Syriac in its Multi-cultural Context: First International Syriac Studies Symposium, Mardin Artuklu University, Institute of Living Languages, 20-22 April 2012, Mardin

This volume contains the contributions presented at the First

International Syriac Symposium organised by the newly established Artuklu

University in Mardin (April 2012). A substantial number of papers are

devoted to the history of Syriac Christianity in Mardin itself, or more

generally in Eastern Turkey, with contributions by both Turkish and

international scholars. The importance of this Symposium should not be

underestimated. Not so many years ago, Syriac and Turoyo were forbidden

languages in Turkey and were only allowed in the private sphere, not in

public. With this publication, the Artuklu University and the Turkish

academic world acknowledge the importance of Syriac culture and Syriac

language as elements for understanding the history and present-day

situation of Eastern Anatolia.