Page 6 - Edessa, 'The Blessed City'-01, by J. B. Segal (Oxford, 1970). Chapters 1-3
P. 6
' CONTENTS
LIST OF PLATES xi
PRINCIPAL ABBREVIATIONS xiii
SCHEME OF TRANSLITERATION xv
INTRODUCTION xvii
I. THE BEGINNINGS i
Legends on the foundation of Edessa 3. The Babylonian-Assyrian period 3.
The Seleucid period 5.
II. EDESSA UNDER THE KINGS 9
Historical survey 9. Social and administrative structure 15. Topography of
Edessa 23. Cultural life 29. Bardaisan 35. Status of women 38. Costume 39.
Jewish community 41. Religion 43.
III. THE BLESSING OF JESUS AND THE TRIUMPH OF
CHRISTIANITY 62
1 The legend of Abgar and Addai 62. Healing at Edessa 71. The letter of Jesus 73.
The portrait of Jesus 76. Local traditions on the evangelization of Edessa 78.
Martyrs at Edessa 82. St. Ephraim 87. Arianism 90. Bishop Rabbula 91.
Sectarian strife 93. Expulsion of the Dyophysites 94. Edessa a Monophysite
centre 95. Jewish community 100. Pagans at Edessa 104. Christian pilgrims 108.
IV. LIFE AT EDESSA, A.D. 240-639 no
Historical survey no. Strategic importance of Edessa 115. Edessa as a military
base 117. Civil administration 119. Jurisdiction of bishops and clergy 127.
Occupations 137. Agriculture 141. Beduins 143. Living conditions at Edessa
' 145. Education 149. Status of women 152. Natural disasters 154. War and
: soldiery 156. Pastimes 163. Literature 165. Christian pilgrims 172. Superstition
and magic 179. Public buildings 180.
i
j V. THE LAST FIVE CENTURIES, A.D. 639-1146 192
[ Historical survey 192. Christian disabilities 196. Economic conditions 202.
I Sectarian activities 207. Literature 210. Churches and relics 213. Byzantines
recover Edessa 216. Crusaders take Edessa 225. Crusaders and the local popula-
tion 229. Wars 230. Christian community 237. Zangi captures Edessa 243.
Edessa under Turkish rule 248. The disaster of 1146 251.
EPILOGUE 255
MAPS AND PLANS 259
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 265
INDEX 293
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