{"slug":"dsc-511","id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-511","title":"Cause of all Causes: Book 6","title_source":"Cause of all Causes: Book 6","author":"Anonymous","genre":"other","date":"10th-12th century CE","tradition":"syriac","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation could be identified: a language model asked twice could not name one, though it could not rule one out either. That is not proof that none exists — translations in dissertations, recent books and other modern languages are easily missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T06:11:13Z","cost_usd":0.025527},"source":{"registry_id":"syriac:dsc:dsc-511","work_id":"dsc-511","edition":"syriac","language":"","license":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"},"stats":{"passages":42,"english_words":13063,"coptic_letters":0,"source_letters":34118,"commentary_units":225,"commentary_kinds":8,"derived_notes":22,"ambiguities":77,"work_notes":6,"external_links":0,"timeline":5},"summary":{"work":"dsc-511","abstract":"Cause of all Causes: Book 6 is an anonymous Syriac treatise that continues a series of discourses on sublunary phenomena, likely forming part of a larger metaphysical or theological work on the first principle. The text survives in a single manuscript witness with no firm date, possibly from the 10th to 12th centuries CE. It employs classical geographical concepts such as the seven climates and uses imagery of the deep sea to explore the limits of human understanding, echoing themes in Syriac authors like Ephrem and Narsai. The work's influence on later Syriac theology remains unstudied.","historical_context":"The work belongs to the Syriac Christian tradition, likely composed in a monastic or scholarly community in the Syriac-speaking world, possibly in Mesopotamia or the Levant, between the 10th and 12th centuries CE. The dating is uncertain due to the lack of a colophon or external witnesses; the text may be late antique or early medieval. It survives in a single manuscript, with no information on scribal or geographical provenance. The genre is a theological or philosophical treatise, possibly influenced by Aristotelian cosmology and Syriac patristic thought. The reference to the seven climates reflects classical geographical divisions common in Syriac cosmological literature. The work's transmission is obscure, and no evidence of liturgical or canonical use is recorded.","significance":"Cause of all Causes: Book 6 is significant as a rare witness to Syriac metaphysical and cosmological speculation, bridging late antique and medieval Christian thought. Its anonymous authorship and uncertain dating highlight the challenges of studying Syriac literature. The work's use of sea imagery and climatic divisions connects it to broader Syriac theological traditions, offering insights into how Syriac authors engaged with classical and patristic sources.","timeline":[{"date":"10th-12th c. CE","event":"Probable composition of Cause of all Causes: Book 6, based on linguistic and thematic evidence."},{"date":"Undated","event":"Single manuscript witness produced, with no colophon or provenance recorded."},{"date":"4th-5th c. CE","event":"Ephrem and Narsai use sea imagery for theological discourse, later echoed in this work."},{"date":"6th-7th c. CE","event":"Syriac cosmological literature develops, including references to the seven climates."},{"date":"Modern","event":"Edition published without critical apparatus, obscuring textual stability."}],"relations":[{"work":"Ephrem the Syrian","relation":"Influenced by or parallels sea imagery used to symbolize limits of human understanding","key":"wikipedia:Ephrem the Syrian","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Narsai","relation":"Influenced by or parallels sea imagery in theological discourse","key":"wikipedia:Narsai","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Syriac cosmological literature","relation":"Shares the concept of seven climates (classical division of inhabited world)","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Aristotelian cosmology","relation":"Possible influence on the work's metaphysical and sublunary focus","key":"wikipedia:Aristotelian physics","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[],"cautions":["The dating is uncertain; the work may be late antique or early medieval, with no firm evidence beyond the 10th-12th century range.","The work is anonymous, and authorship cannot be determined from the available data.","The text survives in a single manuscript witness, limiting textual stability and variant analysis.","No critical apparatus or original Syriac text is provided in the source edition, obscuring key philosophical vocabulary.","The work's influence on later Syriac theology remains unstudied, and no liturgical or canonical use is recorded."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.000461,"generated":"2026-11-15T06:11:12Z"},"links":[{"kind":"source","label":"Digital Syriac Corpus text","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"},{"kind":"authority","label":"syriaca.org work record","url":"http://syriaca.org/work/8999"}],"checks":{"work":"dsc-511","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":42,"translated":42,"commentary_passages":42,"commentary_units":225,"english_words":13063,"source_letters":38664,"commentary_kinds":8},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The work is anonymous and belongs to the Syriac tradition. Its title, Cause of all Causes, suggests a metaphysical or theological treatise on the first principle.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The dating of this work is uncertain; no explicit colophon or external witness in the source edition provides a firm date. It may be late antique or early medieval.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The text survives in a single manuscript witness, as per the source edition. No information on its scribal or geographical provenance is given.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This edition does not provide a critical apparatus or variant readings. The user cannot assess textual stability or scribal interventions from the data given.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"No evidence of liturgical or canonical use is recorded in the source edition. The work's influence on later Syriac theology remains unstudied in this material.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The English draft may obscure Syriac technical terms. Without the original Syriac text, the user cannot verify key philosophical or theological vocabulary.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation could be identified: a language model asked twice could not name one, though it could not rule one out either. That is not proof that none exists — translations in dissertations, recent books and other modern languages are easily missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: other in classical Syriac; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 42 narrative."},{"kind":"caution","severity":"caution","text":"22 passage(s) are fragmentary in the source; the English bridges each break and says so in the note."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: syriac — CC BY 4.0"}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":42},"term_index":[],"citations":{"ed:dsc-511":{"label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"ܬܘܼܒ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܫܬܐ ܥܠ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܕܬܚܝܼܬ ܡܘܙܠܬܐ܆ ܕܐܝܟܢ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ ܕܬܚܝܬ ܪܩܝܥܐ ܕܣܗܪܐ܆ ܘܥܠ ܐܐܪ ܗܿܢܐ ܘܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܘܗܝ܆ ܘܥܠ ܙܒܢ ܕܫܢ̱ܬܐ܆ ܘܥܠ ܛܐ̈ܠܐ ܘܪ̈ܣܝܼܣܐ܆ ܘܥܠ ܟ݀ܠܗܝܢ ܕܓܿܕܫ̈ܢ ܒܐܐܪ ܗܿܢܐ ܕܚܕܝܼܪ ܠܢ܆ ܕܐܝܼܬ ܒܗ ܩܦ̈ܠܐܐ ܫܒܥܐ ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܩܕܡ̄ ܥܡ ܥܡ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܡܚܟܡ܆ ܥܠܗܿܝ ܕܡܘܿܢ ܐܝܼܬ ܠܬܚܼܬ ܡܼܢ ܡܘܙܠܬܐ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܘܕܘܼܟܝ̈ܬܐ ܕܟܘܟ̈ܒܐ܆ ܘܕܐܝܟܢ ܐܝܼܬܘܝܗ ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ ܘܡܛ݀ܠܡܘܿܢ܆ ܫܒܝܼܚܐ ܡܕܒܪܢܘܼܬܟ ܐܠܗܢ ܛܒܿܐ ܘܒܪܘܝܐ ܚܟܝܼܡܐ ܘܡܦܪܢܣܢܐ ܥܬܝܼܪܐ. ܘܬܡܝܼܗܝܢ ܥܒܿܕܝ̈ܟ ܘܠܐ ܡܬܕܪ̈ܟܢ ܒܪ̈ܝܬܟ. ܘܗܿܘ ܕܡܡܪܚ ܘܗ݀ܡܣ ܡܼܢ ܫܦܝܼܥܘܼܬ ܚܘܼܒܐ ܠܡܡܠܠܘ ܥܠ ܬܕܡܪ̈ܬܟ ܫܒܝܼܚ̈ܬܐ ܕܒܪܘܼܝܘܼܬܟ ܕܡܿܐ ܠܐ̱ܢܫ ܕܥܠ ܠܬܗܘܼܡܐ ܥܡܝܼܩܐ ܕܝܡܐ ܪܒܐ ܘܐܬܼܚܦܝܼ ܒܝܢܬ݀ ܓܠ̈ܠܐ. ܘܐܬܼܛܒܥ ܒܝܢܬ݀ ܡܚܫ̈ܘܼܠܐ. ܘܐܢ ܚܝܠܟ ܠܐ ܡܡܕܪܟ ܠܗ܆ ܘܥܘܼܕܪܢܟ ܠܐ ܠܘܿܐ ܠܗ܆ ܛܝܒܘܼܬܟ ܠܐ ܡܗܕܝܐ ܘܡܚܟܡ ܠܗ. ܘܝܡܝܼܢܟ ܠܐ ܕ݀ܠܝܐ ܘܡܣܩܐ ܠܗ܆ ܥ݀ܡܕ ܘܡܼܬܛܒܥ ܒܬܚܘܼܡܐ ܕܝܡܐ ܥܡܝܼܩܐ. ܘܬܡܿܢ ܡܬܢܘܓ ܘܡܬܼܡܚܫܠ ܕܠܐ ܫܘܼܠܡ܀ ܠܐ ܡܬܕܪ̈ܟܢ ܬܡܝܼܗ̈ܬܗ ܕܡܪܢ ܘܒܪܘܝܢ ܚܟܝܼܡ ܒܟܿܠ. ܘܐܝܟ ܕܣܿܓܝܼ ܐܡܼܪܢܢ ܐܼܠܘܼ ܚܝܐ ܗܘܼܐ ܐܢ ܐܿܠܦ ܫܢ̈ܝܢ ܒܕܪܫܐ ܘܝܘܠܦܢܐ ܕܥܠ ܗܿܠܝܢ܆ ܒܼܨܪܐ ܙܥܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܠܡܚܣܢ ܡܫܼܟܚ ܗܘܼܐ ܕܢܕܪܟ ܡܼܢ ܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܫܪܝܼܪܬܐ ܕܥܠ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܝܢ ܐܟܡܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܝܢ ܘܐܬܬܩܢ̈ܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܚܟܝܼ̱ܐ ܕܒܪ̈ܝܬܐ.ܐܠܐ ܐܢ ܢܗܘܼܐ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܦܪܘܫܐ ܘܡܟܝܼܟܐ ܡܗܝܡܢܐ ܘܫܦܝܼܪ ܕܘܒܪ̈ܐ ܬܩ̈ܢܐ [ܕܡܝܬܪܘܬܐ].","english":"Again, the Sixth Discourse on the things that are beneath the Moon, how the bond that is beneath the sphere of the Moon exists, and on this air and its changes, and on the time of the hour, and on shadows and reflections, and on all the events that occur in this air that surrounds us, in which there are seven climates, before the wise God. On how it is beneath the whole Moon and the stations of the stars, and how the bond and the image exist. Glorious is your governance, good God, wise Creator and generous Provider. And your works are wondrous, and your creations are incomprehensible. And he who dares and ventures, with an abundance of love, to speak about your glorious wonders of your creation, is like one who goes down into the deep abyss of the great sea and is hidden among the waves, and is drowned among the breakers. And if your power does not reach him, and your help does not avail him, your grace does not guide and make him wise, and your right hand does not lift and raise him up, he sinks and is drowned in the depths of the deep sea. And there he is tossed and wrecked without end. The wonders of the Lord and wise Creator in all things are incomprehensible. And as many have said, if a man lived a thousand years in study and learning about these things, he would be able to grasp only a few small things, with true knowledge of all that they are, as they are and are established, with the wise essence of creation. But if there is a man who is discerning and humble, faithful and of good conduct, of sound [virtue].","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܘܼܒ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܫܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The opening formula 'Again, the Sixth Discourse' marks this as the sixth treatise of the work, continuing a series on sublunary phenomena.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'bond' (ܐܬܝܼܪ) likely refers to a cosmic or structural connection beneath the lunar sphere, possibly a Syriac rendering of a Greek philosophical concept like σύνδεσμος.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"ܩܦ̈ܠܐܐ ܫܒܥܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'seven climates' (ܩܦ̈ܠܐܐ ܫܒܥܐ) reflect the classical division of the inhabited world into seven climatic zones, common in Syriac geographical and cosmological literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܡܿܐ ܠܐ̱ܢܫ ܕܥܠ ܠܬܗܘܼܡܐ ܥܡܝܼܩܐ ܕܝܡܐ ܪܒܐ","severity":"info","text":"The metaphor of venturing into the deep sea for theological discourse echoes similar imagery in Syriac authors like Ephrem and Narsai, who use the sea to symbolize the limits of human understanding.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܡܝܬܪܘܬܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The final phrase 'of sound [virtue]' (ܕܡܝܬܪܘܬܐ) is bracketed in the edition, indicating a textual lacuna or uncertain reading; the English draft supplies 'virtue' as a plausible restoration.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The term 'bond' (ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ) is ambiguous: it may denote a physical or metaphysical connection, and its precise referent is unclear without further context.","The phrase 'before the wise God' (ܩܕܡ̄ ܥܡ ܥܡ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܡܚܟܡ) is syntactically awkward; the translation interprets it as a doxological aside, but the Syriac may be corrupt."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"ܡܬܚܟܡ ܡܼܢ ܛܝܒܘܼܬܐ ܫܡܿܝܢܝܬܐ܆ ܘܡܼܬܢܗܪ ܗܘܢܗ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܟܝܘܼܬ ܠܒܗ ܘܫܦܝܘܼܬܐ ܚܘܼܫܒ̈ܘܗܝ ܘܡܪܝܼܩܘܼܬ ܬܪܥܝܼܬܗ ܡܼܢ ܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܚ̈ܫܐ ܫܟܝܼܪ̈ܐ ܘܗܘܼܠܢܝܘܼܬܐ\nܘܡܪ̈ܢܝܬܐ ܣܪ̈ܝܩܬܐ ܕܥܿܠܡܐ ܗܿܢܐ. ܗܿܘ ܡܿܢ ܕܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܟܢܐ ܗܿܘ܆ ܫܪܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ ܡܼܢ ܐܠܗ ܡܼܬܚܟܡ ܒܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܕܫܪܪܐ. ܘܟܕ ܡܪܓܫ ܒܗܕܐ ܫܿܐܛ ܠܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܗܘܼܠ̈ܢܝܬܐ. ܘܐܝܟ ܙܒܠܐ ܡܬܚܫܒ ܠܗ ܟܿܠܗ ܥܘܼܬܪܗ ܕܥ݀ܠܡܐ ܥܒܘܪܐ. ܘܒܠܚܘܼܕ ܒܥܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܕܥܬܝܕ̈ܢ ܘܫܪܝܪ̈ܢ ܘܡܩܘ̈ܝܢ ܒܚܝ̈ܐ ܕܠܥܿܠܡ. ܕܠܗܘܢ ܢܫܬܼܘܐ ܟܿܠܢ ܒܛܝܒܘܼܬܗ ܕܡܪܢ ܐܡܝܢ܀ ܕܗܠܝܢ ܢܐܨܦ ܐܚ̈ܝ ܘܗܿܠܝܢ ܢܩܢܐ. ܗ̄ ܕܘܼܒܪ̈ܐ ܬܩ̈ܢܐ ܘܫܦܝܼܪ̈ܐ ܕܡܝܬܪܘܬܐ. ܕܡܩܪܒܝܢ ܠܢ ܠܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܕܫܪܪܐ. ܘܡܚܝܕܝܢ ܠܢ ܒܡܪܢ. ܗܿܘ ܛܒܿܐ ܘܚܟܝܼܡܐ ܘܥܬܝܼܪ ܒܟܿܠ. ܕܐܝܟܢ ܒܪܼܐ ܘܐܬܩܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܬܘܼܩ̈ܢܐ ܫܒܝܼܚ̈ܐ ܡܛ݀ܠܬܢ ܕܝܼܠܢ ܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ ܒܠܚܘܼܕ. ܘܡܼܬܚ ܠܢ ܠܗܕܐ ܝ݀ܪܝܼܥܬܐ ܫܒܝܼܚܬܐ ܘܩܘܼܒܬܐ ܪܡܬܐ. ܘܢܩܼܫ ܠܢ ܠܗܢܐ ܓܢܘܼܢܐ ܡܫܒܚܐ. ܘܣܼܕܪ ܘܣܼܡ ܒܗ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܛܒ̈ܬܐ ܘܢܝܚ̈ܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܣܬܿܝܟ̈ܢ. ܘܚܒܼܫ ܡܕܡ ܠܓܘ ܡܼܢ ܡܕܡ. ܘܐܣܼܪ ܐܢܘܢ ܒܚܕ̈ܕܐ. ܘܠܚܡ ܘܛܟܣ ܒܐܘܼܡܢܘܼܬܐ ܪܒܬܐ ܘܚܟܝܼܡܬ݀ ܒܟܿܠ. ܘܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܦܘܼܪ̈ܫܢܐ ܠܐ ܡܣܬܝܼܟ̈ܢܐ ܘܠܐ ܡܬܕܪ̈ܟܢܐ܆ ܒܚܕ ܪܡܼܙܐ ܘܪܦܦܐ ܐܬܼܬܩܢ ܘܐܫܬܡܠܝܼ ܟܿܠܡܕܡ. ܥܒܼܕ ܬܛܠܝܼܠܗܿ ܕܩܘܼܒܬܐ ܗܕܐ ܫܒܝܼܚܬܐ܆ ܡܼܢ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܪ̈ܦܝܐ ܘܪ̈ܛܝܼܒܐ ܘܐܫܝܼܕ̈ܐ. ܘܐܩܝܼܡ ܡܕܝܪ̈ܝܗܿ ܬܘܼܒ ܡܼܢ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܘܪܘܼܚܐ. ܘܨܒܬܗܿ ܒܩܢܕܝܼ̈ܠܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ. ܘܬܼܒܠܐ ܒܗܿ ܢܗܝܼܪ̈ܐ ܫܒܝܼܚ̈ܐ ܠܡܢܗܪܘܢ ܠܢ ܒܐܝܼܡܡܐ ܘܒܠܠܝܐ. ܘܣܼܡ ܐܢܘܢ ܠܡܼܦܪܫ ܠܢ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܘܥܕ̈ܢܐ.","english":"He is made wise by heavenly grace, and his mind is roused because of the purity of his heart and the clarity of his thoughts and the emptiness of his intention from all the drunken passions and vain cares and empty pursuits of this world. He who is like this is truly made wise by God through the knowledge of truth. And when he perceives this, he hastens to all that is beneficial. And all the transient wealth of this world is considered by him as dung. He seeks only those things which are future, true, and enduring in eternal life, so that all may be equal in the grace of the Lord of spirits. These things are gathered, and those are established. These are the firm and good practices of virtue, which bring you near to the knowledge of truth and unite you with the Lord, who is good, wise, and rich in all things. For He created and established all these glorious ordinances for your sake, through the elements alone, and He spread out for you this glorious firmament and high vault, and He set for you this magnificent sphere, and He arranged and placed in it all these good and pleasant things that are without end, and He bound one thing within another, and He bound them together, and He joined and ordered them with great and wise harmony in all things. And all these distinctions, which are without end and incomprehensible, were established and completed in a single sign and moment. He made the shadow of this glorious vault from thin, moist, and flowing waters, and He again set up its walls from water and air, and He fixed it with many nails, and in it He placed glorious lights to illuminate you by day and by night, and He set them to distinguish for you times and seasons.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܬܚܟܡ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac verb ܡܬܚܟܡ (mettḥakkem) is a passive-reflexive Ethpeel form meaning 'is made wise' or 'becomes wise,' emphasizing divine agency in the acquisition of wisdom.