Zazai of Gawazta

Zazai of Gawazta (Zazai ḏ-Gawazta, Classical Mandaic: ࡆࡀࡆࡀࡉ ࡖࡂࡀࡅࡀࡆࡕࡀ; also Zazai ḏ-Gawazta bar Hawa, Classical Mandaic: ࡆࡀࡆࡀࡉ ࡖࡂࡀࡅࡀࡆࡕࡀ ࡁࡓ ࡄࡀࡅࡀ, lit. 'Zazai of Gawazta, son of Hawa' or Zazai of Gawazta, son of Naṭar^[1]) was a 3rd-century Mandaean priest. He is listed as the first copyist in the colophons of many Mandaean texts.^[2]

Rishama Zazai of Gawazta
ࡆࡀࡆࡀࡉ ࡖࡂࡀࡅࡀࡆࡕࡀ
Personal life
Born	3rd century AD
Died	late 3rd century AD?
Known for	One of the earliest known copyists of Mandaean texts
Other names	Zazai ḏ-Gawazta br Hawa
Occupation	Mandaean priest
Religious life
Religion	Mandaeism

Zazai of Gawazta is mentioned as the first copyist in 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 of 1012 Questions, Scroll of Exalted Kingship, Baptism of Hibil Ziwa, Zihrun Raza Kasia, Alma Rišaia Zuṭa, and Dmut Kušṭa. In the colophon of the Left 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 Emperor Bahram I (r. 271–274), who persecuted non-Zoroastrian minorities and was known for his execution of Mani.^[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

See also

• Anush bar Danqa
• Bahram I
• Shlama beth Qidra

References

1. Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2010). The great stem of souls: reconstructing Mandaean history. Piscataway, N.J: Gorgias Press. ISBN 978-1-59333-621-9.
2. Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
3. Gündüz, Şinasi (1994). "The Knowledge of Life: The Origins and Early History of the Mandaeans and Their Relation to the Sabians of the Qur'ān and to the Harranians". Journal of Semitic Studies Supplement. 3. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-922193-6. ISSN 0022-4480.
4. Häberl, Charles (2022). The Book of Kings and the Explanations of This World: A Universal History from the Late Sasanian Empire. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-80085-627-1.