Terebinthus (also Terebinthus of Turbo ) was a purported pupil of
Scythianus, during the 1st to 2nd century AD, according to the writings of Christian writer and anti-Manichaean polemicist
Cyril of Jerusalem
Cyril of Jerusalem (, ''Kýrillos A Ierosolýmon''; ; 386) was a theologian of the Early Church. About the end of AD 350, he succeeded Maximus as Bishop of Jerusalem, but was exiled on more than one occasion due to the enmity of Acacius of ...
, and is mentioned earlier in the anonymously written, critical biography of Mani known as ''
Acta Archelai''.
Biography
According to Cyril's anti-Manichaean works and in other Orthodox polemic, Terebinthus went to
Judaea
Judea or Judaea (; ; , ; ) is a mountainous region of the Levant. Traditionally dominated by the city of Jerusalem, it is now part of Palestine and Israel. The name's usage is historic, having been used in antiquity and still into the prese ...
and later returned to
Syria Palaestina
Syria Palaestina ( ) was the renamed Roman province formerly known as Judaea, following the Roman suppression of the Bar Kokhba revolt, in what then became known as the Palestine region between the early 2nd and late 4th centuries AD. The pr ...
("becoming known and condemned" there), and ultimately settled in
Babylonia
Babylonia (; , ) was an Ancient history, ancient Akkadian language, Akkadian-speaking state and cultural area based in the city of Babylon in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq and parts of Kuwait, Syria and Iran). It emerged as a ...
. He is also said to have brought with him the books of Scythianus, which he presented upon his death to his lodger, a widow with a slave named Cubricus, who later changed his name to
Mani
Mani may refer to:
People
* Mani (name), (), a given name and surname (including a list of people with the name)
** Mani (prophet) (c. 216–274), a 3rd century Iranian prophet who founded Manichaeism
** Mani (musician) (born 1962), an English ...
. Mani allegedly studied the books, which thereby become the source of
Manichean doctrine.
This story can be found also in ''Acta Archelai'', an anti-manichean scripture written in
Syriac language
The Syriac language ( ; ), also known natively in its spoken form in early Syriac literature as Edessan (), the Mesopotamian language () and Aramaic (), is an Aramaic#Eastern Middle Aramaic, Eastern Middle Aramaic dialect. Classical Syriac is ...
, which is ascribed to the late 4th-century AD writer
Hegemonios. The story is again repeat in ''
Lexicon Suidae'' (10th century) in an article dedicated to Mani. According to the Lexicon, the names of the books were: Mysterium, Evangelium, Thesaurum and Capitum (meaning "Mystery", "Gospel", "Treasury", and "
Book
A book is a structured presentation of recorded information, primarily verbal and graphical, through a medium. Originally physical, electronic books and audiobooks are now existent. Physical books are objects that contain printed material, ...
of Chapters" respectively).
[Bernhardy Godofredus (ed.), ''Suidae Lexicon Graece et Latine'', Haliset Brunsvigae 1853, pp. 684-686. The original text of this entry is available online, with translation and commentary]
However, according to A. A. Bevan, this account "has no claim to be considered historical".
Notes
References
Bibliography
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Ancient Roman philosophers
Hellenistic philosophy and religion