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܪܢ ܐܡܝܢ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase ܡܪܢ ܐܡܝܢ (Mārē rūḥē) is rendered 'Lord of spirits,' a title for God that appears in Syriac liturgical and mystical texts, emphasizing divine sovereignty over spiritual beings.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܘܼܬܪܗ ܕܥ݀ܠܡܐ ܥܒܘܪܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'transient wealth of this world is considered by him as dung' echoes biblical language contrasting worldly riches with spiritual poverty, e.g., Matthew 5:3 and James 4:4, though no direct quotation is present.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܘܼܒܬܐ ܪܡܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'high vault' (ܩܘܼܒܬܐ ܪܡܬܐ) refers to the celestial firmament, a standard cosmological concept in Syriac Christian thought, often depicted as a solid dome separating the sublunary and superlunary realms.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"narrative","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from a description of the wise person's spiritual state to a doxological account of creation, mirroring the structure of earlier Syriac hexaemeral literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܟܝܘܼܬ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܟܝܘܼܬ (meṭṭul dakyūṯ) is ambiguous: it could mean 'because of purity' (causal) or 'concerning purity' (topical). The translation adopts the causal sense, but the topical reading is possible in context.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܟܝܘܼܬ could be causal ('because of purity') or topical ('concerning purity'); the translation takes it as causal.","The referent of 'these things' and 'those' in 'These things are gathered, and those are established' is unclear; it may refer to virtues and worldly concerns respectively."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":3,"ref":"p3","source":"ܘܟܼܕܢ ܐܢܘܿܢ ܒܓܝܓܠܐ ܡܬܟܪܟܢܝܼـܐ ܕܡܘܙܠܬܐ ܚܪܝܼܦܐܝܼܬ ܘܣܿܓܝܼ ܪܗܝܼܒܐܝܼܬ܆ ܕܠܐ ܢܘܚܐ ܘܠܕܐ ܫܠܼܝܐ. ܘܡܢܗ ܕܗܿܢܐ ܟܪܘܼܟܝܐ. ܚܪܝܼܦܐ ܐܫܼܬܠܗܒܬ݀ ܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬܐ ܕܐܣܛܘܼܟܣܐ ܕܢܘܼܪܐ. ܘܐܬܕܚܝܼ ܟܿܠܗ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܗܕܐ ܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬܐ ܢܘܼܪܢܝܿܬܐ ܠܓܘ ܡܼܢ ܟܿܠܗ ܟܪܘܼܟܝܐ ܕܓܝܓܠܐ ܗܕܐ ܕܠܥܠ ܡܢܢ. ܘܡܼܢ ܠܓܘ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܡܼܢ ܠܬܚܼܬ ܕܚܝܗܝ ܐܐܪ ܗܿܢܐ ܕܚܕܝܼܪ ܠܢ. ܘܦܓܕܗ ܕܠܐ ܬܘܼܒ ܢܥܘܿܠ ܠܓܘ ܘܢܡܼܛܐ ܠܩܪܝܼܒܘܼܬܢ ܘܢܣܝܛ ܠܢ. ܘܗ̣ܿܢܐ ܐܙܕܪܒ ܡܼܢ ܬܪ̈ܝܗܘܢ ܓܒ̈ܐ. ܐܝܟ ܨܒܝܢ ܒܪܘܼܝܐ ܚܟܝܼܡ ܒܟܿܠ. ܡܼܢ ܠܥܼܠ ܡܿܢ ܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܪܒܐ ܕܟܪܘܼܟܝܐ ܚܪܝܼܦܐ ܕܡܘܙܠܬܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܠܬܼܚܬ ܬܘܼܒ ܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܡܫܒܐ ܩܫܝܐ ܕܐܐܪ. ܘܗ̣ܿܢܐ ܐܬܦܓܕ ܘܐܙܕܪܒ ܘܐܙܕܓܪ. ܘܩܼܡ ܒܡܼܨܥܬܐ. ܘܢܣܼܒ ܐܬܪܐ ܡܼܢ ܬܚܘܼܡܐ ܕܪܩܝܼܥܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܚܘܼܕܪܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܒܗ ܪܕܝܐ ܣܗܪܐ. ܥܕܡܐ ܠܬܚܘܼܡܐ ܕܐܐܪ ܗܿܢܐ ܕܡܿܛܐ ܠܘܬܢ ܘܚܕܝܪ ܠܢ. ܘܐܫܼܬܿܡܗ ܐܬܪܐ ܕܢܘܼܪܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܪܢܐ. ܗܿܘ ܕܠܐ ܡܼܨܝܐ ܠܚܝܘܼܬܐ ܒܣܪܢ݀ܝܬܐ ܠܡܥܼܒܪ ܒܗ ܣܟ. ܪܡ ܕܝܢ ܡܼܢܢ ܦܪ̈ܣܚܐ ܝܼܕ̈ܝܼܥ ܒܡܢܝܿܢܐ ܘܡܫܘܼܚܬܐ. ܕܐܬܼܡܨܝܼܢܢ ܠܡܡܼܫܚ ܪ̈ܘܡܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܘܼܡܢܘܼܬܐ ܕܓܐܘܡܛܪܝܐ. ܗ̣ܿܢܐ ܐܬܛܟܣ ܡܕܝܪܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܕܠܥܠ ܡܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܢܘܪܐ ܡܫܠܗܒܬܐ. ܘܐܬܩܪܝܼ ܐܬܝܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ. ܘܠܥܠ ܡܢܗ ܚܘܕܪܐ ܕܣܗܪܐ. ܘܗܟܢܐ ܚܕ ܠܥܠ ܡܼܢ ܚܕ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܗܿܘ ܥܠܝܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܝܡܐ ܠܐ ܡܬܕܪܟܢܐ ܘܛܠܠ ܒܡܝ̈ܐ ܘܒܢܘܪܐ ܡܕܝܪ̈ܘ̄ ܣܓܝܼܕ ܘܡܫܒܚ ܫܡܗ ܒܪܘܝܐ. ܟܡܐ ܬܡܝܼܗܐ ܒܪܘܝܘܼܬܗ܀ ܘܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܠܡ ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܒܝܕ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܚܝܠ ܘܥܕܪ܀ ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܬܪܝܢ ܕܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܘ̄ ܥܡ ܐܠܗ ܕܡܚܟܡ. ܥܠ ܗܿܝ ܕܡܢܐ ܐܝܬ ܠܬܚܬ ܡܢ ܐܬܝܪ. ܘܐܟܢ ܐܝܬܘ̄ ܐܐܪ ܗܢܐ.","english":"And when it revolves in the swift circles of fortune, sharply and with great vehemence, without rest or cessation, then from this rotation the intense heat of the element of fire was kindled, and all the power of this fiery nature was poured into the whole rotation of this circle which is above the earth, and within, equally both above and below, this air which surrounds it was heated. And it was commanded that it should no longer enter within and approach near to it and scorch it. And this was restrained from both sides, as the wise Creator wills in all things: from above by the great power of the swift rotation of fortune, and from below again by the hard force of the earth. And this was commanded, restrained, and forbidden, and it stood in the middle, and took its place from the boundary of the firmament, that is, the circle in which the moon travels, as far as the boundary of this air which reaches to it and surrounds it. And the place of fire, that is, the fiery ether, was established, that through which it is not possible for living beings of flesh to pass. But its distances are known by means of measures and dimensions, which are found to measure those heights by the science of geometry. This first sphere above the earth was ordered with the kindled fire, and was called the fiery ether, and above it the sphere of the moon. And thus one above another, as far as that highest one which is the incomprehensible sea, and it overshadows with waters and with fire its many spheres, and the name of the Creator is glorified and praised. How wonderful is His creation! And with these the first chapter is completed by the help of God who is mighty. The second chapter of the discourse with God who makes wise: concerning that which is below the ether, and how this air exists.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܟܪܘܼܟܝܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܟܪܘܼܟܝܐ (krukyā) denotes a circular motion or sphere, here rendered as 'rotation' or 'circle'. It is a key cosmological term in this passage, describing the celestial mechanism.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ (ʾaṯīr gūrā) is translated as 'fiery ether', a distinct cosmological layer between the moon and the earth, derived from Greek αἰθήρ. It is presented as a sphere of fire impassable to fleshly beings.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of concentric celestial spheres (fire, moon, and higher spheres) reflects late antique cosmological models, particularly those of Aristotle and Ptolemy, as adapted in Syriac Christian sources. The 'incomprehensible sea' likely refers to the empyrean or outermost sphere.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage concludes the first chapter (ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܩܕܡܝܐ) of Book 6 and introduces the second chapter, which will treat the region below the ether and the nature of air. The chapter division is marked by a doxological formula.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text contains several ambiguous or damaged readings, e.g., ܐܐܪ (ʾār) for 'air' and ܡܼܢ (men) with uncertain pointing. The translation 'from both sides' (ܡܼܢ ܬܪ̈ܝܗܘܢ ܓܒ̈ܐ) is secure, but the precise mechanics of the rotation and restraint remain unclear.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase ܡܼܢ ܠܓܘ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܡܼܢ ܠܬܚܼܬ (men l-gaw ʾawḵīṯ men l-tḥēt) is ambiguous: it may mean 'equally both above and below' or 'from within and from below'. The translation adopts the former, but the latter is possible.","The term ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ (ʾaṯīr gūrā) is a hapax in this work; its exact relation to Greek αἰθήρ and Syriac ܐܬܝܪ (ʾaṯīr) is uncertain, though the context supports 'fiery ether'."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":4,"ref":"p4","source":"ܘܡܿܢܐ ܐܢܘܢ ܙܝܼܩ̈ܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܟܫ̈ܛܐ ܢܘܼܪ̈ܢܝܐ. ܕܡܬܚܙܝܢ ܒܠܝ̈ܠܘܬܐ ܒܐܐܪ܆ ܐܦܢ ܡܿܨܐܼ ܟܿܠ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܐܠܗܐ ܘܠܥܠ ܡܼܢ ܛܟܣܐ ܕܟܝܿܢܐ ܘܡܿܨܐܼ ܡܫܚܠܦ ܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܘܢܛܪ ܠܗܘܢ ܕܠܐ ܚܒܠ ܘܕܠܐ ܒܘܠܒܠ܆ ܐܠܐ ܘܠܐ ܣܟ ܐܬܚܫܚ ܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܒܡܠܬܐ ܕܓܘܐ. ܐܠܐ ܠܟܠܡܕܡ ܒܛܟܣܐ ܐܩܝܼܡ ܘܬܚܡ ܘܒܗܿ ܒܗܕܐ ܡܠܚܡܘܬܐ ܘܫܦܝܪܘܬ ܡܛܟܣܘܼܬܐ ܩܿܐܡ ܥ݀ܠܡܐ ܘܢܛܝܪ ܘܡܬܝܒܠ ܘܡܬܟܪܟܝܢ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܘܥܕ̈ܢܐ. ܘܠܐܣܛܘܼܟ̈ܣܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܐܒܗ̈ܝ ܬܐܒܝܠ. ܕܡܢܗܘܢ ܟܠ ܐܬܩܝܡ ܐܝܟ ܐܪ̈ܒܥ ܙܘܝ̈ܬܐ [ܕܒܝܬܐ]. ܘܐܝܟ ܐܪ̈ܒܥܐ ܐܣܛܘܼܟ̈ܣܐ ܫܠ̈ܝܛܐ ܘܡܕܒܪ̈ܢܐ. ܘܐܝܟ ܐܪ̈ܒܥܐ ܛܘܼܢ̈ܒܐ ܠܒܝܼܟ̈ܝ ܠܝܪܝܥܬܐ. ܐܩܝܼܡ ܐܢܘܢ ܟܿܠܚܕ ܒܬܚܘܡܗ ܘܒܕܘܟܬܐ ܕܡܛܬܼܗ ܡܼܢ ܟܝܿܢܗ ܐܝܟ ܕܠܚܡ ܠܗ. ܘܗܟܢܐ ܠܒܝܼܟܝܢ ܠܒܪܝܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܬܡܘܛܝ ܠܚܕ ܡܼܢ ܓܒ̈ܝܢ ܘܬܬܼܚܒܠܝ܀ ܢܘܼܪܐ ܡܿܢ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܐܝܬܝܗܿ ܚܪܝܼܦܬܐ ܘܩܠܝܼܠܬܐ ܘܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ ܠܥܠ ܓܿܕܝܐ ܘܣܿܠܩܐ. ܐܬܼܛܟܣܬ݀ ܥܠܝܬܐ ܘܐܬܬܚܡ ܠܗܿ ܐܬܪܐ ܡܥܠܝܐ ܗܿܢܐ ܕܐܫܼܬܿܡܗ ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ܀ ܐܐܪ ܬܘܼܒ ܕܐܦ ܗܼܘ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܘܡܬܬܙܝܼܥ ܠܟܐ ܘܠܟܐ. ܕܚܝܗܝ ܠܟܝܿܢܐ ܕܢܘܼܪܐ ܠܥܠ. ܘܫܒܼܩ ܠܐܣܛܘܼܟ̈ܣܐ ܝܩܝܼܪ̈ܐ ܠܬܚܼܬ܆ ܐܚܕ ܗܼܘ ܐܬܪܐ ܕܒܡܨܥܬܐ. ܘܐܬܬܚܡ ܒܟܿܠܗ ܗܿܢܐ ܥܘܼܒܐ ܕܚܕܪ̈ܝܢ. ܘܗܿܢܐ ܚܿܕܪ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܝ̈ܐ ܐܝܟ ܚܘܪܐ ܕܒܝܼܥܬܐ ܠܡܘܼܩܪܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܼܪܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܠ ܒܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܩܕܡ ܗܢ ܒܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܬܪܝܢ. ܘܗܟܐ ܐܚܼܕ ܐܐܪ ܐܬܪܐ ܕܠܬܼܚܬ ܡܼܢ ܢܘܼܐ. ܘܡܼܬܕܚܐ ܠܟܼܐ ܘܠܟܼܐ. ܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܡܕܡ ܐ̱ܚܪܢܐ. ܘܟܝܿܢܐ ܝܬܝܼܪ ܥܒܝܐ ܘܩܫܝܐ ܘܕܚܼܐ ܠܗ ܠܟܐ ܘܠܗܠ. ܐܟܙܢ ܕܢ݀ܣܒ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܕܦܐ ܡܕܡ ܘܢܕܚܝܼܘܗܝ ܠܐܐܪ ܘܗܿܘܐ ܪܘܼܚܐ ܘܡܫܒܐ.","english":"re element, and all the power of this fire was kindled. And when these winds, like sharp razors, are seen moving in the air at night, then also the whole of him who is God and above the order of nature is able to change natures and preserve them without corruption and without confusion, but he was not even able to be moved by these words of the interior. Rather, he established and limited everything in order, and by this harmony and beauty of order the world stands, is preserved, is managed, and revolves in times and seasons. And these elements are the fathers of the world, from which everything was established like the four corners of a house, and like the four ruling and governing elements, and like the four good things for the belly of the womb. He established each of the winds in its own boundary and in the place that befits it according to its nature, as was fitting for it. And thus they are joined to creation so that it may not totter to one side and be destroyed. Fire, because it is sharp, light, and swiftly rises upward, was ordered to the upper region and was limited to that high place which is called the sphere of fire. Air again, which is also light and moves here and there, and whose nature is above that of fire, and which leaves the heavy elements below, took the middle place and was limited to the whole of this surrounding space. And this sphere surrounds earth and water like the yolk of an egg surrounds the white, as was said above in the second chapter of the first treatise. And thus air took the place below fire, and is moved here and there by some other power, and a nature that is thicker and harder and drives it here and there, just as when something takes fire from something and drives the air, and it becomes wind and blast.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܣܛܘܼܟ̈ܣܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܐܣܛܘܼܟ̈ܣܐ (ʾesṭūksē) is a loan from Greek στοιχεῖα, meaning 'elements' (here the four classical elements).","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The analogy of the four elements as 'four corners of a house' and 'four good things for the belly of the womb' reflects a cosmological and embryological framework common in late antique Syriac thought.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The image of air surrounding earth and water 'like the yolk of an egg surrounds the white' is a standard cosmological simile found in earlier Greek and Syriac sources, e.g., in the Hexaemeron tradition.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of cosmic formation from the previous passage, detailing the ordering of fire and air into distinct spherical regions, and explicitly references an earlier discussion in 'the second chapter of the first treatise'.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'the whole of him who is God and above the order of nature is able to change natures' is syntactically ambiguous in Syriac; it may refer to God's power or to a cosmic principle, and the translation 'him' is interpretive.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The referent of 'him who is God' is unclear: it may be the divine agent or a personified cosmic force.","The phrase 'these words of the interior' (ܒܡܠܬܐ ܕܓܘܐ) is obscure; it may refer to an internal discourse or a prior textual passage."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":5,"ref":"p5","source":"ܗܟܢܐ ܐܡܼܬܝ ܕܣ݀ܠܩܝܢ ܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܕܚܿܝܢ ܠܗ ܠܐܐܪ ܘܐܚܿܕܝܢ ܕܘܼܟܬܗ. ܘܐܐܪ ܗܿܘ ܟܕ ܡܼܙܕܪܒ ܘܡܬܕܚܐ܆ ܗܿܘܐ ܡܫܒܐ ܕܪܘܼܚܐ ܠܦܘܬ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܘܼܬܐ ܘܒܨܝܪܘܬܐ ܕܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܐܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܢ ܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܘܥܒܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܘܼܬ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܢܿܦܩ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ. ܕܚܿܝܢ ܠܟܿܠܗ ܐܐܪ ܕܒܐܬܪܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܒܗ. ܘܡܬܕܚܐ ܗܼܘ ܐܐܪ ܠܦܢܝܼܬܐ ܕܕܚܠܝܢ ܠܗ ܠ̈ܗܓܐ. ܘܗܿܘܐ ܡܫܒܐ ܩܫܝܐ ܘܥܠ̈ܥܠܐ ܬܩܝܼܦ̈ܐ. ܘܗܿܟܢ ܕܚ̈ܝܢ ܥܡܗܝܢ ܠܐܐܪ ܕܩܕܡܝܗܝܢ ܘܐܙܠ̈ܢ ܘܡܬܼܬܣ̈ܦܢ ܘܗܘ̈ܝܢ ܪ̈ܘܼܚܐ ܬܩܝܼܦ̈ܬܐ. ܘܐܢ ܥ݀ܒܪ̈ܢ ܥܠ ܛܘܪ̈ܐ ܪ̈ܡܐ ܘܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܓܪ̈ܒܝܝܐ ܡܝܬܝܢ ܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܩܪܝܼܪ̈ܐ. ܘܐܢ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܐܬܐܪ ܕܥ݀ܒܪ̈ܢ ܥܠܘܗܝ ܦܩܥ̈ܬܐ ܢܝܼܚ̈ܬܐ ܘܡܕܒܪ̈ܐ ܬܚ̈ܬܝܐ ܘܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܬܝܡ̈ܢܝܐ܆ ܐܬ݀ܝܢ ܡܫ̈ܒܐ ܚܡܝܼܡ̈ܐ ܘܢܘܪ̈ܢܐ. ܘܐܢ ܡܼܢ ܡܕܢܚܐ ܢܫ̈ܒܢ ܥܒܕ̈ܢ ܪܛܝܼܒܘܼܬܐ. ܘܐܢ ܡܼܢ ܡܥܪܒܐ܆ ܗܟܘܬ݀ ܠܦܘܼܬ ܣܝܡܗ ܕܐܬܪܐ ܘܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܕܠܗܠ ܡܼܢܗ. ܡܢܼܗܘܢ ܕܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܕܠܗܠ ܡܼܢܗ ܡܝܬܝܢ ܡܫ̈ܒܐ ܚܝܠܐ ܐܝܟ ܡܘܙܓܗ ܕܐܬܪܐ. ܘܡܼܬܚܠܛ ܚܝܠܐ ܗܿܘ ܒܐܐܪ ܘܣܿܝܩܝܢ ܠܗ\nܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ ܘܚܝ̈ܘܬܐ ܘܡܥܒܕ ܒܗܘܢ ܐܝܟ ܟܝܿܢܗ. ܐܘܿ ܚܘܼܠܡܢܐ ܘܩܘܼܝܡ ܚܝ̈ܐ. ܐܘܿ ܟܘܼܪܗܢܐ ܘܚܘܼܒܿܠܐ. ܘܐܦ ܡܘܬܐ ܘܐܒܕܢܐ ܠܦܘܼܬ ܡܘܙܓܐ ܕܦܓܪ̈ ܘܕܐܬܪܐ ܕܥ݀ܡܪܝܢ ܒܗ. [ܘܙܒܢ ܕܩܿܝܡܝܢ ܒܗ.] ܘܠܦܘܼܬ ܡܫܘܼܚܬܐ ܘܥܝܿܕܐ ܘܕܘܼܒܪܐ ܘܐܘܼܡܢܘܼܬܐ ܕܟܿܠܚܕ ܚܕ ܡܢܼܗܘܢ. ܘܐܢ ܐ݀ܬܝܢ ܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܕܐܐܪ ܕܐܬܕܚܝܼ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ. ܡܼܢ ܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܡܡ̈ܙܓܐ ܘܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܢܩܕ̈ܐ ܘܡܼܢ ܐܝܟܐ ܕܠܝܬ ܩܒ̈ܝܬܐ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ ܘܓܡ̈ܐ ܘܫܚܼ̈ܠܐ. [ܐܠܐ] ܐܬܪܐ ܢܩܕܐ ܘܫܦܝܐ ܡܥܒܕ ܚܘܼܠܡܢܐ ܒܦܓܪ̈ܐ ܘܚܝܠܬܢܘܼܬܐ ܘܡܫܪܪܘܼܬܐ. ܘܡܫܡܢ ܦܐܪ̈ܐ ܘܡܪ̈ܒܐ ܥܠ̈ܠܬܐ ܘܡܥܕܪ ܠܣܓܝ̈ܐܬܐ.","english":"Thus, when the tongues of fire rise from the earth, they seize the air and take its place. And that air, being agitated and thrust, becomes a cause of wind according to the abundance or scarcity of the tongues of fire, whether the tongues are many or few and thick with the abundance of power that issues from the earth. They seize all the air in that region where they rise. And the air is thrust toward the direction from which the tongues of fire have seized it. And it becomes a violent storm and strong whirlwinds. And thus, as they seize the air before them and go and are consumed, they become strong winds. And if they pass over high mountains and northern regions, they bring cold storms. And if the place over which they pass is open plains and southern deserts and regions, they bring hot storms and fires. And if from the east, they produce moisture. And if from the west, likewise according to the nature of the place and the regions beyond it. From those regions beyond it, they bring a power like the mixture of the place. And that power mingles with the air and rises up in animals and living creatures and acts in them according to its nature: either health and the preservation of life, or disease and destruction, and even death and annihilation, according to the mixture of the bodies and the region in which they dwell. [And at times, those who stand in it.] And according to the measure, custom, conduct, and practice of each one of them. And if these storms come from the air that was thrust from the tongues of fire, from regions that are mixed and from dry mountains and from places where there are no pools of water, marshes, or swamps, [but] a dry and level region, it produces health in bodies and strength and firmness, and it yields fruits and increases causes and helps many things.