Mongols and Turks.  Nevertheless Syrian literature contains many Christian stories, books related to the life stories of the saints and martyrs.  While 4th century AD was agitated by the writings of the Greek scholars, Edessa School was not late in translating the most outstanding ones of this writings into Syriac.  Edessa School started to give Greek education also and was amongst the most prominent schools until the end of 12th century.  On the other hand, different Syrian scholars has shown great effort to translate philosophical and scientific books first into Syriac then into Arabic language.  
Until 16th century Syrian literature has wide and gross position, but after this century by many effects of historical events has lost it wide and gross peculiarity.  In the process of history, through this literature movement and by its works, the lost original Greek Christian books were kept by Syriac translation of them.  The written works produced by Syrian writers were simply reference books at their times and were translated into other languages.  Although religion effect keeps the primary place in Syrian literature, in theological law, principles in religious ceremony and in mystic subjects also were important subjects for writing.  Besides poem, history and astronomy subjects as well kept to be a wide interest field.
        Bardaysan (155-222 AD) the first hymns writer in Syriac has also written books on philosophy and historical subjects.  His famous book is called "States Law".  The poems of Mor Efrem, who was called the Sun of Syrian, are regarded the unique and most excellent Syrian poems.  Mor Efrem became the most forerunner names in Syrian literature by his written three million poem clauses.  Moreover he has attracted the interest of the most powerful Syrian poets on this area, such as Mor Yakup of Suruç, Mor Ishok Bar Madeni, Abdyeşo and Mor Balay.  
        The great Syrian genius Mor Mihoyel Rabo in 12th century has written books on many different subjects.  His most famous work is history book consist of 21 volumes.  Mor Mihoyel Rabo divided each page of this book into three columns.  In the first column he relates religious events, in the second political and in the third daily events.  By this arrangement the reader can follow up and easily understand the relations between the religious, political and development of the historical events.
        Likewise Abulfarac (Bar Habraeus) also, besides his historical, political and religious works he brought out very important written works in linguistic area.  Beside this he also wrote on mathematics and astronomy branches, especially he made translation in medical field from Greek into Syriac.  One of the most famous works of Abulfarac is the work called "Chronological and Political History of the World".  This work was translated and printed in 1945 into Turkish by Turkish History Association.  Its second addition was made in 1987.
        One of the areas Syrian mostly showed interest in, was philosophy.  Sargio of Riş’ayn, Eyup of Urfa and Abdyeşu Dsavbo were the leading names in this area.  Eyup of Urfa wrote an encyclopedia on philosophy and natural science.  Sargio also translated the works of Aristotheles into Syriac.  His famous work was the work written on logic of Aristotle.
        Patriarch Efrem Barsavm, called "Star of the East", was one of the greatest Syrian scholars rose up in 20th century.  He left behind many important works for our age.  His famous work is called "Berule Bdire".