The Medieval Greek manuscript tradition of “Kalīla wa-Dimna” – renamed as “Stephanites kai Ichnelates” – is transmitted in a way that differs not much from its Arabic predecessors in its complexity. With a complete translation taking nearly a hundred years and textual witnesses older than the surviving Arabic manuscripts, it presents a still not completely solved riddle. To bring new insights, but also new questions to the matter, I will therefore discuss the currently proposed theories on the relations between the Greek manuscripts. By following an approach more focused on the narrative, I will try to improve these theories and attempt to answer why Symeon Seth and the Eugenian recension translated “Kalīla wa-Dimna” the way they did.

The AnonymClassic research colloquium winter term promotes a number of international guest speakers in alternation with close reading sessions on manuscript editing and presentations of the team’s research topics. Discussion of methodological approaches and digital humanities issues remain key interests of the AnonymClassic research colloquium.

Sessions are remotely accessible; team, students and guests meet virtually every Thursday from 12:15 to 1:45 pm (CET). Colleagues, visiting scholars, and students (Arabic studies or related disciplines) are cordially invited to participate. We especially welcome researchers based elsewhere than Freie Universität Berlin to join us for any one (or more) sessions.

For registration, please mail to: oualid.el.khattabi@fu-berlin.de

N.B: Presentations may be recorded, please notify our technical host ahead of sessions in case you object to your image and/or contributions to be archived.