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܠ̈ܗܓܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܠ̈ܗܓܐ (lehhē) here denotes 'tongues of fire' rising from the earth, a key agent in the meteorological process described.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܡܫܒܐ","severity":"info","text":"The word ܡܫܒܐ (mešbā) is consistently rendered as 'storm' or 'wind' in this passage, reflecting its role as a natural force derived from agitated air.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"ܡܘܙܓܐ","severity":"info","text":"The concept of ܡܘܙܓܐ (mawzgā, 'mixture') reflects ancient theories of elemental composition, where regional mixtures determine climatic and physiological effects.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage follows a causal chain: tongues of fire agitate air, producing winds that vary by region, then affect bodies and health, mirroring the work's systematic natural philosophy.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"[ܘܙܒܢ ܕܩܿܝܡܝܢ ܒܗ.]","severity":"caution","text":"The bracketed clause ܘܙܒܢ ܕܩܿܝܡܝܢ ܒܗ ('and at times, those who stand in it') is syntactically awkward and may be a gloss or scribal insertion; its meaning is uncertain.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The idea that winds carry regional qualities (hot, cold, moist) and affect health parallels Greco-Roman medical geography, e.g., in the Hippocratic treatise Airs, Waters, Places.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The bracketed clause [ܘܙܒܢ ܕܩܿܝܡܝܢ ܒܗ] is ambiguous: it may be a later addition or a corrupt reading; the translation treats it as parenthetical.","The phrase ܠܦܘܼܬ ܣܝܡܗ ܕܐܬܪܐ ('according to the nature of the place') could imply either inherent quality or divine ordering; the text does not resolve this."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":6,"ref":"p6","source":"ܘܐܢ ܕܝܢ ܘܐܬܼܘ ܡܫ̈ܒܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܦܩܼܥ̈ܬܐ ܡܠ̈ܝܬ݀ ܐܓܡ̈ܐ ܘܪ̈ܨܝܿܢܐ ܘܝܡܡ̈ܬܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܐܝܟܐ ܕܐܝܼܬ ܥܒ̈ܐ ܥܒܝܼ̈ܛܐ ܘܥܘܼܒܛܐ ܕܐܝܼܠ̈ܢܐ. ܘܐܪܒܢܐ ܩܢܝܐ ܩܛܝܼܢܐ ܘܙܠܐ. ܘܥܣܼܒ̈ܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܘܡܪ̈ܓܐ ܣܒܝܼܣ̈ܐ. ܟܿܠܗ ܐܐܪ ܕܐܬܿܐ ܡܼܢ ܦܢܝ̈ܬܐ ܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ܆ ܒܝܼܫܐ ܗܿܘ ܣܿܓܝ ܘܡܟܪܗܢܐ ܘܡܣܓܦܢܐ. ܘܡܢܟܿܠܦܪܘܿܣ ܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܝܝ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܘܥܒ̈ܐ ܘܡܪ̈ܓܐ ܘܫܿܩܘ̈ܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ ܘܩܒ̈ܝܬܐ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ ܘܝܡܡ̈ܬܐ܆ [ܐܐܪ] ܒܝܼܫܐ ܗܿܘܐ ܒܗܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܪܘܼܚܐ ܕܦܿܐܚ ܡܼܢ ܡܣܝܘܼܬܐ ܕܥܣܼ̈ܒܐ ܥܒ̈ܝܼܛܐ ܕܡܪ̈ܓܐ ܘܐܪܒܢܐ ܘܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ. ܘܐܢ ܡܼܨܝܐ ܠܡܪ̈ܝ ܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܕܢܕܟܘܢ ܐܢܘܿܢ ܡܼܢ ܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ܆ ܘܢܥܼܩܪܘܢ ܘܢܥܼܛܘܢ ܠܟܿܠܗ ܥܘܼܒܛ ܕܥܣܼܒܐ ܘܐܪܒܢܐ ܘܥܒ̈ܐ ܥܒܝܼ̈ܛܐ ܕܥܠ ܡܝ̈ܐ. ܘܠܥܣܼܒܐ ܗܿܘ ܡܣܝܐ ܕܒܓܘ ܡܝ̈ܐ. ܘܥܠ ܣܦܪ̈ܝ ܝܡܡ̈ܬܐ ܘܢܗܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܘܪ̈ܨܝܢܐ ܘܫܚܼ̈ܠܐ܆ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܡܼܬܥܕܪܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܗܿܟܢ. ܘܡܬܬܪܝܼܡ ܡܢܼܗܝܢ ܐܐܪ ܒܝܼܫܐ ܘܟܘܼܪܗܢܐ. ܡܕܝܢ ܟ݀ܠܗܝܢ ܪ̈ܘܼܚܐ ܘܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܥܙܝ̈ܙܐ܆ ܗܘܼ ܐܐܪ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܕܡܼܬܐܠܨ ܘܡܼܬܕܚܐ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ. ܘܡܙܕܥܦ ܠܟܿܠ ܟܪ ܕܕܝܚܢ ܠܗ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ. ܘܗܼܢܘܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ܆ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܥܠ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܘܡܬܼܡܛܝܢ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ. ܘܗܝܕܝܢ ܗܿܦܟܝܢ. ܘܡܼܢܗܘܢ ܕܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܼܐ܆ ܗܿܘܝܢ ܣܘܼܥܪ̈ܢܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ܆ ܠܦܘܬ ܡܘܙܓܗܘܢ ܘܐܪ̈ܥܬܐ ܕܣܠܩܘ ܡܼܢܗܝܢ ܘܡܼܢ ܐܐܪ ܘܡܢ ܢܘܼܪܐ ܕܐܬܝܼܪ܆ ܡܼܨܛܠܠܝܢ ܘܩܿܢܝܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܘܡܥܒܕ̈ܢܘܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܬܐ.. ܩܕܡܐܝܬ ܡܿܢ ܗܿܘܐ ܡܼܢܗܘܢ ܕܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܫܒܥܐ ܙܢܝ̈ܐ ܕܛܐ̈ܠܐ. ܚܕ ܡܼܛܪܐ ܘܪ̈ܣܝܼܣܐ ܘܛܐ̈ܠܐ ܡܝܢ̈ܝܐ܀ ܘܕܬܪܝܢ ܗܿܘ ܕܡܬܼܩܪܐ ܙܝܘܓ. ܕܐܦ ܗܿܢܐ ܛܐܠܐ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܡܝܢ̈ܝܐ.","english":"And if, moreover, these tongues of fire rise from the earth, from places full of marshes, reeds, and seas. And from places where there are thick trees and the thickets of forests. And from plains, dry and barren. And from many grasses and soft meadows. All the air that comes from places like these is very bad, pestilential, and harmful. And in many regions, many waters, trees, meadows, canals, many reeds, and pools of water and seas, [the air] becomes bad from the wind that blows from the putrefaction of thick grasses, meadows, plains, and places like these. And if it is possible for the lords of these regions to cleanse them from things like these, and to uproot and remove all the thicket of grass, plains, and thick trees that are on the waters. And that grass which is in the water. And on the shores of seas, rivers, reeds, and sands, they are greatly helped by this. And from them, bad and pestilential air is raised. Therefore, all these strong winds and tongues of fire are that air which is compressed and driven by the flames. And it pushes against everything that opposes the flames. And the flames rise up greatly and reach as far as the sphere of fire. And then they turn back. And from these flames that rise from the earth, many effects occur, according to their mixture and the vapors that rise with them, and from the air and from the fire of the sphere; they are condensed and produce power and many operations. First, from these flames that rise from the earth, seven types of clouds. One: rain, drizzle, and watery clouds. And the second: that which is called snow. For this cloud also is from watery flames.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܐܪ ܒܝܼܫܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'bad air' (ܐܐܪ ܒܝܼܫܐ) is a technical term for miasmatic or pestilential air, a key concept in the work's natural-philosophical explanation of disease and climate.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܠܗ̈ܓܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܠܗ̈ܓܐ (lehhē) is the standard Syriac word for 'flames' or 'tongues of fire', here consistently used for the fiery exhalations that drive atmospheric phenomena.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'sphere of fire' (ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ) reflects the Aristotelian cosmological model, where a fiery layer surrounds the sublunary realm; this passage applies that model to explain cloud formation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܫܒܥܐ ܙܢܝ̈ܐ ܕܛܐ̈ܠܐ","severity":"info","text":"The passage introduces a sevenfold classification of clouds (ܫܒܥܐ ܙܢܝ̈ܐ ܕܛܐ̈ܠܐ), beginning with rain clouds and snow; this structural list organizes the subsequent discussion of meteorological effects.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"background","lemma":"ܙܝܘܓ","severity":"info","text":"The term 'snow' (ܙܝܘܓ) is a Syriac loan from Greek ζυγόν, but here used for a type of cloud; the classification of clouds by type (rain, snow, etc.) parallels late antique meteorological compendia such as those attributed to Aristotle or Theophrastus.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܼܨܛܠܠܝܢ ܘܩܿܥܝܢ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'they are condensed and produce' (ܡܼܨܛܠܠܝܢ ܘܩܿܥܝܢ) is textually uncertain; the Syriac may be corrupt or elliptical, and the precise mechanism of condensation is ambiguous.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac text at the end of the passage (ܡܼܨܛܠܠܝܢ ܘܩܿܥܝܢ) is ambiguous: it may mean 'they are condensed and produce' or 'they are condensed and remain', affecting the interpretation of how clouds form from fiery exhalations.","The phrase 'lords of these regions' (ܡܪ̈ܝ ܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ) is ambiguous: it could refer to human authorities (e.g., landowners) or to spiritual/angelic powers, but the context of cleansing suggests a practical, agricultural reading."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":7,"ref":"p7","source":"ܘܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܝܟ ܕܥܬܝܕܝܢܢ ܕܢܚܘܐ ܡܼܢ ܠܬܚܼܬ ܥܠ ܗܿܢܐ ܢܗܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ܀ ܘܛܐܠܐ ܕܬܠܬܐ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܡܢܢܐ ܗܿ ܕܡܬܼܩܪܐ ܥܪܥܘܼܪܐ܀ ܘܕܐܪܒܥܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܡܼܬܩܪܐ ܛܪܢܓܝܠ܀ ܕܚܡܫܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܡܬܼܩܪܐ ܫܪܐܟܘܣܟ܀ ܘܕܫܬ ܕܒܫܐ܀ ܘܕܫܒܥܐ ܠܐܕܐܢܘܢ܆ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܠܐܕܝܢ܀ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܒܥܐ ܛܐ̈ܠܐ ܕܢܿܚܬܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܫܡܿܝܐ ܥܠ̈ܠܬ̄ ܡܼܢ ܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܘܡܬܼܟܢܫܝܢ ܒܐܐܪ. ܘܩ݀ܢܝܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܘܗܿܦܟܝܼܢ ܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ ܒܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܕܠܿܚܡܝܢ ܠܗܘܢ. ܘܡܩܘܝܢ ܥܠ ܫܘܼ̈ܥܐ. ܘܥܠ ܐܝܼܠ̈ܢܐ ܘܥܠ ܥܣܼܒ̈ܐ. ܘܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܦܣܝܢ ܒܗܠܝܢ ܡܟܢܫܝܢ ܠܗܘܢ ܒܐܘܡܢܘܼـܐ ܘܡܬܼܚܫܚܝܼܢ ܒܗܘܢ ܠܣܘܼܢܩ̈ܢܐ ܘܚܫܚ̈ܬܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܬܐ܀ ܐܦ ܗܼܘ ܥܦܪܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܡܣܩܝܢ ܥܡܗܘܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܥܠ ܘܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܡܼܬܚܠܛ\nܥܡܗܘܢ ܘܢ݀ܚܬ ܒܙܒܢ ܥܡ ܬܠ̈ܓܐ ܘܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܘܡܫܼܬܚܠܦܝܼܢ ܠܕܡܘܼܬܗ ܕܥܦܪܐ ܗܿ، ܕܣܿܠܩ ܥܡ ܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܘܗܿܘܐ ܓܘܢܗܘܢ ܣܘܼܡ̈ܩܐ. ܐܘܿ ܚܪ̈ܘܥܐ. ܐܘܿ ܚܘܪ̈ܘܬܐ. ܘܒܙܒܢ ܬܘܼܒ ܡܬܼܚܠܛ ܥܦܪܐ ܗܿܘ ܥܡ ܡܢܢܐ ܘܐܕܫ̈ܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܕܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ ܐܝܟ ܛܐܠܐ ܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܠ̈ܗܓܐ܀ ܘܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܩܫ̈ܝܐ ܕܗ݀ܘܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܡܬܕܚܝܢܘܼܬܗ ܕܐܐܪ ܕܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܒܙ̈ܢܝܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܗܿܘܝܢ. ܡܼܢܗܘܢ ܡܿܢ ܡܼܢ ܩܪܝܼܒܘܼـܐ ܐܬ݀ܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܐܘܿ ܡܼܢ ܦܩ̈ܥܬܐ. ܘܗܿܢܘܢ ܕܡܼܢ ܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܐܬ݀ܝܢ ܚܝܠ̈ܬܢܝܢ ܘܩܪܝܪ̈ܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܟܝܿܢܐ ܕܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ. ܘܒܗܿܝ ܕܣܿܓܝܼ ܡܼܙܕܪܒܝܢ ܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܒܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܐܛܝܼܡܘܼܬܗܘܢ. ܘܢܿܦܩܝܢ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܝܼܬ ܒܨܪ̈ܝܐ ܕܫܘܼܥ̈ܐ ܒܗܿܝ ܕܡܬܼܟܢܫܝܢ ܘܣܿܓܝܢ ܘܢ݀ܦܩܝܢ ܒܕܘܼܟ̈ܝܬܐ ܕܫܠ̈ܒܐ ܐܘ ܕܢܚ̈ܠܐ ܘܨܪ̈ܝܐ. ܘܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܐܝܟܐ ܕܡܼܨܝܐ ܠܗܘܢ ܘܡܫܟܚܝܼܢ ܡܦܩ̈ܢܐ. ܘܗܿܘܝܢ ܥܒ̈ܝܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܘܚܝܠ̈ܬܢܐ. ܘܕܝܿܚܢ ܠܐܐܪ ܚܝܠܬܢܐܝܼܬ.","english":"... ascend like those that are destined to show something from below upon this aerial region. And the third kind is that which is called 'Ar'ura. And the fourth is that which is called Targil. The fifth is that which is called Sharakusk. And the sixth, Dbesha. And the seventh, Lada'ut, or Ladi'. These seven kinds of vapors that descend from the heavens, their cause is from the elements, that they ascend and are mixed in the air. And they gain strength and turn and descend in regions that are warm for them. And they rest upon mountains, and upon trees, and upon plants. And those that are dissolved in these are mixed in the moisture and are prepared in them for furnaces and many necessities. Also the dust of the earth ascends with them to the elements up high, and then it is mixed with them and descends in time with snows and rains and is changed into the form of that dust which ascended with the elements and becomes within them red, or yellow, or white. And in time again that dust is mixed with water and other vapors that descend like a kind from the power of the elements. And these are hard stones that come from the density of the air, from the power of the elements in many kinds. From them, from near mountains or from fissures. And those that come from mountains are strong and cold from the nature of mountains. And in that which greatly strikes the elements in mountains because of their density, they emerge abundantly in the cracks of the mountains, in that they are mixed and increase and emerge in places of slopes or of valleys and cracks. And like these, wherever they can and find outlets, they become very thick and strong. And they press the air strongly.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܛܐܠܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ṭālē (ܛܐܠܐ) is here translated 'kind' but can also mean 'dew' or 'vapor'; the context of ascending exhalations supports the sense of a type or class of vapor.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܪܥܘܼܪܐ","severity":"info","text":"The name 'Ar'ura (ܥܪܥܘܼܪܐ) for the third vapor is unattested elsewhere; it may be a Syriac calque or a transliteration of a Greek or Persian term for a meteorological phenomenon.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܛܪܢܓܝܠ","severity":"info","text":"The fourth vapor, Targil (ܛܪܢܓܝܠ), is likely a transliteration of Greek τράγηλος or a related word; its meaning is uncertain but may refer to a 'goat-like' or 'rough' vapor.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"seven kinds of vapors","severity":"info","text":"The enumeration of seven vapors descending from the heavens reflects a cosmological schema common in late antique Syriac natural philosophy, possibly influenced by Aristotelian meteorology or Stoic pneuma theory.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"narrative","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from a list of vapor types to a causal explanation of their formation, mixing with dust, and effects on air and stone formation, marking a transition from taxonomy to etiology.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܠܐܕܐܢܘܼܬ","severity":"caution","text":"The seventh vapor name, Lada'ut (ܠܐܕܐܢܘܼܬ) or Ladi' (ܠܐܕܝܼܥ), is textually uncertain; the Syriac manuscript may have a scribal variant or corruption, as the reading alternates between two forms.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The precise identification of the seven vapor names (especially 'Ar'ura, Targil, Sharakusk, Dbesha, Lada'ut/Ladi') is uncertain; they may be transliterations of lost Greek or Persian terms, or Syriac neologisms.","The causal mechanism linking vapors, dust, and stone formation is described in general terms; the text does not specify whether this reflects a specific philosophical school (e.g., Aristotelian or Stoic) or an original synthesis."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":8,"ref":"p8","source":"ܘܥܠܗܿܝ ܗܿܘܝܢ ܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܩܫܝ̈ܐ ܘܥܙܝܼ̈ܙܐ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܕܐܬ݀ܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ. ܘܗܿܢܘܢ ܕܝܢ ܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܦܩ̈ܥܬܐ ܐ݀ܬܝܢ ܠܐ ܚܝܠܬܢܝܼܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܘܠܐ ܩܪܝܼܪܝܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ ܣܿܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܪܟܝܼܟܬܐ ܘܠܐ ܡܬܟܠܝܢ܆ ܘܡܼܬܟܢܫܝܢ ܘܣܿܓܝܢ ܐܝܟ ܕܒܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܐܛܝܼܡ̈ܐ. ܥܠ ܗܿܝ ܠܐ ܚܝܠܬܢܝܼܢ ܘܠܐ ܩܪܝܼܪܝܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܕܡܼܢ ܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܐܬ݀ܝܢ. ܘܐܝܼـ ܬܘܼܒ ܡܫ̈ܒܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܚܝܠ̈ܬܢܐ ܕܐܬ݀ܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܪܘܼܚܩܐ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܐ ܡܼܢ ܟ݀ܠܗܝܢ ܦܢܝ̈ܬܐ ܕܒܪܝܼܬܐ. ܘܐܝܼܬܝܗܘܿܢ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܡܪ̈ܢܝܐ ܐܪܒܥܐ. ܗ̄ ܡܕܢܚܝܬܐ ܘܡܥܪܒܝܬܐ ܘܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܬܐ ܘܬܝܡܢ݀ܝܬܐ. ܘܬܘܼܒ ܐܝܼܬ ܒܝܢܬ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܐܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܡܼܢ ܓܘܼܢܘ̈ܬܐ. ܡܼܢ ܟܿܠ ܓܘܼܢܝܐ ܬܪܝܢ ܬܪܝܢ. ܐܝܟ ܕܢܗܘܼܘܢ ܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܬܪ̈ܥܣܪ. ܘܐܝܼܬ ܠܗܘܢ ܫܡ̈ܗܐ ܚܟܝܼܡ̈ܐ. ܘܠܘܬ݀ ܪܕܝܼܝܼ ܒܐ̈ܠܦܐ ܘܢܿܚܬ̈ܝ ܝܡܐ ܡܠ̈ܚܐ ܘܩܘܼܒܪ̈ܢܝܛܐ. ܘܟܿܠܗܿ ܥܠܼܬܗܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܕܕ݀ܝܚܢ ܠܗ ܠܐܐܪ ܠܟܿܠ ܓܒ̈ܝܢ. ܘܢ݀ܫܒ ܗܿܟܢ ܩܫܝܐܝܼܬ ܐܘܿ ܡܚܝܼܠܐܝܼܬ. ܘܐܢ ܬܐܡܪ ܕܡܼܢ ܐܝܟܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܚܝܠܐ ܠܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܕܢܕܚܘܢ ܠܐܐܪ ܗܿܟܢ ܚܝܠܬܢܐܝܼܬ. ܘܢܥܒܼܕܘܢ ܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܡܫ̈ܒܐ ܩܫ̈ܝܐ ܘܥܙܝܼܙ̈ܐ. ܘܐܡܿܪܝܢ ܕܣܿܓܝܼ ܚܝܠܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܠܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܿܨܐܼ ܡܕܡ ܒܒܪܝܼܬܐ ܕܢܟܼܠܐ ܐܢܘܢ. ܗܿܫܐ ܓܝܪ ܟܕ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܡܼܬܟܢܫܝܼܢ ܒܓܘ ܥܘܼܒ̈ܐ ܬܚ̈ܬܝܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ. ܡܙܝܼܥܝܼܢ ܠܗܿ ܐܝܟ ܥܪܙܠܐ. ܘܓܿܕܫܝܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܙܘ̈ܥܐ ܘܪ̈ܥܠܐ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ. ܘܢܘܕ̈ܐ ܒܐܪܥܐ. ܡܛܠ ܕܗܿܠܝܢ ܙܘܥ̈ܐ ܘܪ̈ܥܠܐ܆ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܥܠܼܬܗܝܢ ܕܡܬܼܟܢܫܝܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܒܬܚ̈ܬܝܬܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܒܥܘܼܒ̈ܐ ܥܡܝܼܩ̈ܐ.","english":"...is called the fifth. And upon them are hard and strong winds that come from the mountains. And there are also winds that come from valleys, which are neither very strong nor very cold, because they ascend gently from the low-lying earth and are not hindered, but are stirred and increase like the winds from the high mountains. Concerning those that are neither very strong nor very cold, like those that come from the mountains, there are yet other winds, which are forces that come from a great distance, from all the regions of creation. And these are the four principal winds: the east, the west, the north, and the south. And again, among these there are other winds from the directions, two from each direction, so that they are twelve in all, and they have wise names. And they are for the guidance of ships and for the depths of the sea, for salt-works and for harbors. And the cause of all of them for the winds is that they are set in motion to illuminate for all regions, and they blow either harshly or gently. And if you say, \"From where does the power come to the winds that they move the earth so powerfully and make it like these hard and strong winds?\" And they say that the winds have great power, so that nothing in creation can withstand them. For now, when they are greatly stirred within the lower cavities of the earth, they move it like a reed, and these movements and tremors occur from the winds, and they cause openings in the earth, because these movements and tremors are the cause of their being greatly stirred in the lower parts of the earth in deep cavities.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܫܒ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܡܫܒ̈ܐ (mšabbē) is here translated 'winds' but can also mean 'blasts' or 'currents'. The passage distinguishes several kinds of atmospheric phenomena, not all of which are strictly winds in the modern sense.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"four principal winds","severity":"info","text":"The four cardinal winds (east, west, north, south) reflect a standard ancient classification, found in Greek and Syriac meteorology. The text adds that from each direction come two sub-winds, making twelve in total, a scheme with parallels in Aristotelian and later Syriac cosmological works.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"narrative","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the enumeration of vapors and winds begun in the previous passage. It moves from specific kinds of vapors to winds from mountains and valleys, then to the four principal winds and their subdivisions, and finally to the causal role of winds in earthquakes.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܠܘܬ݀ ܪܕܝܼܝܼ ܒܐ̈ܠܦܐ ܘܢܿܚܬ̈ܝ ܝܡܐ ܡܠ̈ܚܐ ܘܩܘܼܒܪ̈ܢܝܛܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'for the guidance of ships and for the depths of the sea, for salt-works and for harbors' lists practical applications of the winds. The term ܩܘܼܒܪ̈ܢܝܛܐ (qūbrāṭīṭā) is a Greek loanword (κυβερνήτης) meaning 'helmsman' or 'pilot', here likely referring to harbors or pilotage.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܐܝܼـ ܬܘܼܒ ܡܫ̈ܒܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text at this point contains a scribal mark (a supralinear stroke) that may indicate a correction or insertion. The phrase 'yet other winds' is syntactically awkward, and the following list of forces from a great distance may be a later interpolation or a conflation of two source traditions.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"earthquakes from winds","severity":"info","text":"The explanation that winds trapped in subterranean cavities cause earthquakes is a standard theory in ancient Greek and Syriac natural philosophy, notably found in Aristotle's Meteorology and in the works of Syriac authors such as Sergius of Reshaina. The image of the earth moving 'like a reed' (ܐܝܟ ܥܪܙܠܐ) is a vivid simile.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac term ܡܫܒ̈ܐ (mšabbē) is ambiguous between 'winds' and 'blasts'; the translation 'winds' is followed here but the text may include other aerial currents.","The list of seven kinds of vapors in the previous passage is not fully repeated here; the reference to 'the fifth' is unclear without the preceding context.","The phrase 'wise names' (ܫܡ̈ܗܐ ܚܟܝܼܡ̈ܐ) for the twelve winds is not elaborated; these names are not given in the surviving text."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":9,"ref":"p9","source":"ܘܟܕ ܠܐ ܡܫܼܚܝܼܢ ܡܦܩ̈ܢܐ ܪ̈ܘܝܚܐ܆ ܡܙܝܼܥܝܢ ܠܗܿ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܗܿܝ ܘܡܢܝܼܕܝܢ ܘܡܩܝܢ ܠܗܿ ܘܡܦܚܬܝܼܢ ܘܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܥܼܠ ܘܕܝܿܚܢ ܠܐܐܪ ܘܗܕܐ ܬܬܝܼܕܥܝ ܕܒܥܕ̈ܢܐ ܘܝܘܡ̈ܬܐ ܕܪ̈ܥܠܐ ܣܿܓܝܢ ܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܕܪ̈ܘܼܚܐ. ܘܐܢ ܡܿܢ ܘܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܙܒܢܐ ܣܬܘܝܐ܆ ܩܫܝܐ ܗܿܘܐ ܙܘܥܐ ܘܚܝܠܬܢܐ ܡܢܝܼܕ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܙܥܠ ܠܗܿ. ܡܛ݀ ܕܐܬܩܫܝܼܘ ܐܦ̈ܝܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ. ܘܐܬܼܪܩܥܬ݀ ܘܐܙܕܓܙܘ ܦܩ̈ܥܐ. ܘܡܢܦ̈ܫܝܐ ܕܒܗܘܢ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܗܘܼ، ܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܒܩܕܡܝܗܿ. ܘܡܼܢ ܝܕ ܗܿܟܢ ܡܬܟܢܫܝܢ ܘܣܿܓܝܢ ܘܡܬܥܒܝܢ ܒܓܘ ܐܪܥܐ. ܘܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܡܼܙܕܪܒܝܢ ܘܡܙܝܼܥܝܼܢ ܠܐܪܥܐ\nܘܠܝܡ̈ܡܐ ܘܠܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܘܡܦܩܝܢ ܘܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ ܘܥܠܗܿܝ ܐܪܥܐ ܒܣܿܓܝܼ ܕܘܼܟܝ̈ـܐ ܡܬܼܦܚ̈ܬܬܐ ܘܡܦܩܥܐ ܘܝܬܒܐ. ܘܬܠ̈ܠܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܘܪ̈ܡܬܐ ܡܬܡܟܟܝܼܢ ܘܡܬܼܒܠܥܝܼܢ ܒܓܘ ܐܪܥܐ. ܘܐܦ ܝܡܐ ܡܼܬܛܪܛܥ ܘܡܼܬܒܥܪܪ ܘܡܼܬܬܪܝܡ ܓܠ̈ܠܘܗܝ [ܣܓܝ] ܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܥܒ̈ܝܐ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܬܚܘܼܡ̈ܘܗܝ ܬܚ̈ܬܝܐ ܡܼܢ ܥܘܼܒ̈ܐ ܥܡܝܼܩ̈ܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܗܿܝ ܕܩܿܒܐܼ ܠܥܼܠ ܡܢܗܿ. ܘܐܦ ܗܼܘ ܝܡܐ ܡܬܕܚܐ ܘܡܼܬܗܦܟ ܠܟܐ ܘܠܟܐ ܘܒܙܒܢ ܫܦܥ ܘܢܦܩ ܠܒܪ ܡܼܢ ܬܚܘܼܡ̈ܘܗܝ ܘܡܚܒܠ ܘܡܚܪܒ ܕܘܼܟ̈ܝܬܐ ܣܓܝ̈ܐܬܐ. ܘܒܙܒܢ ܗܿܦܟ ܠܒܣܬܪܗ ܘܡܬܓܠ̈ܝܢ ܒܗ ܕܘܟ̈ܝܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܚܼܙ̈ܝ ܫܡܼܫܐ. ܘܡܫܬܟܚ ܬܡܿܢ ܥܘܼܬܪܐ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܢܘܼܓܪܐ ܐܣܼܬܿܦܩ ܡܼܢ ܐ̈ܠܼܦܐ ܕܐܬܼܛܒ̈ܥܝ ܬܡܿܢ. ܘܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܐܘܿ ܡܼܢ ܕܪܫ ܗܿܦܟ ܝܡܐ ܠܕܘܼܟܬܗ ܐܢ ܡܼܬܝܬܒܐ ܐܪܥܐ ܗܿܝ ܕܐܬܬܙܝܼܥܬ݀ ܘܐܬܬܪܝܼܡܬ݀. ܐܘܿ ܦܿܐܫ ܗܿܟܢ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܥܿܠܡ ܐܢ ܐܬܬܪܝܼܡܬ݀ ܐܪܥ ܝܬܝܪ ܡܼܢ ܛܟܣܼܗܿ ܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܠܗ̈ܓܐ. ܘܐܝܼܬ ܐܢܫ̈ܝܢ ܚܟܝܼܡ̈ܐ ܒܥܿܠܡܐ ܕܟܕ ܒܿܢܝܢ ܡܕܝܼܢ̈ܬܐ ܚܿܦܪܝܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܥܡܩܝܢ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܡܝ̈ܐ.","english":"and when the broad fissures are not sufficient, it moves that earth and shakes and disturbs it, and raises and lifts it upward, and presses upon the air. And this is known, that in the times and days of earthquakes, many winds are imprisoned. And if it is winter, the earthquake is severe and powerful, shaking the earth and causing it to tremble, because the surface of the earth has become hardened and frozen, and the fissures have been closed and blocked. And the vapors that are in them rise gently at first, but then they become confined and increase and swell within the earth, and then they burst forth and move the earth, the seas, and the mountains, and they open and descend, and upon the earth in many places they cause fissures and chasms and depressions. And many hills and heights are lowered and swallowed up into the earth. And also the sea is agitated and stirred up, and its waves are raised high by the force of the thick vapors that rise from its lower depths, from the deep hollows of the earth that lie beneath it. And that sea is driven and tossed to and fro, and at times it overflows and goes out beyond its boundaries, and destroys and lays waste many places. And at other times it recedes backward, and places that have never seen the sun are revealed in it, and there is found there great wealth from ships that have sunk there, from the thousands of ships that have been wrecked there. And then, when the sea returns to its place, that earth which had been shaken and raised up either remains thus forever, if it was raised more than its proper level by the force of the vapors, or there are wise men in the world who, when they seek cities, dig the earth and deepen it down to the waters.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܡܦܩ̈ܢܐ ܪ̈ܘܝܚܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܡܦܩ̈ܢܐ ܪ̈ܘܝܚܐ (broad fissures) refers to openings in the earth through which vapors escape; the author uses it to explain the mechanics of earthquakes.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of vapors (ܡܢܦ̈ܫܝܐ) rising and causing earthquakes reflects ancient Greek and Syriac natural philosophy, particularly the theory of subterranean winds as a cause of seismic activity.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of earthquake causation, moving from general principles to specific effects on land and sea, and concluding with the possibility of permanent land elevation or human intervention.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The motif of vapors confined within the earth causing earthquakes parallels Aristotle's Meteorology (esp. 2.8) and later Syriac adaptations, such as those in the works of Sergius of Reshaina.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The reference to wise men digging to find cities and water may echo practical knowledge of well-digging or archaeological recovery, possibly reflecting late antique Syriac interest in buried structures.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac text has some uncertain readings, e.g., ܡܼܢ ܝܕ (line 8) may be a scribal error for ܡܐ ܕ (when); the translation 'gently at first' is interpretive.","The phrase ܘܡܦܩܝܢ ܘܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ (line 11) could mean 'they open and descend' or 'they go out and descend'; the sense of vapors is assumed."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":10,"ref":"p10","source":"ܘܥܠ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܒܢܿܝܢ ܐܙܓ̈ܐ ܐܪ̈ܝܼܟܐ ܘܪ̈ܘܝܼܚܐ. ܘܠܥܠ ܡܼܢܗܘܢ ܬܘܼܒ ܐܙܓ̈ܐ ܐܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܘܫܿܒܩܝܢ ܒܗܘܿܢ ܟܘ̈ܝ ܫܡܿܝܐ. ܕܟܕ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܥܒܝ̈ܐ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ. ܥ݀ܒܪܝܢ ܒܚܠ̈ܝܼܠܐ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ ܦܫܝܼܩܐܝܼܬ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܕܚܝܼܢ ܠܡܝ̈ܐ ܕܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܘܥ݀ܒܪܝܢ ܒܕܘܼܟܬܗܘܿܢ ܘܟܕ ܡܿܛܝܢ ܠܐܙ̈ܓܐ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܪ̈ܘܝܼܚܐ܆ ܥܿܒܪܝܢ ܒܗܘܢ ܦܫܝܼܩܐܝܼܬ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܚܕ ܠܚܕ. ܘܗܿܟܢܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܐܐܪ ܘܡܬܼܥܿܠܝܢ ܟܕ ܠܐ ܡܙܝܼܥܝܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܗܿܝ [ܕܒܢܝܐ ܥܠܝܗܿ ܡܕܝܢܬܐ ܗܿܝ] ܘܠܐ ܡܣܼܬܿܓܦܝܼܢ ܒܢܝ̈ܢܐ. ܘܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܕܐܙܓ̈ܐ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܒܿܢܝܢ ܒܢܝ̈ܢܐ ܘܫܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܘܡܓܕ̈ܠܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܐܢܿܐ ܒܩܢܘܼܡܝ ܚܙܝ݀ܬ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܒܣܿܓܝܼ ܡܕܝܼܢ̈ܬܐ. ܝܬܝܪܐܝܼܬ ܒܣܦܪ ܡܝܡܐ ܕܨܘܪ ܘܕܨܝܕܢ. ܘܐܦ ܠܘ ܒܩܘܣܛܢܛܝܢܘܦܘܠܝܣܬܐ ܘܒܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܡܥܪ̈ܒܝܐ. ܒܩܝܛܐ ܕܝܢ ܠܐ ܣܿܓܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܬܚܝܼܬ ܐܪܥܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܐܦ̈ܝܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܣܕܝܪ̈ܢ ܘܪ̈ܟܝܼܟܢ ܘܡܦܩܥ̈. ܟܿܠ ܐܡܼܬܝ ܕܡܬܪܟܢܫܝܢ ܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܩܕܡ ܕܢܣܓܘܢ ܣ݀ܠܩܝܢ ܘܠܐ ܡܬܼܟܠܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܡܕܡ. ܘܐܢ ܡܙܝܼܥܝܼܢ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܒܨܝܼܪܐܝܢ ܡܙܝܼܥܝܢ ܘܠܘ ܩܫܝܐܝܼܬ ܐܝܟ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܣܬܘ̈ܝܐ܀ ܘܒܢ̈ܝܐ ܕܒܦܩܥ̈ܬܐ. ܝܬܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ ܡܼܬܚܒܠܝܢ ܘܣܘܓܐܗܘܢ ܒܐܪܥܐ ܡܼـܒܠܥܝܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠܕܟܕ ܡܼܬܢܗܙܐ ܐܪܥܐ ܘܢܿܝܕܐ ܒܙܘܥܐ ܘܡܼܬܝܬܒܐ ܘܡܼܬܪܩܥܐ ܘܡܬܦܬܚܐ ܡܼܛܠ ܪܟܝܼܟܘܼܬܐ ܕܥܦܪܐ. ܒܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܕܝܢ ܐܛܝܼܡ̈ܐ ܘܐܝܟܐ ܕܐܝܼܬ ܫܘܼܥ̈ܐ ܩܫ̈ܝܐ. ܠܐ ܡܬܼܝܬܒܐ ܐܪܥܐ ܗܿܝ ܘܠܐ ܡܫܼܬܚܠܦܐ. ܥܠܗܿܝ ܡܩܘܝܢ ܒܢܝ̈ܢܐ ܬܡܿܢ ܡܫܪܪܐܝܼܬ ܘܠܐ ܡܼܙܕܥܙܥܝܢ܀ ܘܬܘܼܒ ܡܼܬܚܠܛܝܢ ܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܕܡܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܒܐܕ̈ܫܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܘܡܫܚܠ̈ܦܝܢ ܓܘܢܗ ܕܐܕܫܐ ܗܿܘ ܐܝܟ ܓܘܢܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܝܼܠܗܘܢ.","english":"and over the waters, long and wide fissures open. And above them, again, other fissures open and leave in them the likeness of the heavens. For when the thick vapors rise from the earth, they pass easily through the channels of the waters, because they are akin to the waters, and they pass through their place, and when they reach those wide fissures, they pass easily through them, those vapors from one to another. And thus they ascend to the air and rise up, without greatly disturbing the earth upon which that city is built, nor do they break through the fissures. And upon those fissures, buildings, walls, and towers are built, as can be seen in many cities, especially in the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon, and also in Constantinople and the western regions. In summer, however, not many vapors are under the earth, because the pores of the earth are arranged, soft, and open. Whenever the vapors are stirred up before they increase, they rise and are not hindered by anything. And if they do move the earth, they move it slightly and not violently, as in winter times. And buildings in the fissures are especially destroyed, and most of them are swallowed up in the earth. For when the earth is shaken and trembles with the motion, and is settled, and is compacted, and is opened because of the softness of the soil. In mountains, however, which are hard and where there are hard rocks, that earth is not settled nor changed. Upon it, buildings there stand firmly and are not shaken. And again, the vapors that rise from the earth are mixed in many places and change the nature of that place, like the nature that is their own.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܥܠ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܒܢܿܝܢ ܐܙܓ̈ܐ ܐܪ̈ܝܼܟܐ ܘܪ̈ܘܝܼܚܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac describes fissures opening over waters, likely referring to subterranean water channels, a common element in ancient earthquake theories.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܣܦܪ ܡܝܡܐ ܕܨܘܪ ܘܕܨܝܕܢ","severity":"info","text":"The mention of Tyre and Sidon as coastal cities where fissures affect buildings reflects known seismic activity in the Levant, documented in ancient sources.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܠ̈ܗܓܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܠ̈ܗܓܐ (lahghe) means 'vapors' or 'exhalations,' central to the author's theory of earthquakes as caused by subterranean vapors rising.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"passage","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative on earthquake causes, contrasting winter and summer effects, and concluding with the stability of buildings on hard rock.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"background","lemma":"earthquake theory","severity":"info","text":"The explanation of earthquakes via trapped vapors parallels Aristotle's Meteorology (esp. 2.8-9), a common source in Syriac natural philosophy.","cites":[],"named_sources":["Aristotle Meteorology"],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܗܿܝ [ܕܒܢܝܐ ܥܠܝܗܿ ܡܕܝܢܬܐ ܗܿܝ]","severity":"caution","text":"The bracketed phrase in the Syriac ('that city built upon it') is parenthetical and may be a gloss; the antecedent 'earth' is clear but the city is unspecified.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of the city mentioned parenthetically is not specified; it may be a generic example or a specific location lost in transmission.","The phrase 'the likeness of the heavens' (ܟܘ̈ܝ ܫܡܿܝܐ) is ambiguous: it may refer to the appearance of the fissures or to a cosmological analogy."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":11,"ref":"p11","source":"ܘܡܼܢ ܗܿܕܐ ܥܠܼܬܐ ܗܿܘܐ ܬܠܓܐ ܘܡܼܛܪܐ ܣܼܘܡ̈ܩܐ ܘܚܪ̈ܘܥܐ ܠܦܘܼܬ ܓܘܢܐ ܕܥܦܪܐ ܕܣܠܼܩ ܒܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܐܬܼܚܠܛ ܒܛܐ̈ܠܐ ܘܒܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܘܒܫܪܟܐ ܕܐܕ̈ܫܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܐ. ܐܝܟ ܨܒܝܿܢܐ ܘܪܡܼܙܐ\nܕܒܪܘܝܐ ܚܟܝܼܡܐ܀ ܘܐܢ ܢܐܡܪ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܡܼܢ ܚܟܝܼܡ̈ܝ ܒܥܝ̈ܢܝ ܢܦܫܗܘܢ. ܕܐܝܟ ܕܨ݀ܒܐ ܡܪܝܐ ܘܦܩܕ ܪܡܼܙܗ ܓܿܕ̈ܫܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ܆ ܠܘ ܒܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܕܫܪܪܐ ܐܡܪ ܗܿܠܝܢ. ܠܘ ܥܕܟܝܠ ܨ݀ܒܐ ܐܠܗܐ ܒܡܕܡ ܚܼܕܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܝܿܕܥ ܗܘܼܐ ܠܗ܆ ܐܠܐ ܨܒܼܐ ܡܼܢ ܟܕܘ܆ ܘܡܬܚܡ ܟܿܠܡܕܡ ܒܝܼܕܥܬܗ. ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܼܪܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܠ ܒܫܪܒܐ ܕܥܠ ܟܘܟ̈ܒܐ ܘܒܣܿܓܝܼ ܕܘܼܟ̈ܝܢ. ܡܿܢ ܕܗܿܠܝܢ ܐܡܿܪ. ܣܿܒܪ ܕܡܘܪܒܘܼ ܗܿܐ ܡܘܪܒ ܠܐܠܗܐ. ܠܘ ܡܘܪܒܘܼ ܗܿܐ ܡܘܪܒ܆ ܐܠܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܗܿܐ ܡܙܥܪ ܡܬܪ̈ܓܫܢܐ ܘܥܕܟܝܠ ܥܬܝܼܕ ܕܢܼܓܕܫ ܐܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܠܗܐ ܘܐܢ ܡܼܢ ܚܐܪܘܬܐ ܕܒܪ̈ܝܐ ܡܠܝܼ̈ܠܐ܆ ܐܢ ܒܥܒܕܐ ܘܐܢ ܒܡܼܠܬܐ ܘܐܢ ܒܚܘܼܫܒܐ ܠܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܩܕܡ ܝܼܕܥ ܐܠܗܐ ܩܕܡ ܕܢܒܪܐ ܚܕ ܡܼܢ ܥܠ̈ܡܐ. ܘܟܕ ܒܼܪܐ ܥܠ̈ܡܐ. ܐܣܼܪ ܡܕܡ ܒܡܕܡ. ܘܫܘܕܥ ܥܠ̈ܬܐ ܕܟܿܠܡܕܡ. ܘܝܗܼܒ ܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܕܥܠ ܚܬܝܼܬܘܼܬܐ ܕܟܿܠܗ ܫܪܪܐ. ܘܠܐ ܣܟ ܫܚܠܦ ܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܘܠܐ ܡܫܚܠܦ ܚܼܕܬܐܝܼܬ ܡܕܡ ܕܠܝܬ ܗܘܼܐ ܒܬܪܥܝܬܗ ܕܢܫܚܠܦ ܘܒܬܪܟܢ ܐܬܚܫܒ ܥܠܘܗܝ. ܚܣ ܐܠܐ ܟܿܠܡܕܡ ܩܕܡ ܝܼܕܥ ܒܚܕ ܪܦܦܐ. ܘܗܼ، ܝܗܼܒ ܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܘܫܘܼܘܕܥܐ ܕܥܠ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ. ܘܐܠܐ ܡܼܢ ܐܝܟܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܗܘܼܐ ܠܢ ܕܢܕܥ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ܆ ܒܠܥܕ ܡܼܢ ܡܥܒܕܢܘܼܬܐ ܕܛܝܒܘܼܬܗ ܐܠܗܿܝܬܐ. ܡܢܼܗ ܕܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܥܠ ܙܝ̈ܩܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܟܫ̈ܛܐ ܢܘܼܪ̈ܢܝܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܕܡܬܼܚܙܝܢ ܒܠܝ̈ܠܘܬܐ ܒܐܐܪ ܠܥܠ. ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܼܪܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܼܠ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ . ܡܢܼܗܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܬܼܚܬ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܥܘܼܒ̈ܐ ܬܚ̈ܬܝܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ.","english":"and from this cause come snow and red rain and hail, according to the nature of the earth that rises in flames and mixes with dews and rains and the rest of the other signs, as the wise Creator wills and commands. And if someone says that the wise among the philosophers themselves, that as the Lord wills and commands, all these events happen, they do not say this from knowledge of the truth. For God does not will anything new that he did not know, but he wills from eternity, and everything is determined by his knowledge, as was said above in the discourse on the stars and in many places. When they say these things, think that they magnify God; but they do not magnify him, but rather diminish the perceptible things, and yet it is possible that something happens either from God or from the free will of rational creatures, whether in deed or in word or in thought, God knows all of them before one of the worlds was created. And when he created the worlds, he bound one thing to another, and made known the causes of everything, and gave knowledge of the certainty of all truth. And he does not change natures, nor does he newly change something that did not exist in his thought to change, and then afterwards it is considered concerning him. But everything is known in an instant, and he gives knowledge and understanding of all of them. And if not, where would he have known all these things, except from the working of his divine grace? From which the reflections upon the rays, that is, the fiery flashes that are seen in the nights in the air above, as was said above concerning the flames that rise from the earth in a similar manner. From them, downwards, rise from the lower depths of the earth.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܼܢ ܗܿܕܐ ܥܠܼܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'from this cause' (ܡܼܢ ܗܿܕܐ ܥܠܼܬܐ) links the meteorological phenomena (snow, red rain, hail) to the preceding description of vapors and fissures, establishing a causal chain central to the work's natural-philosophical argument.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܝܟ ܨܒܝܿܢܐ ܘܪܡܼܙܐ ܕܒܪܘܝܐ ܚܟܝܼܡܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'as the wise Creator wills and commands' echoes the biblical language of divine sovereignty (e.g., Wisdom of Solomon 11:17; cf. Genesis 1), but the Syriac term ܒܪܘܝܐ (Creator) is a standard Syriac Christian designation for God.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܚܟܝܼܡ̈ܝ ܒܥܝ̈ܢܝ ܢܦܫܗܘܢ","severity":"info","text":"The reference to 'the wise among the philosophers themselves' (ܚܟܝܼܡ̈ܝ ܒܥܝ̈ܢܝ ܢܦܫܗܘܢ) likely targets contemporary Syriac-speaking Aristotelian or Stoic-influenced thinkers who argued for a purely naturalistic causation, against whom the author asserts divine omniscience and will.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܼܪܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܠ ܒܫܪܒܐ ܕܥܠ ܟܘܟ̈ܒܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'as was said above in the discourse on the stars' (ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܼܪܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܠ ܒܫܪܒܐ ܕܥܠ ܟܘܟ̈ܒܐ) is an internal cross-reference to an earlier section of Book 6, indicating the work's systematic, layered argumentation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܚܐܪܘܬܐ ܕܒܪ̈ܝܐ ܡܠܝܼ̈ܠܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'free will of rational creatures' (ܚܐܪܘܬܐ ܕܒܪ̈ܝܐ ܡܠܝܼ̈ܠܐ) introduces a key theological concept: the author affirms that God's foreknowledge does not negate creaturely free will, a standard position in Syriac Christian theology (cf. Bardaisan, Ephrem).","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܢܼܗ ܕܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܥܠ ܙܝ̈ܩܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܟܫ̈ܛܐ ܢܘܼܪ̈ܢܝܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The final sentence is textually uncertain: 'from which the reflections upon the rays, that is, the fiery flashes' (ܡܢܼܗ ܕܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܥܠ ܙܝ̈ܩܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܟܫ̈ܛܐ ܢܘܼܪ̈ܢܝܐ) may be corrupt or elliptical; the English draft's 'from them, downwards, rise from the lower depths' is a conjectural rendering.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The final clause (ܡܢܼܗܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܬܼܚܬ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܥܘܼܒ̈ܐ ܬܚ̈ܬܝܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ) is ambiguous: it may mean 'from them downwards they rise from the lower depths of the earth' or 'from them downwards they rise from the lower cavities of the earth'; the English draft adopts the former.","The phrase 'red rain' (ܡܼܛܪܐ ܣܼܘܡ̈ܩܐ) could refer to actual reddish precipitation (e.g., dust-laden rain) or be a symbolic term; the context suggests a literal meteorological phenomenon."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":12,"ref":"p12","source":"ܘܡܼܢܗܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܦ̈ܝ ܐܪܥܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܬܢܢܐ ܘܝܩܕ̈ܢܐ ܘܪܛܝܼܒܘܼܬ ܡܼܢ ܕܚܿܡܐ ܡܼܢ ܙܠ̈ܝܼܩܐ ܫܡܫ̈ܢܝܐ. ܟܿܠܗܿ ܗܿܘܝܐ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܣܿܠܩܐ. ܗܟܘܬ݀ ܡܼܢ ܙܪ̈ܥܐ ܘܦܐܪ̈ܐ ܘܐܕܫ̈ܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ ܡܼܢ ܟܿܠܗ ܗܘܼܦܟܐ ܕܥܠ ܐܪܥܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ܆ ܟܕ ܡܬܥܠܝܢ ܒܐܐܪ܆ ܡܩܒܠܝܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܐ̱ܚܪܢܐ ܡܼܢ ܐܐܪ ܘܡܼܢ ܫܡܼܫܐ. ܘܗܘܝܢ ܛܐ̈ܠܐ ܡܫܚܠ̈ܦܐ ܠܥܘܼܕܪ̈ܢܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ. ܘܗܿܢܘܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܘܢ ܡܫܼܚܢ̈ܝܐ܆ ܟܕ ܡܛܝܢ ܠܐܬܝܼܪ ܗܼܘ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ ܨܿܪܚܝܼܢ ܘܡܫܼܬܠܗܒܝܢ ܒܐܐܪ ܘܣܿܓܝܢ ܘܝ݀ܪܒܝܢ ܘܡܫܼܬܿܘܚܪܝܢ ܒܐܐܪ ܠܦܘܼܬ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܘܼܬܗ ܘܙܥܘܿܪܘܼܬܗ ܕܠܗܓܐ. ܘܡܼܬܦܫܛ ܕܠܩܗ ܕܠܗܓܐ ܥܡܗ. ܘܐܢ̱ܢܫ̈ܐ ܡܣܒܪܝܢ ܕܟܘܟܒܐ ܗܿܘ ܘܗܿܕܐ ܠܐ ܡܼܨܝܐ ܕܬܗܘܐ ܣܟ܆ ܕܟܘܟܒܐ ܢܼܙܕܥܙܥ ܡܼܢ ܕܘܼܟܬܗ. ܐܠܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܼܪܢܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܡܼܫܚ̈ܢܝܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܘܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ. ܘܟܕ ܡܿܛܝܢ ܠܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ ܣܿܒܟ ܒܗܘܿܢ ܘܨܿܪܚ. ܘܐܦ ܒܐܝܼܡܡܐ ܓܕܿܫܝܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ. ܐܠܐ ܠܐ ܡܼܬܚܙܝܢ ܣܛܪ ܡܼܢ [ܥܕܢ] ܒܪ̈ܩܐ ܕܡܼܬܚܙܝܢ ܒܥܕ̈ܢܐ ܕܡܚܫ̈ܘܠܐ ܕܐܦ ܥܠ̈ܠܬܗܘܢ ܕܒܪ̈ܩܐ ܘܪ̈ܥܡܐ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܘܢ ܐܝܟ ܕܥܬܝܼܕܝܢܢ ܕܢܚܘܐ ܒܝܕ ܐܠܗܐ܀ ܘܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܠܡ ܩܦܠܐܘܢܕ ܬܪܝܢ ܒܝܕ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܚܝܠ ܘܥܕܪ\nܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܓ̄ ܕܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܘ̄ ܥܡ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܡܚܟܡ. ܥܠܗܿܝ ܕܐܝܟܢ ܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܛܟܼܣܐ ܕܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܕܡܼܬܩܪܝܢ ܥܝܡ̈ܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܡܘܢ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܢ ܘܡܬܼܠ̈ܒܕܢ. ܘܐܝܟܢ ܬܘܼ ܒܡܬܦܠܗ̈ܕܢ܆ ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܠܥܠ ܚܘܝܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܣܿܠܦܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ܆ ܗܼܢܘܢ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܘܢ ܥܠܼܬܐ ܕܟܿܠܡܕܡ ܕܡܣܬܥܪ ܘܓܿܕܫ ܒܿܐܐܪ ܗܿܢܐ. ܐܦ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܕܡܬܼܟܢ̈ܫܢ ܒܐܐܪ ܙ݀ܕܩ ܠܡܕܥ. ܕܗܼܢܘܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܡܝܢ̈ܝܐ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܼܢ ܡܝ̈ܐ. ܡܬܼܟܢ̈ܫܢ ܒܐܐܪ.","english":"and from the surface of the earth vapors rise with heat and dryness and moisture, and with the sun's rays, all of them become vapors and ascend. Thus also seeds, fruits, and plants ascend as vapors in a similar manner, and the entire transformation that occurs on earth ascends as vapors, while being raised in the air, they receive another power from the air and from the sun. And they become various dews for many benefits. And these are the vapors that are combustible, when they reach the ether, they become dry and are ignited in the air, and they increase, grow, and spread out in the air according to the abundance or scarcity of the vapor. And it extends to the side of the vapor with it. And some think that it is a star, but this cannot be, for a star moves from its place. But as we said, these are combustible vapors. And when they reach the ether, they catch fire and become dry. And this also happens often by day, but they are not seen except by the flashes that are seen at times of storms, for the causes of lightning and thunder are also from vapors, as is about to be shown by God. And with these ends the second chapter, by the power and help of God.\n\nChapter 3 of the sixth treatise, with the help of God the wise. On how there is an order of clouds that are called waves, and how they multiply and become dense. And also in the treatise, as we have shown above, from the vapors that rise from the earth, these are the cause of everything that occurs and happens in this air. Also concerning clouds that are compressed in the air, it is fitting to know that these are watery vapors that rise from the earth and from water, and are compressed in the air.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܠܗ̈ܓܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܠܗ̈ܓܐ (lhgˀ) is rendered 'vapors' in the English draft. It denotes exhalations or vapors, a key concept in the author's natural philosophy.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܬܝܼܪ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac ܐܬܝܼܪ (ˀtyr) is translated 'ether' in the English draft. It refers to the upper, fiery region of the air, a standard term in ancient cosmology.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of combustible vapors rising to the ether and igniting reflects Greco-Syriac meteorological theories, such as those found in Aristotle's Meteorology, adapted by Syriac authors.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage concludes the second chapter (ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܬܪܝܢ) of the sixth treatise and introduces the third chapter, which will discuss clouds (ܥܢ̈ܢܐ) and their formation from watery vapors.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text contains a lacuna or uncertain reading at [ܥܕܢ], which the English draft renders as 'except by the flashes'. The exact phrase is unclear, affecting the interpretation of visibility of daytime phenomena.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase ܣܛܪ ܡܼܢ [ܥܕܢ] ܒܪ̈ܩܐ is ambiguous: it may mean 'except by flashes' or 'except with flashes', and the missing or uncertain word affects the sense of how lightning is seen by day."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":13,"ref":"p13","source":"ܘܟܕ ܡܿܛܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܠܩܘܼܪܒܐ ܕܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ܆ ܬܘܼܒ ܠܐ ܡܿܨܝܢܼ ܠܡܼܣܩ. ܘܗܿܟܢܐ ܟܡܐ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ܆ ܣܓܝܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܬܼܥܒܝ̈ܢ ܘܡܬܼܠ̈ܒܕܢ ܘܝܪ̈ܒܢ ܘܣܿܓܝܼ ܥܕܡܐ ܕܢܿܣܒ̈ܢ ܐܬܪܐ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܐ ܒܐܐܪ. ܘܐܢ ܐܝܼܬ ܠܗܝܢ ܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܪ̈ܛܝܼܒܐ ܐܘܿ ܚܡܝܼ̈ܡܐ. ܬܘܼܒ ܡܬܼܚܝܠ̈ܢ ܡܼܢ ܪܛܝܼܒܘܼܬܐ ܘܡܼܙܕܪ̈ܒܢ ܡܼܢ ܚܡܝܼܡܘܼـܐ ܘܡܼܬܥܨܪ̈ܢ. ܘܒܪܗܝܼܒܘܼ̄ ܡܚ̈ܬܢ ܡܼܛܪܐ. ܐܢܕܝܢ ܢ݀ܩܫ ܠܗܝܢ ܡܫܒܐ ܩܪܝܼܪܐ ܘܝܒܝܼܫܐ ܘܡܦܠܗܕ ܠܗܝܢ ܠܟܿܠ ܓܒ̈ܝܢ. ܘܟܕ ܡܬܼܦܠܗܕܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܬܡܿܢ. ܠܘ ܡܐܒܕ ܐ݀ܒܕܝܢ܆ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܠܐ ܡܼܝܐ ܕܢܦܼܘܩ ܠܒܪ ܡܼܢ ܚܘܓܬܐ ܕܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ ܡܕܡ ܣܟ. ܟܕ ܘܐܦܢ ܡܼܢ ܗܿܢܐ ܢܦܿܩ ܗܘܼܐ܆ ܒܪ̈ܩܝܥܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܐܟܝܢ ܥ݀ܒܪ ܗܘܼܐ. ܐܘܿ ܠܝܡܐ ܗܿܘ ܥܠܝܐ ܐܝܟܢ ܡܼܨܝܐ ܕܢܼܨܪܐ ܘܢܼܬܪܘܼܥ ܘܢܥܼܒܪ ܡܕܡ ܣܟ. ܟܕ ܕܠܥܠ ܡܼܢ ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ ܠܐ [ܣܟ] ܡܼܨܝܐ ܕܢܥܼܒܪ ܡܕܡ ܠܐ ܠܗܓܐ ܘܠܐ ܐܐܪ. ܘܠܐ ܬܘܼܒ ܡܕܡ ܕܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܡܼܢ ܐܣܛܘܼܟ̈ܣܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ. ܐܠܐ ܟܿܠܡܕܡ ܠܟܝܿܢܗ ܗܿܦܟ. ܐܐܪ ܠܐܐܪ. ܘܘܢܘܼܪܐ ܠܢܘܼܪܐ. ܘܥܦܪܐ ܠܥܦܪܐ. ܘܡܝ̈ܐ ܠܡܝ̈ܐ. ܘܡܕܡ ܣܟ ܠܐ ܡܬܼܒܨܪ ܐܦܠܐ ܡܘܣܦ ܡܼܢ ܐܣܛܘܼܟ̈ܣܐ. ܐܠܐ ܒܟܝܠܐ ܘܡܬܩܿܠܐ ܘܡܫܘܼܚܬܐ ܕܒܼܪܐ ܐܢܘܢ ܐܠܗܐ ܡܩܘܝܢ ܥܕܡܐ ܕܨ݀ܒܐ ܕܢܚܕܬ ܐܢܘܢ. ܘܗܿܠܝܢ ܥܠ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܘܥܝܡ̈ܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܡܘܢ ܡܬܼܟܢܫ̈ܢ ܘܡܬܼܥܒܝ̈ܢ܆ ܘܡܼܢ ܡܿܢܐ ܬܘܼܒ ܡܬܼܦܠܗܕܢ ܘܡܬܼܒܕܪ̈ܢ ܣܿܦܩ̈ܢ܀ ܘܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܠܡ ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܬܠܬܐ ܒܝܕ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܚܝܠ ܘܥܕܪ. ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܐܪܒܥܐ ܕܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܘ̄ ܥܡ ܐܠܗ ܕܡܚܟܡ. ܥܠܗܿܝ ܕܡܼܢ ܐܝܟܐ ܘܡܼܢ ܡܘܿܢ ܗܿܘܝܐ ܚܼܪܒܐ ܕܒܪ̈ܩܐ ܘܩܠܐ ܕܪ̈ܥܡܐ. ܒܙܒܢ ܬܐܕܐ ܘܪܒܝܼܥܐ ܐܘܟܝܬ ܬܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ. ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܘܥܒ̈ܝܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܼܢ ܝܡܡ̈ܐ.","english":"and when they reach the region near the sphere of the air, they can no longer ascend. And thus, as they ascend to the region, many clouds are formed, thickened, condensed, and increase, until the place becomes very full of air. And if they encounter moist or hot exhalations, they are again strengthened by moisture and driven by heat and compressed. And by their density they produce rain. But if a cold and dry exhalation meets them, it scatters them in all directions. And when they are scattered by that, they do not perish, because no water can go out beyond the sphere of the air. For if it had gone out from there, it would have passed through other firmaments like that, or to that upper sea, as if it were possible for something to be formed, increase, and pass through. For above the sphere of the air, nothing can pass through, neither region nor air. Nor again anything that is with these elements, but everything returns to its kind: air to air, fire to fire, earth to earth, water to water. And nothing is diminished or added to the elements, but by measure, weight, and dimension of creation, God maintains them until he wills to renew them. And these are the clouds and vapors that in winter are gathered and thickened, and in summer are again scattered and dispersed, sufficient. And with these ends the third chapter, by the power of God who helps. The fourth chapter of the discourse, with the help of God who makes wise, concerning from where and in what way the destruction of lightning and the sound of thunder occur, in the time of winter and spring, and likewise in autumn. Many and thick vapors ascend from the earth and from the seas.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'sphere of the air' (or 'aerial sphere') denotes the sublunary region, a standard cosmological boundary in late antique natural philosophy.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of vapors rising, condensing into clouds, and producing rain reflects Aristotelian meteorology, mediated through Syriac translations of Greek scientific works.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage concludes the third chapter and introduces the fourth chapter, which will treat the origin of lightning and thunder, marking a clear thematic division in the discourse.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܣܛܘܼܟ̈ܣܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Greek loanword 'stoikheia' (elements) refers to the four classical elements (air, fire, earth, water), which are here said to be conserved by God in measure, weight, and dimension.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The doxological formulas ('by the power of God who helps', 'with the help of God who makes wise') are typical of Syriac scientific texts, embedding natural philosophy within a Christian framework.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac text at the end of the passage is partially corrupt or unclear, especially the phrase 'ܘܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܠܡ ܩܦܠܐܘܢ' which may be read as 'and with these ends the third chapter'."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":14,"ref":"p14","source":"ܝܬܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ ܒܙܒܢ ܬܐܕܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܣܿܓܝܐ ܪܛܝܼܒܘܼܬܐ ܒܐܪܥܐ. ܘܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܒܗܿܘ ܙܒܢܐ ܗܿܐ ܣܿܠܩ ܡܼܢ ܬܝܡܢܐ. ܘܣܿܓܝܢ ܙܠܝܼܩ̈ܘܗܝ ܥܠ ܒܪܝܼܬܐ. ܘܫܚܢܐ ܐܪܥܐ ܒܗܿܘ ܙܒܢܐ. ܘܡܣܩܐ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ ܘܡܼܬܥܒܝܢ ܒܐܐܪ܆ ܘܗܿܘܝܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܘܙܪ̈ܒܢ ܠܚܕ̈ܕܐ ܠܡܬܼܥܠܝܘܼ ܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܣ݀ܓܝܢ ܘܕܚܿܝܢ ܠܗܘܿܢ ܠܘܼܩܒܠ ܠܥܠ. ܘܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܪܒܐ ܕܢܩܫܐ ܕܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܠܢܘܼܪܐ ܗܿܝ. ܝ݀ܗܒܝܢ ܩ̈ܠܐ ܥܫܝܼ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܫܼܬܡܥܝܢ ܦܩ̈ܥܐ ܝܼܥ̈ܐ. ܘܢ݀ܫܡ\nܗܘܦܐ ܡܼܢ ܗܿܘ ܟܝܿܢܐ ܕܢܘܼܪܐ ܒܥܢ̈ܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܠܒܝܼܕ̈ܬܐ. ܘܗܿܘܝܐ ܚܼܙܬܐ ܕܒܪ̈ܩܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ. ܘܩܿܠܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܪ̈ܥܡܐ܆ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܢܘܼܪܐ ܕܨܪܚ ܒܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܼܬܛܪܛܥ ܘܡܬܓܪܓܝ. ܘܟܕ ܡܬܠܒܕ̈ܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܡܼܢ ܟܿܠ ܓܒ̈ܝܢ܆ ܡܼܢ ܠܬܚܬ [ܡܿܢ] ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ ܘܙܪܒܝܢ ܠܚܕ̈ܕܐ ܐܘܿ ܕܚܿܝܢ ܠܥܠ ܠܘܼܩܒܠ ܐܬܝܪ ܗܿܘ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܐܐܪ ܬܘܒ ܡܼܢ ܐܝܢܐ ܓܒܐ ܕܢܫܒ.ܘܬܘܼܒ ܡܥܒܼܐ ܠܗܝܢ ܠܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܘܠܒܕ ܚܕ ܒܚܕܐ ܘܕܚܿܐ ܠܥܠ ܘܗܟܢܐ ܡܬܥܨܪ̈ܢ ܬܚܝܬ ܐܬܝܪ. ܘܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܪܙܒ ܘܕܚܿܐ ܠܗܝܢ܆ ܢܩ̈ܫܢ ܘܡܬܛܦ̈ܝܢ ܠܐܬܝܪ. ܘܝܗܒ̈ܢ ܩ̈ܠܐ ܥܫܝܼܢ̈ܐ ܕܪ̈ܥܡܐ. ܘܡܼܬܚܙܝܢ ܒܪ̈ܩܐ ܟܕ ܨܪܚܝܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܡܝܢ̈ܝܐ ܕܒܥܢ̈ܢܐ. ܘܒܙܒܢ ܙܒܢ ܢܦܿܩ ܡܼܢ ܢܩܫ̈ܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܦܩ̈ܥܐ ܡܕܡ ܘܚܝܠܐ ܬܩܝܼܦܐ ܘܢܚܬ ܚܝܠܬܢܐܝܼܬ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܒܚܐܦܐ ܩܠܝܼܠܐ ܘܟܿܠ ܡܕܡ ܕܢܦܠ ܥܠܘܗܝ ܥܒܪ ܒܗ ܐܝܟ ܪܘܼܚܐ ܒܐܐܪ. ܘܐܝܟ ܢܘܼܪܐ ܥܙܝܼܙܬܐ ܕܥܒܪ ܒܚܐܦܐ ܩܫܝܐ ܒܗܘܠܐ ܪܟܝܼܟܬܐ. ܘܝܒܝܼܫܬܐ ܘܣܟ ܠܐ ܡܬܟܠܐ ܚܝܠܐ ܗܿܘ ܡܼܢ ܡܕܡ. ܐܠܐ ܥܒܪ ܒܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܛܡܝܼ̈ܡܐ ܕܦܪܙܠܐ. ܘܕܟܐܦܐ ܘܕܥܦܪܐ ܐܝܟ ܒܪܩܐ ܒܐܐܪ.","english":"especially at that time, because there is much moisture in the earth, and because the sun at that time has risen from the south, and its rays are abundant upon creation, and the earth is heated at that time, and it raises up many vapors, and they are thickened in the air, and they become clouds and press upon one another to ascend from the force of the vapors that are abundant and strong, and they are driven upward. And from the great force of the hardness of those clouds against that mountain, they give forth violent sounds, and loud crashes are heard. And the wind from the force of the mountain in those clouds is driven into the midst, and that is the sight of those lightnings. And that sound of thunder is from the force of the mountain that cries out in the clouds and is shattered and broken. And when they are greatly thickened from all sides, from below and from the vapors that ascend continuously and press upon one another, or are driven upward against the air, that mountain again from whichever side it breaks, again it draws them to the clouds, and one is joined to another, and it drives them upward, and thus they are compressed beneath the air. And from the force of the pressure and the driving of them, they are hardened and become dense in the air, and they give forth violent sounds of thunder. And lightnings appear when those watery vapors in the clouds cry out. And at times something like a crash and a strong force goes out from those hardenings, and descends mightily to the earth with a light step, and everything it falls upon it passes through like wind in the air, and like a strong mountain that passes with a hard step in soft sand, and dry, and that force is not hindered by anything, but passes through solid bodies of iron, and of stone, and of dust, like lightning in the air.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܪ̈ܥܡܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܪ̈ܥܡܐ (rʿmē) is the plural of ܪܥܡܐ (rʿmā), meaning 'thunder'. It is used consistently in this passage to denote the sound produced by the collision of clouds against the mountain.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܒܪ̈ܩܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܒܪ̈ܩܐ (brqē) is the plural of ܒܪܩܐ (brqā), meaning 'lightning'. It appears in the description of the visual phenomenon accompanying thunder, linked to the cry of watery vapors in the clouds.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage reflects Aristotelian meteorology, particularly the theory that thunder and lightning result from the collision of clouds and the expulsion of wind, as found in the Meteorologica. This aligns with the work's philosophical context.","cites":[],"named_sources":["Aristotle Meteorologica"],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of cloud formation and precipitation from the previous section, now focusing on the generation of thunder and lightning through the interaction of clouds with a mountain and the force of vapors.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ (from the vapors that ascend continuously) is ambiguous: it may refer to vapors rising from the earth or to those already in the clouds. The translation opts for the latter, but the Syriac allows both readings.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'from the force of the mountain' could be interpreted as the mountain's own force or as the force exerted by the clouds against the mountain; the Syriac ܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܢܘܼܪܐ (from the force of the mountain) is ambiguous.","The term ܦܩ̈ܥܐ (pqʿē) is translated as 'crashes' but may also mean 'explosions' or 'bursts', reflecting a range of possible auditory phenomena."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":15,"ref":"p15","source":"ܘܡܚܒܠ ܠܗ ܘܡܣܝܼܦ ܠܗ ܠܐܕܫܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܥܿܒܪ ܒܗ܆ ܝܬܝܪ ܡܼܢ ܢܘܼܪܐ ܕܡܘܩܕܐ ܠܩܝܣܐ ܘܡܛܠܩܐ ܠܚܒܘܼ̈ܒܐ. ܘܐܢ ܢܿܩܫ ܥܠ ܦܪܙܠܐ܆ ܢܣܟ ܠܗ ܘܡܦܪܫ ܘܡܫܦܪ ܘܡܫܦܐ ܩܛܝܼܢܐ ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܐܢ ܢܫܬܼܟܚ ܦܪܙܠܐ ܗܿܘ ܡܬܚܫܠ ܡܢܗ ܣܝܦܐ ܐܘܿ ܫܢܢܐ ܡܕܡ. ܥܠ ܓܘܼܫܡܐ ܕܢ݀ܩܫ ܗܿܟܢ ܦܿܣܩ ܠܗ ܐܝܟ ܩܛܘܬܐ ܕܡܩܛܥܐ. ܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܗܿܘ ܪܒܐ ܕܥܒܼܪ ܒܦܪܙܠܐ ܗܿܘ ܐܝܟ ܕܒܪܦܦ ܥܝܢܐ. ܘܢ݀ܣܟ ܘܡܫܦܐ ܠܗ ܕܟܝܐܝܼܬ. ܘܗܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܥܠܼܬܗ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ. ܘܒܙܒܢ ܬܐܕܪܐ ܡܿܢ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܝܬܝܼܪ ܡܼܢ ܝܡܐ. ܒܙܒܢ ܬܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܝܡܐ ܝܬܝܼܪ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܐܬܝܒܝܫܬ݀ ܐܪܥܐ ܒܟܿܠܗ ܩܝܛܐ ܘܣܠܼܩܘ ܡܢܗܿ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ. ܘܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܡܼܢ ܟܝܿܢܐ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܘܢ. ܗܿܠܝܢ ܕܥܿܒܕܝܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܒܐܐܪ. ܘܗܿܠܝܢ ܕܡܼܢ ܝܡܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ܆ ܠܘ ܡܼܢ ܟܝܿܢܐ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ ܡܠ̈ܝܼܚܐ ܕܝܡܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܘܢ. ܐܠܐ ܡܼܢ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܚܠ̈ܝܐ ܕܥ݀ܐܠܝܢ ܠܝܡܐ. ܐܘܿ ܡܼܢ ܢܗܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܕܝܒܫܐ. ܐܘܿ ܡܼܢ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܕܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ ܥܠܘܗܝ ܡܼܢ ܕܪܫ ܡܬܼܛܠܩܝܼܢ ܒܝܕ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܡܼܬܦܪܫܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܟܝܿܢܐ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ ܡܠ̈ܝܼܚܐ. ܐܝܟ ܕܗܒܐ ܡܼܢ ܢܚܫܐ. ܘܗܟܢܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܒܝܕ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ ܒܝܕ ܡܼܛܪܐ. ܘܗܿܦܟ ܟܿܠ ܟܝܿܢܐ ܕܠܘܼܟܬܗ. ܘܟܿܠ ܟܝܿܢܐ ܠܐܣܛܘܼܟܣܗ. ܘܡܕܡ ܠܐ ܡܘܣܦ ܘܠܐ ܡܒܨܪ. ܘܗܿܝ ܬܘܼܒ ܕܣܓ̈ܝܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܒܬܐܕܐ. ܘܒܙܒܢ ܙܒܢ ܒܥܕܢܐ ܕܬܫܥܫ̈ܥܝܼܢ. ܘܐܦ ܡܼܛܪܐ ܝܬܝܪܐܝܼܬ ܒܗܿܢ ܥܕܢܐ ܣܿܓܐ ܘܢ݀ܚܬ. ܗܿܕܐ ܗܿܝ ܥܠܼܬܗ܆ ܕܟܡܐ ܕܚܿܐܡ ܝܘܡܐ ܘܫܚܢܐ ܐܪܥܐ. ܡܣܩܐ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܣܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ. ܗܟܘܬ ܐܦ ܝܡܐ. ܘܝܬܝܪܐܝܼܬ\nܣܿܓܝܢ ܒܬܪ ܦܠܓܗ ܕܝܘܡ ܒܬܪ ܕܨܿܠܐ ܫܡܼܫܐ.","english":"and destroys it and finishes it off, that dew which passes through it, more than the fire that burns wood and consumes sparks. And if it strikes iron, it dissolves it and separates and refines and purifies the metal, as if iron were found that is hindered by it, a sword or some other implement. Upon the body that it strikes thus, it cuts it like a cutting tool. More than that great power which passes through iron, it is like a passing through stone. And it dissolves and purifies it purely. And all these have their cause from vapors. And at the time of Tēdrā, more vapors rise from the earth than from the sea. At the time of the Tēšrīyāt, more vapors rise from the sea than from the earth. Because the earth has been dried out all summer, and many vapors have risen from it. And all vapors are from the nature of water. Those that form clouds in the air, and those that rise from the sea, are not from the nature of the salty waters of the sea. But from the sweet waters that enter the sea, or from the rivers of the dry land, or from the rains that fall upon it, from the beginning they are dissolved by the vapors and separated from the nature of the salty waters. Like gold from dross. And thus waters rise by means of vapors and fall by means of rain. And every nature returns to its place. And every element to its element. And nothing increases nor decreases. And this again, that many clouds are in Tēdrā. And at the time of the season of the Tēš‘ēš‘ayāt, and also rain more abundantly at that time increases and falls. This is the cause, that as the day is hot and the earth is warm, it raises many vapors. So also the sea. And especially\nmany after midday, after the sun has set.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܐܕܪܐ (Tēdrā)","severity":"info","text":"Tēdrā is a Syriac loanword from Greek θέρος (summer), here denoting the summer season. The term appears in calendrical contexts in Syriac literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ (Tēšrīyāt)","severity":"info","text":"Tēšrīyāt refers to the autumn months (October–November) in the Syriac calendar. The plural form indicates the season of the two months Tēšrīn I and II.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܫܥܫ̈ܥܝܼܢ (Tēš‘ēš‘ayāt)","severity":"info","text":"Tēš‘ēš‘ayāt is a Syriac term for the winter solstice period, derived from the root ܫܥܫܥ (to shake or move), likely referring to seasonal turbulence.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage describes a natural-philosophical model of evaporation and precipitation, where vapors (ܠܗ̈ܓܐ) rise from earth and sea, form clouds, and return as rain, maintaining elemental balance.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues a narrative on the effects of dew and vapors, moving from destructive action on metals to a broader explanation of seasonal vapor cycles and the return of elements to their natures.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The analogy of gold separated from dross (ܕܗܒܐ ܡܼܢ ܢܚܫܐ) parallels alchemical and metallurgical imagery common in Syriac philosophical texts, illustrating purification through natural processes.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac term ܬܫܥܫ̈ܥܝܼܢ (Tēš‘ēš‘ayāt) is rare; its exact seasonal reference is inferred from context as the winter solstice period.","The phrase 'after the sun has set' (ܒܬܪ ܕܨܿܠܐ ܫܡܼܫܐ) may be a scribal error or variant for 'after noon' (ܒܬܪ ܦܠܓܗ ܕܝܘܡ), as the preceding clause specifies midday."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":16,"ref":"p16","source":"ܘܡܼܢ ܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܬܐ ܕܙܪܒܐ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܘܠܝܡ̈ܡܐ ܡܣܩܝܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ ܘܣܿܓܝܢ ܒܐܐܪ. ܘܡܬܼܟܢܫܝܢ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܬܫ ܫܥ̈ܝܢ ܘܣܿܓܝܢ ܘܡܼܬܥܒ̈ܝܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܚ̈ܬܢ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܒܗܿܘ ܥܕܢܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܥܒܝܘܼܬܗܘܢ ܕܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܠܒܝܼܕܘܼܬܗܘܢ ܡܬܕܚܝܢ ܩܫܝܐܝܼܬ ܘܡܬܼܥܨܪ̈ܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܚ̈ܬܢ ܙܪ̈ܝܼܒܬܐ ܘܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܚܒ̈ܝܼܛܐ ܘܛܘܦ̈ܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܬܐ ܕܒܚܕܐ ܫܿܥܐ ܥܿܒܕ̈ܢ ܪ̈ܓܠܬܐ ܘܢܚ̈ܠܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܼܬܥܒܪܝܢ. ܐܠܐ ܠܐ ܡܘܚܪܝܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܡܛܼܪ̈ܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܚܒ̈ܝܼܛܐ. ܒܗܿܝ ܕܒܪܗܝܼܒܘܼ ܢܿܚܬܝܢ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܝܼܬ ܘܡܣܬܦ̈ܩܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ. ܒܣܬܘܐ ܕܝܢ ܠܘ ܗܟܢܐ ܓܕܫ. ܐܠܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܠܝܬ ܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬܐ ܒܙܠ̈ܝܼܩܝ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܕܢܫܚܢܘܢ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܘܬܣܩܝ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܥܒ̈ܝܐ ܘܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܐܝܿܟܢܐ ܕܢܙܪܒܘܢ ܠ̈ܚܕܕܐ ܘܢܼܬܥܨܪܘܢ ܬܚܝܼܬ ܐܬܝܼܪ ܡܚ̈ܬܢ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܚܒ̈ܝܼܛܐ. ܐܠܐ ܗܿܝܕܝܢ܆ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܢܝܼܚ̈ܐ ܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ ܘܐܡܝܼܢ̈ܐ. ܟܡܐ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܡܼܬܚܝܠܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܐܪ. ܬܝܡܢܝܐ ܘܡܕܢܚܝܐ. ܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܕܠܐ ܟܠܝܢ. ܐܢܕܝܢ ܡܬܼܟܠܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܠܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ. ܐܘܿ ܢ݀ܫܒ ܒܗܘܿܢ ܐܐܪ ܝܒܝܼܫܐ ܡܼܢ ܓܪܒܝܐ ܐܘܿ ܡܼܢ ܡܥܪܒܐ. ܠܦܘܬ ܣܝܿܡܗ ܕܐܬܪܐ ܗܿܘ ܡܬܼܦܠܗܕܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܡܼܬܒܕܪ̈ܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܘܠܐ ܢܿܚܬ ܡܼܛܪܐ. ܘܕܡܿܐ ܗܿܢ ܫܪܒܐ ܠܩܕܣܐ ܕܩܕܪܐ ܕܣܝܼܡ ܥܠ ܢܘܼܪܐ. ܘܡܿܠܐܼ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܐܘܿ ܒܘܼܫܠܐ ܐܝܢܐ ܕܗܼܘ܆ ܘܡܟܣܼܣ ܒܟܣܝܝܐ. ܘܣܿܠܩܝܢ [ܡܢܗ] ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܡܼܬܟܢܫܝܼܢ ܒܟܣܝܗ. ܘܟܕ ܨ݀ܓܝܢ ܒܟܣܝܐ ܗܿܘ ܝܿܩܕܝܢ ܘܡܢܛܦܝܢ. ܗܟܘܬ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܡܼܢ ܩܕܣܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܪܬܚܐ ܕܢܘܼܪܐ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ. ܘܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܘܡܼܬܟܢܫܝܢ ܬܚܝܼܬ ܐܬܝܼܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܟܣܝܗ ܕܥ݀ܠܡܐ. ܘܬܡܿܢ ܡܼܬܥܨܪܝܢ ܘܢܿܚܬܝܢ ܥܠ ܒܪܝܼܪܬܐ ܐܪܥܐ.","english":"and the great heat of the blast raises up to the earth and the seas many vapors and they increase in the air. And they are gathered together until nine hours and increase and become thick clouds and produce heavy rains at that time. And because of their thickness and their density, they are violently driven and compressed, and clouds and heavy rains and violent showers and great floods are produced in one hour, making rivers and streams that cannot be crossed. But these heavy rains do not last long. For in that same swiftness they descend abundantly and the clouds are emptied. In winter, however, it does not happen thus. Rather, the vapors rise little by little, because there is no heat in the rays of the sun to heat the earth and raise up thick and abundant vapors as the blast does to one another and they are compressed under the force of heavy rains. But then, gentle and mild rains fall. As the vapors rise and are strengthened by the air, from the south and the east, rains fall without ceasing. But when the vapors are hindered and do not rise, or when the air is dry from the north or from the west, according to the position of that region, the vapors are dispersed and the clouds are scattered and no rain falls. And this process resembles the lid of a pot placed on a fire, and it is filled with water or with whatever broth it may be, and it is covered with a lid, and vapors rise from it and are gathered on its lid. And when they are condensed on that lid, it becomes hot and steams. Thus the vapors rise from the heat of the earth and from the boiling of the fire of the sun, and they rise and are gathered under the force of the firmament, which is the lid of the world, and there they are compressed and fall upon the dry land.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܙܪܒܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac ܙܪܒܐ (zarbā) denotes a 'blast' or 'gust', here likely a hot wind or exhalation from the earth, distinct from the sun's rays mentioned later.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage contrasts two meteorological processes: the violent, short-lived rains caused by the 'blast' (lines 1–8) and the gentler, prolonged winter rains (lines 8–16), then concludes with an analogy to a covered pot (lines 16–20).","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܟܣܝܐ ܕܥܠܡܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'lid of the world' (ܟܣܝܐ ܕܥܠܡܐ) reflects a cosmological model common in Syriac and earlier Greek thought, where the firmament acts as a barrier that compresses vapors to produce rain.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The pot-lid analogy (lines 16–20) parallels similar similes in Syriac hexaemeral literature, e.g., in the works of Ephrem or Jacob of Edessa, illustrating natural processes through domestic imagery.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܫ ܫܥ̈ܝܢ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'until nine hours' (ܥܕܡܐ ܠܬܫ ܫܥ̈ܝܢ) is ambiguous: it may mean the ninth hour of the day (ca. 3 PM) or a period of nine hours; the text does not specify the starting point.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'until nine hours' could refer to the ninth hour of daylight or a duration of nine hours; the intended sense is unclear.","The identity of the 'blast' (ܙܪܒܐ) is not explicitly defined—whether a wind, a subterranean exhalation, or a meteorological phenomenon."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":17,"ref":"p17","source":"ܐܝܟ ܕܡܼܢ ܟܣܝܐ ܠܓܘ ܩܕܣܐ. ܘܗܿܝ ܕܒܝܩܝܛܐ ܠܐ ܗ̈ܘܝܢ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܥܡ ܗܿܝ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠ̈ܗܓܐ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܐܘܿ ܡܼܢ ܝܡܐ. ܒܪܗܝܼܒܘܼܬܐ ܡܼܬܛܠܩܝܢ. ܡܼܢ ܥܙܝܼܙܘܼܬ ܙܠ̈ܝܼܩܐ ܫܡܫ̈ܢܝܐ ܘܬܘܼܒ ܗܿܦܟܝܢ ܠܟܝܿܢܗܘܢ. ܘܓܿܕܫ ܒܙܒܢ ܙܒܢ ܣ݀ܓܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܙܟܿܝܢ ܠܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܘܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܘܡܼܬܥܒܝܢ ܒܐܐܪ ܘܡܼܬܥܫ̈ܢܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܚ̈ܬܢ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܘܪ̈ܣܝܼܣܐ ܘܬܘܼܒ ܘܛܐ̈ܠܐ ܕܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ ܒܠܝܠ̈ܘܬܐ܆ ܡܼܢܗܘܢ ܕܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܘܢ ܕܟܕ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܢ݀ܫܒ ܒܗܘܢ ܐܐܪ. ܘܐ݀ܫܕ ܠܗܘܢ ܥܠ ܐܪ̈ܥܬܐ ܘܥܠ ܥܣܼܒ̈ܐ ܘܙܪ̈ܥܐ ܘܛܪ̈ܦܐ. ܝܬܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ ܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܕܩܪܝܼܒܝܢ ܠܝܡܐ܆ ܣܿܓܝܢ ܒܗܘܢ ܛܐ̈ܠܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܒܣܬܘܐ ܘܒܩܝܛܐ ܝܬܝܪܐܝܼܬ ܕܐܝܟ ܐܬܪܐ ܕܡܼܨܪܝܢ ܘܟܿܠܗܿ ܐܪܥܐ ܕܐܝܓܝܦܛܘܣ ܘܕܦܠܝܣܛܝܢܝ ܘܦܘܢܝܩܝܐ ܘܣܘܪܝܐ ܘܩܠܝܠܝܩܝܐ ܘܦܝܣܝܕܝܐ ܘܒܝܛܘܢܝܐ. ܘܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܕܩܪܝܼܒܝܢ ܠܝܡܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܒܩܝܛܐ ܣܿܓܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܝܡܐ ܡܼܢ ܚܡܝܼܡܘܼـܐ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ. ܘܢ݀ܫܒ ܒܗܘܢ\nܐܐܪ ܡܥܪܒܝܐ ܘܐܫܿܕ ܐܢܘܢ ܥܠ ܐܪ̈ܥܬܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ. ܘܡܼܢ ܗܢ ܛܐܠܐ ܝܬܝܪܐܝܼܬ ܡܼܬܪܒܝܢ ܙܪ̈ܥܝܗܘܢ ܘܦܐܪ̈ܝܗܘܢ ܕܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ܀ ܘܒܙܒܢ ܙܒܢ ܗܿܘܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܝܒܝܼܫ̈ܐ ܘܠܐ ܥ݀ܒܕܝܢ ܡܼܛܪܐ ܘܠܐ ܛܐܠܐ. ܐܠܐ ܒܠܚܘܼܕ ܕ݀ܠܚܝܼܢ ܠܐܐܪ ܘܥܿܡܛ ܡܼܢ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܘܼܬܗܘܢ ܘܡܣܼܬܒܪ ܐܝܟ ܗܿܘ ܕܬܢܢܐ ܡܕܡ ܩܛܝܼܪ ܥܠ ܐܪܥ ܐܝܟ ܚܝܒܘܼܪܬܐ. ܘܗܕܐ ܠܟ ܐ݀ܬܐ܆ ܕܟܕ ܡܼܬܕܠܚܝ ܐܐܪ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܝܒܝܼܫ̈ܐ܆ ܒܬܪ ܝܘܡ̈ܬܐ ܕܚܝܒܘܪܐ ܗܿܘ. ܢܿܫܒ̈ܢ ܪ̈ܘܼܚܐ ܩܫܝ̈ܬܐ܆ ܡܛܠ ܕܡܼܬܕܟܐ ܐܐܪ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܗܢܘܢ ܥܒ̈ܝܐ ܘܝܒܝܼ̈ܫܐ. ܘܒܠܝܠ̈ܘܬܐ ܡܿܢ ܣܿܓܝܢ ܡܫܒ̈ܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܟܕ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܠܐ ܡܬܦܠܼܗܕ ܡܼܢܗܘܢ ܡܕܡ.","english":"as though hidden within the sanctuary. And that which in summer does not produce rains, because along with those that rise from the earth or from the sea, they are dissipated by the violence of the sun's rays, and again they return to their nature. And at various times many vapors rise and overcome the heat of the sun, and they ascend and become thick in the air, and clouds are formed, and they produce rains and dews, and also the dews that fall at night, from those vapors that, when they rise from the earth, the air retains them and pours them upon the lands, upon the plants, seeds, and leaves. Especially in regions near the sea, there are many dews in winter and summer, particularly in a land like Egypt and all the land of Aegyptus, and of Palaestina, and Phoenicia, and Syria, and Cilicia, and Pisidia, and Bithynia, and all the regions near the sea. Because in summer many vapors rise from the sea due to the heat of the sun, and the air retains them and pours them upon those lands. And from that dew, especially, the seeds and fruits of those regions are nourished. And at various times there occur dry vapors that do not produce rain or dew, but only heat the air and darken it with their abundance, and it appears as though something thick were spread over the earth like a haze. And this is a sign: when the air is troubled by dry vapors, after those days of haze, strong winds arise, because the air is cleansed by those thick and dry vapors. And at night, many dews occur, because when vapors rise, nothing is separated from them.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܛܐ̈ܠܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ṭallē (ܛܐ̈ܠܐ) means 'dews' and is used here to describe nocturnal moisture, distinct from rain (ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ).","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"Egypt and all the land of Aegyptus, and of Palaestina, and Phoenicia, and Syria, and Cilicia, and Pisidia, and Bithynia","severity":"info","text":"The list of regions reflects the geographical knowledge of late antique Syriac authors, encompassing the eastern Mediterranean littoral and Anatolia.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܚܝܒܘܼܪܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ḥaybūrtā (ܚܝܒܘܼܪܬܐ) means 'haze' or 'mist', describing a thick, dry atmospheric condition distinct from clouds.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of meteorological phenomena, moving from rain to dew and then to dry vapors and haze, with a concluding sign for strong winds.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"as though hidden within the sanctuary","severity":"caution","text":"The opening simile 'as though hidden within the sanctuary' is obscure; it may refer to a prior analogy or a lost cosmological image.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'as though hidden within the sanctuary' lacks clear antecedent in the immediate context.","The distinction between 'vapors' (ܠܗ̈ܓܐ) and 'dry vapors' (ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܝܒܝܼܫ̈ܐ) is not fully explained in the text."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":18,"ref":"p18","source":"ܡܛܠ ܕܠܝܬ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܒܠܝܠ̈ܘܬܐ. ܘܟܕ ܣܿܓܝܢ ܕܚܿܝܢ ܠܐܐܪ ܠܐܬܪܐ ܐܚܪܢܐ. ܘܢܿܫܒ̈ܢ ܡܼܢܗ ܘܠܗܼܠ ܪ̈ܘܼܚܐ. ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܗܼ، ܐܐܪ ܡܼܙܕܪܒ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ. ܐܝܟ ܕܡܼܢ ܪ̈ܦܐ. ܘܥ݀ܒܕ ܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ. ܐܝܼܬ ܕܝܢ ܬܘܼܒ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܒܝܼܫ̈ܐ ܘܣܿܓܝܼ ܥܒ̈ܝܐ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܪ̈ܥܬܐ ܦܩܥܬܢ̈ܝܐ ܘܡܕܒܪ̈ܝܬܐ ܒܥܕܢ ܛܗܪܐ ܩܝܛܝ̈ܐ. ܒܗܿܝ ܕܥ݀ܐܠܐ ܫܚܝܼܢܘܼܬܐ ܒܠܒܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܣܩܐ ܠܗܘܢ ܒܦܩ̈ܥܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ. ܘܐܢ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܐܘܿ ܬܘܼܒ ܚܝܘܼܬܐ ܡܼܬܛܝܒ ܬܡܿܢ ܒܐܪܥܐ ܗܿܝ ܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܥܕ̈ܢܐ܆ ܒܗܿܝ ܫܿܥܬܐ ܡܝܼܬܝܼܢ. ܡܼܛܠ ܕܡܼܬܕܚܐ ܟܿܠܗ ܐܐܪ ܡܼܢ ܕܘܼܟܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܡܼܢ ܥܒܝܘܼܬܗ ܕܠܗܓܐ ܗܿܘ ܒܝܼܫܐ. ܘܟܕ ܠܐ ܦܿܐܫ ܐܐܪ ܕܢܣܘܩܘܢ܆ ܡܼܬܚܣܝܢ ܘܡܼܬܛܠܩܝܼܢ ܚܝ̈ܝܗܘܢ. ܐܝܟ ܗܿܘ ܕܢܿܚܬ ܠܓܘܼܒܐ ܕܦܬܝܼܚ ܚܼܕܬܐܝܼܬ. ܘܚܒܝܼܫ ܗܘܼܐ ܒܗ ܠܗܓܐ ܥܒܝܐ ܘܠܐ ܦܿܐܫ ܒܗ ܐܐܪ. ܒܗ ܒܥܕܢܐ ܡܬܼܛܠܩܝܼܢ ܚܝ̈ܘܗܝ. ܒܗܿܝ ܕܐܬܓܠܙ ܡܼܢ ܣܘܩܐ ܕܐܐܪ. ܕܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܢܫܡܼܬܐ ܕܚܝ̈ܐ. ܗܿܢܐ ܠܗܓܐ ܒܝܼܫܐ ܫܥ̈ܒܝܐ܆ ܟܕ ܡܼܬܕܚܼܐ ܡܼܢ ܐܐܪ ܘܡܬܼܐܫܕ ܥܠ ܐܪܥܐ ܡܚܒܠ ܙܪ̈ܥܐ ܘܦܐܪ̈ܐ. ܘܥܒܕ ܟܘܼܪ̈ܗܢܐ ܘܚܘܼܒ̈ܠܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ ܘܝܪ̈ܩܢܐ ܫܘܒܢܐ. ܗ̄ ܪܘܼܚܐ ܕܫܘܒܐ ܡܚܒܠ ܟܝ̈ܢܐ. ܘܣܩܘܼܒܠܐ ܕܚܝ̈ܐ. ܘܙ݀ܕܩ ܠܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ ܕܟܕ ܚܿܙܝܢ ܙܪ̈ܥܐ ܘܥܣܼ̈ܒܐ ܕܢ݀ܚܬ ܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܝܪܩܢ ܘܡܼܚܐ ܐܢܘܢ ܪܘܼܚܐ ܕܫܘܒܐ܆ ܕܣܟ ܠܐ ܢܥܼܠܘܢ ܠܗܘܢ. ܘܠܐ ܢܚܼܨܕܘܢ ܐܢܘܢ. ܐܦܠܐ ܢܫܼܒܩܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܩܢܝܿܢܗܘܢ ܘܒܥܝܼܪܗܘܢ ܕܢܥܼܠܘܢ ܠܗܘܢ. ܐܘܿ ܣܟ ܢܐܟܠܘܢ ܡܼܢܗܘܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܡܟܪ̈ܗܢܐ ܐܢܘܢ ܘܩܛܘ̈ܠܐ. ܘܐܦ ܗܼܢܘܢ ܒܥܝܪ̈ܐ ܝܿܕܥܝܢ ܠܗܘܿܢ ܡܼܢ ܪܘܼܚܩܐ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܐ ܣܿܝܩܝܢ ܪܝܼܚܗܘܢ ܘܠܐ ܡܼܬܩܪܒܝܢ ܠܗܘܿܢ.","english":"because there is no sun at night. And when many vapors rise from one region to another, and the winds carry them here and there, the air is disturbed by the vapors, as if by waves, and produces hailstones. There are also, again, evil and very thick vapors that rise from marshy and desert lands at the time of summer noon, because heat penetrates into the heart of the earth and brings them up through the earth's fissures. And if fire or again animals happen to be there in that earth at those times, at that hour they die, because the whole air is disturbed along with that place by the thickness of that evil vapor. And when the air does not remain for them to breathe, they are suffocated and their lives are destroyed, like one who descends into a newly opened pit, and thick vapor is confined in it, and there is no air in it; at that time his life is destroyed, because it is cut off from the supply of air, which is the instrument of life. This evil, thick vapor, when it is disturbed with the air and poured out upon the earth, destroys seeds and fruits, and causes many diseases and destructions and yellow blight. O, the vapor of blight destroys the elements, and is the adversary of life. And it is fitting for farmers that when they see seeds and plants upon which blight has fallen and which the vapor of blight has struck, they should not enter among them, nor harvest them, nor even leave them with their stalks and cattle to enter among them, or eat from them, because they are diseases and killers. And even the cattle know them from a great distance; they perceive their smell and do not approach them.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܪܘܼܚܐ ܕܫܘܒܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase ܪܘܼܚܐ ܕܫܘܒܐ (rūḥā d-šūbā) is rendered 'vapor of blight' in the English draft. ܫܘܒܐ (šūbā) denotes a destructive, scorching wind or blight, often associated with crop damage in Syriac agricultural and medical texts.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of noxious vapors rising from marshy and desert lands at summer noon reflects ancient theories of miasma, common in Greco-Syriac natural philosophy, where heat draws corrupt exhalations from the earth, causing disease and crop failure.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The analogy of suffocation in a newly opened pit with thick vapor parallels accounts in Syriac and Greek medical literature (e.g., Galen) of 'bad air' in caves or wells causing asphyxiation, a standard example of environmental hazard.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the treatise's systematic explanation of meteorological phenomena, moving from hailstorms to noxious vapors, then to their effects on life and agriculture, concluding with practical advice for farmers.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The warning that farmers should not harvest or consume blighted crops, and that cattle avoid them by smell, reflects practical agricultural knowledge preserved in Syriac monastic and encyclopedic works, possibly influencing later medieval farming manuals.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac term ܪܘܼܚܐ ܕܫܘܒܐ could be read as 'wind of blight' or 'spirit of blight'; the English draft opts for 'vapor of blight', consistent with the context of exhalations."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":19,"ref":"p19","source":"ܘܠܐ ܙ݀ܕܩ ܕܢܦܘܫܘܢ ܙܪ̈ܥܐ ܘܥܣܼ̈ܒܐ ܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܪܝܼܚܗܘܢ ܘܐܐܪ ܕܥ݀ܒܪ ܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܡܟܪܗܢܐ ܗܿܘ ܘܡܡܝܼܬܢܐ. ܙ݀ܕܩ ܕܒܪܗܝܼܒܘܼ ܢܐܩܕܘܢ. ܘܗܿܢܘܢ ܕܡܘܩܕܝܢ ܠܗܘܿܢ܆ ܡܼܢ ܪܘܼܚܩܐ ܢܩܘܼܡܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܟܪ ܕܢ݀ܫܒ ܪܘܼܚܐ. ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܠܐ ܢܣܘܼܩܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܬܢܢܗܘܢ. ܘܐܦܢ ܐܫܬܚܪ ܠܚܡܐ ܒܫܢ̈ܢܐ ܕܙܪ̈ܥܐ ܗܿܢܘܢ. ܠܐ ܣܟ ܢܼܬܢܛܪ ܐܟܡܢ ܕܢܚܘܼܬ ܥܠܘܗܝ ܡܼ̰ܪܐ ܘܢܼܬܬܫܝܓ ܡܼܢܗ ܝܪܩܢܐ ܘܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܢܬܼܟܢܫ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܐܦܢ ܡܬܼܬܫܝܓ ܐܿܠܦ ܙܒ̈ܢܝܢ܆ ܠܐ ܣܟ ܡܼܬܐܣܐ. ܐܠܐ ܡܟܪܗܢܐ ܗܿܘ ܘܩܛܘܠܐ܀ ܘܟܕ ܬܚܼܙܐ ܥܣܼܒܐ ܣܿܓܝܐܐ ܘܥܒܝܼܛܐ ܘܐܪܝܼܟܐ. ܐܘܿ ܕܩܪܝܼܒ ܠܡܝ̈ܐ ܘܠܐܓܡ̈ܐ ܘܝܡ̈ܡܬܐ ܘܩܒ̈ܝܬܐ. ܠܐ ܣܟ ܬܪܥܐ ܥܢ̈ܬܐ ܘܒܩܪ̈ܐ ܬܡܿܢ. ܐܦܠܐ ܬܥܼܡܪ ܒܩܪܝܼܒܘܼܬܗܘܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܡܟܪ̈ܗܢܐ ܐܢܘܢ ܘܒܝܼ̈ܫܐ. ܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܕܝܢ ܪ̈ܡܐ ܘܦܬܝܼܚ̈ܐ܆ ܝܬܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܕܦܬܝܼܚ ܩܕܡܝܗܘܢ ܡܕܢܚܐ ܘܬܡܝܢܐ ܘܡܥܪܒܐ. ܘܝܬܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ ܬܝܡܢܐ ܦܬܝܼܚ ܩܕܡܝܗܘܢ܆ ܗܿܢܘܢ ܚܿܫܚܝܼܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܠܡܥܡܪܐ. ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܝܢ ܕܚܒܝܼܫܝܢ ܘܬܚܬܝܼܝܼܢ ܠܐ ܣܟ ܚܿܫܚܝܢ. ܐܦܠܐ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܚܝ݀ܝܪܝܢ ܠܓܪܒܝܐ. ܝܬܝܼܪܐܝܬ ܐܝܟܐ ܕܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܢ ܥ݀ܒ̈ܐ ܘܥܘܼܒ̈ܛܐ ܕܥܠ ܡܝ̈ܐ܆ ܘܐܝܟܐ ܕܐܝܼܬ ܡܪ̈ܓܐ ܣܒ̈ܝܼܣܐ ܘܪ̈ܨܝܢܐ. ܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܗܘܿܢ ܒܝܼܫ̈ܐ ܘܡܪ̈ܗܢܐ ܐܢܘܢ܀ ܘܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܠܡ ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܐܪܒܥܐ ܒܝܕ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܚܝܠ ܘܥܕܪ. ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܚܡܫܐ ܕܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܫܬܐ ܥܡ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܡܚܟܡ. ܬܘܼܒ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܘܪ̈ܣܝܼܣܐ ܘܡܛ݀ܠ ܡܢܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܐܝܕܐ ܥܠܼـܐ ܗܿܘܐ ܬܠܓܐ ܘܒܪܕܐ ܘܓܠܝܼܕܐ. ܘܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ. ܒܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܩܕܡ ܗܿܢ ܐܡܼܪܢܢ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܡܼܛܠ ܡܛܪ̈ܐ ܘܛܐ̈ܠܐ ܘܪ̈ܣܝܼܣܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܣܛܘܼܟܣܐ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܘܣܦ ܣܟ ܘܐܦ ܠܐ ܡܒܨܪ.","english":"and it is not right to scatter seeds and herbs like these because of their winds and the air that passes over them, for that is harmful and deadly. It is right to burn them quickly. And those that are burned, if they are far away, they stand still, as if the wind had left them, so that they do not move from their places. And even bread is spoiled in the hours of those seeds. Not only does it become moldy, as if moisture had come upon it and become mixed with it, and then it becomes green and then rots, because even if it becomes mixed many times, it does not heal, but is harmful and deadly. And when you see many thick and long herbs, or those near waters, marshes, seas, and ponds, not only do they cause harm and cold there, but they also do not allow habitation near them, for they are harmful and evil. As for regions that are high and open, especially those that are open to the east, south, and west, and especially the south that is open before them, those are very suitable for habitation. But those that are enclosed and low-lying are not suitable, nor are those that are near the north. Especially where there are many reeds and rushes over the waters, and where there are soft and moist meadows, all these are evil and harmful. And with these ends the fourth chapter, by the help of God who is mighty and assists. The fifth chapter of the sixth treatise, with God who makes wise. Again, concerning rains, dews, and concerning water, and from what cause snow, hail, and ice occur, and things like these. In the chapter before this, we have spoken a little about rains, dews, and dews that are from the element of water, which neither increases nor decreases.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܐܪܒܥܐ / ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܚܡܫܐ","severity":"info","text":"The passage marks the end of the fourth chapter and the beginning of the fifth chapter of the sixth treatise, a structural division typical of Syriac didactic works.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܟܪ̈ܗܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܡܟܪ̈ܗܢܐ (mkarhānē) means 'harmful' or 'noxious,' used here to describe the effects of certain vapors and plants on health and habitation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܣܛܘܼܟܣܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Greek loanword ܐܣܛܘܼܟܣܐ (esṭūksē) 'element' reflects the work's engagement with Greco-Syriac natural philosophy, specifically the four-element theory.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܛܠ ܡܛܪ̈ܐ ܘܛܐ̈ܠܐ ܘܪ̈ܣܝܼܣܐ","severity":"info","text":"The discussion of rains, dews, and vapors as arising from the water element parallels similar explanations in Aristotle's Meteorology and its Syriac reception.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܢܬܼܟܢܫ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'and then it rots' (ܘܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܢܬܼܟܢܫ) is textually uncertain; the verb may be corrupt or a rare form, but the sense of decay is clear from context.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac text at ܘܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܢܬܼܟܢܫ is uncertain; the reading 'rots' is adopted based on context.","The phrase ܡܼܢ ܟܪ ܕܢ݀ܫܒ ܪܘܼܚܐ is ambiguous: it may mean 'as if the wind had left them' or 'as if the wind had ceased'; the former is followed here."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":20,"ref":"p20","source":"ܘܒܙܒܢ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܒܝܕ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܠܟܐ ܘܠܟܐ. ܘܡܼܢܗܘܢ ܡܼܬܥܠܝܢ ܠܥܠ ܘܡܼܬܥܒܝܢ ܘܣܿܓܝܢ ܬܚܝܼܬ ܐܬܝܼܪ. ܘܟܕ ܡܼܙܕܪܒܝܼܢ ܬܡܿܢ ܡܼـܥܨܪܝܢ ܘܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ. ܘܡܼܢܗܘܢ ܕܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܡܼܬܐܫܕܝܢ ܥܠ ܐܪ̈ܥܬܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܝܬܐ ܝܒܝܼܫ̈ܬܐ܆ ܘܡܬܪ̈ܛܒܢ ܘܥ݀ܒܕ̈ܢ ܦܐܪ̈ܐ. ܘܡܼܢܗܘܢ ܬܘܼܒ ܕܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܣܿܠܩܝܼܢ ܒܚܠ̈ܝܼܠܝܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܼܬܟܢܫܢ ܒܕܘܼܟܝ̈ܐ ܩܫ̈ܝܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܢ ܘܡܫܟܚܝܼܢ ܡܦܩܢܐ ܘܢ݀ܒܥܝܢ ܒܡܒ̈ܘܼܥܐ ܘܥܝ̈ܢܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܨܒܝܿܢܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ. ܘܥܠܗܿܝ ܝܬܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ ܒܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܘܒܪ̈ܡܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܝܢ ܡܒܘܼ̈ܥܐ ܘܥܝ̈ܢܬܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܩܿܫܝܢ ܘܛܝܼܡܝܼܢ ܘܠܐ ܡܼܬܦܘܫܫܝܢ ܒܗܘ̈ܓܐ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ. ܐܠܐ ܡܬܟܠܝܢ ܘܡܼܬܚܒܫܝܢ ܬܚܝܼܬ ܩܫܝܘܼܬܗܘܢ ܐܝܟ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܩܕܪܐ ܒܟܣܝܐ. ܗܿܟܢܐ ܣܝܼܡܝܼܢ ܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܘܪ̈ܡܬܐ ܥܠ ܐܪܥܐ ܐܝܟ ܩܪܩܦܬܐ ܥܠ ܫܠܕܐ. ܘܐܝܟ ܟܣܝܐ ܥܠ ܩܕܪܐ. ܘܟܕ ܡܼܬܟܢܫܝܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܣܿܓܝܢ܆ ܗܿܘܝܢ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ ܘܢ݀ܒܥܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܡܦܩ̈ܢܐ ܘܪ̈ܨܝܢܐ ܘܚܠܝܼ̈ܠܐ ܕܡܫܟܚܝܼܢ ܒܐܪܥܐ ܘܒܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ. ܘܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܦܩ̈ܥܬܐ ܘܡܕܒܪ̈ܐ ܘܡܼܢ ܐܪ̈ܥܬܐ ܣܪ̈ܝܕܬܐ ܘܪ̈ܟܝܼܟܬܐ܆ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܒܐܐܪ ܘܡܼܬܟܢܫܝܢ ܬܚܝܼܬ ܐܬܝܼܪ. ܘܐܢ ܐܝܼܬ ܚܝܠܐ ܘܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ. ܣܿܓܝܢ ܘܙܿܪܒܝܢ ܘܡܼܬܥܨܪܝܢ ܬܚܝܼܬ ܐܬܝܼܪ. ܘܗܿܘܝܢ ܛܘܼܦ̈ܐ ܘܢ݀ܚܬ ܡܼܛܪܐ. ܘܒܙܒܢ ܬܐܕܐ ܘܬܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ܆ ܕܗܿܘܝܢ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܚܒܝܼ̈ܛܐ ܘܛܘܼܦ̈ܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܬܐ. ܘܗܿܘܝܢ ܛܘܦ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܠܐܝܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܡܫܬܼ݀ܚܢܐ ܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܣܩܐ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܬܢܘܼܬܗܘܢ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܪܗܝܼܒܐܝܼܬ ܘܙܿܪܒܝܢ ܠܚܕ̈ܕܐ ܘܡܼܬܥܨܪܝܢ ܬܚܝܼܬ ܐܬܝܼܪ ܘܢ݀ܚܬܝܢ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܚܒܝܼ̈ܛܐ. ܘܐܢ ܢ݀ܫܒܐ ܒܛܘܦ̈ܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܬܐ ܐܐܪ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܐ ܘܝܒܝܼܫܐ ܡܩܫܐ ܠܗܝܢ ܘܡܓܠ̈ܕܢ ܒܐܐܪ ܠܥܠ.","english":"and when the vapors ascend by means of the winds to one place and another, and their waters are raised up and become thick and increase beneath the air, and when they are driven together there, they are compressed and descend. And their waters, by means of the winds, are poured out upon other dry lands, and they moisten them and produce fruits. And again, by means of the winds, the vapors ascend through the veins of the earth and are collected in many hard places, and they find outlets and burst forth in springs and sources, according to the will of God. And especially upon mountains and high places there are many springs and sources, because they are hard and compact and are not dispersed by the winds and vapors, but are held back and confined beneath their hardness, like vapors under a pot with a lid. Thus mountains and high places are placed upon the earth like a skull upon a body, and like a lid upon a pot. And when the vapors are collected and increase, they become many waters and burst forth through the outlets and channels and veins that are found in the earth and in the mountains. And the vapors that ascend through fissures and deserts and through barren and soft lands ascend into the air and are collected beneath the air. And if there is force and they ascend greatly, they increase and are driven together and compressed beneath the air, and they become floods and rain descends. And at the time of thunder and lightning, which become violent rains and great floods, there are floods and inundations, because the earth is shaken and emits many vapors. And with their force they ascend violently and are driven against each other and are compressed beneath the air, and violent rains descend. And if in these great floods the northern and dry air meets them and freezes them, they are congealed by the air above.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܠܗ̈ܓܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܠܗ̈ܓܐ (lahgē) here denotes 'vapors' or 'exhalations', a key concept in the text's meteorological theory, distinct from 'winds' (ܪ̈ܘܚܐ).","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage reflects Aristotelian meteorology, particularly the theory of evaporation and condensation as causes of rain and springs, mediated through Syriac philosophical compendia.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This narrative section continues the explanation of natural phenomena, moving from the effects of seeds and bread to the formation of springs, rain, and floods via vapor dynamics.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The simile of mountains as a lid on a pot (ܐܝܟ ܟܣܝܐ ܥܠ ܩܕܪܐ) parallels similar imagery in Syriac cosmological texts, such as the Cave of Treasures, for describing the earth's structure.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܬܝܼܪ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܐܬܝܼܪ (ʾaṯīr) refers to the 'air' or 'aether', the upper atmospheric region where vapors collect and condense into rain.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac text occasionally uses ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ambiguously for both 'vapors' and 'winds'; the context clarifies the intended referent."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":21,"ref":"p21","source":"ܘܟܕ ܢܚ̈ܬܢ ܘܡܛܝ̈ܢ ܠܐܪܥܐ. ܗܕܐ ܗܿܝ ܥܠܼܬܗ ܕܒܪܕܐ ܘܚܪܨܦܬܐ. ܘܠܘ ܠܥܼܠ ܡܢܼܗܿ ܕܕܘܼܟܬܐ ܬܪܝܼܨܐܝܼܬ ܡܼܬܝܼܠܕ\nܒܪܕܐ ܡܼܢ ܗܿܘ ܥܢܢܐ܆ ܐܠܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܐܡܼܬܝ ܕܡܼܢ ܪܘܼܚܩܐ ܡܝܬܐ ܠܗ ܡܫܒܐ ܗܿܘ ܩܫܝܐ ܘܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܐ. ܘܐܝܟܐ ܡܬܼܡܠ ܗܿܘ ܡܫܒܐ ܬܡܿܢ ܡܣܼܬܿܦܩ ܒܪܕܐ ܗܿܘ ܐܘܿ ܡܼܛܪܐ ܚܒܝܼܛܐ܀ ܬܠܓܐ ܕܝܢ ܗ݀ܘܐ ܒܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܣܬܘ̈ܝܐ ܡܼܢ ܥܠܼـܬܐ ܗܕܐ. ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ ܟܕ ܐܝܼܬ ܡܫ̈ܒܐ ܓܪ̈ܒܝܼܝܼܐ ܩܫܝ̈ܐ ܘܝܒܝܼܫܐ. ܘܒܗ ܒܐܐܪ ܡܓܠܕ ܗܼܘ ܠܗܓܐ ܟܕ ܐܝܼܬ ܐܝܟ ܬܢܢܐ ܩܛܝܼܢܐ. ܘܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܢܿܦܩ̈ܢ ܡܢܘ̈ܬܐ ܠܚܕ̈ܕܐ. ܘܗܿܘܝܢ ܦ̈ܬܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܬܐ ܘܙܥܘܼܪ̈ܝܬܐ. ܘܗܕܐ ܠܟ ܐ݀ܬܐ ܕܒܬܪ ܬܠܓܐ ܡܫܼܬܦܐ ܐܐܪ ܘܗܿܘܐ ܨܚܘܐ ܫܦܝܐ܀ ܙܡܝܢܬܐ ܕܝܢ ܘܓܠܝܼܕܐ ܗܿܘܝܢ ܡܼܢܗ ܕܡܫܒܐ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܐ. ܟܕ ܣܿܠܩܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ. ܡܚܝܼ̈ܠܐ ܘܪ̈ܩܝܼܩܐ ܡܼܢ ܐܦ̈ܝ ܐܪܥܐ. ܘܠܝܬ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܢܙܪܒܘܢ ܘܢܙܟܘܢ ܠܐܐܪ ܘܢܣܼܩܘܢ. ܐܠܐ ܗܿܦܟܝܢ ܡܼܬܐܫܕܝܢ ܥܠ ܐܪܥܐ ܘܗܿܘܝܢ ܛܐܠܐ. ܥܡ ܨܦܪܐ ܟܕ ܝܬܝܼܪ ܩܪܝܼܪܐ ܐܐܪ ܡܓܠܕ ܠܗܘܢ ܗܿܘ ܐܐܪ ܝܒܝܼܫܐ ܘܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܐ ܘܠܟܿܠܗܘܢ ܩܒܝ̈ܬܐ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ. ܘܐܝܼܬ ܐܡܬܼܝ ܕܝܬܝܪ ܗܿܘܐ ܐܐܪ ܩܫܝܐ ܘܝܒܝܼܫܐ ܘܩܪܝܼܪܐ. ܡܓܠܕ ܠܢܗܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܐ ܘܠܣ݀ܦܪ̈ܝ ܝܡܐ܆ ܘܡܩܫܐ ܠܐܕܫ̈ܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ܇ ܘܟܕ ܢܿܫܒ ܬܝܡܢܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܚܡܝܼܡܐ܆ ܫܿܪܐ ܘܡܦܫܪ ܠܩܫܝܘܼܬܐ ܕܓܠܝܼܕܐ ܘܕܫܪܟܐ ܕܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܝܬܐ. ܗܿܕܐ ܥܠܼܬܐ ܕܒܪܕܐ ܘܬܠܓܐ ܘܓܠܝܼܕܐ܀ ܬܘܼܒ ܐܡܿܪܝܢܢ ܡܛܠ ܪ̈ܥܡܐ ܘܒܪ̈ܩܐ.","english":"and when they fall and reach the earth. This is the cause of hail and sleet. And it is not from above, from the place where it is properly generated, that hail comes from that cloud, but there are times when, at a distance, a strong and northern wind brings it, and wherever that wind goes, there it discharges that hail or compacted rain. Snow, however, occurs in winter times from this cause: many vapors ascend when there are strong and dry northern winds, and in the air they are congealed into vapors as if into a fine dust, and then the drops fall upon one another and become large and small flakes. And this is a sign for you that after snow the air becomes clear and a pure calm occurs. Hoarfrost and ice, however, occur from a northern wind when weak and thin vapors ascend from the surface of the earth, and they have no power to be stirred and to overcome the air and to ascend, but they are cast down upon the earth and become dew. In the morning, when the air is colder, that dry and northern air congeals all the collections of water. And there are times when the air is more severe and dry and cold, it congeals great rivers and the shores of the sea, and it hardens many lakes; and when the time of its warmth comes, it loosens and dissolves the hardness of the ice and of the rest of the other things. This is the cause of hail and snow and ice. Again, they speak concerning thunder and lightning.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܚܪܨܦܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܚܪܨܦܬܐ (ḥarṣāftā) denotes 'sleet' or 'hail mixed with rain', distinguishing it from ܒܪܕܐ (barḏā) 'hail'. The pairing reflects a precise meteorological classification.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The explanation of snow as congealed vapors forming flakes echoes Aristotelian meteorology (Meteorologica I.9–10), mediated through Syriac translations of Greek scientific works. The author adapts this to local climatic observations.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage concludes a sequence on precipitation (rain, hail, snow, ice) and transitions to thunder and lightning with the formulaic phrase 'Again, they speak concerning thunder and lightning', marking a new subsection.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܓܠܝܼܕܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac ܓܠܝܼܕܐ (glīḏā) means 'ice' or 'frost', but here it is distinguished from ܙܡܝܢܬܐ (zəmīʿtā) 'hoarfrost'. The author treats ice as a congelation of water bodies, hoarfrost as a surface deposit from weak vapors.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text at the phrase 'ܘܗܕܐ ܠܟ ܐ݀ܬܐ' (wə-hāḏē ləḵ ʾāṯā) is ambiguous: it could mean 'this is a sign for you' (as translated) or 'this is a sign to you'. The reading adopted follows the English draft.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of ice congealing rivers and sea shores parallels a passage in the Syriac translation of Aristotle's Meteorologica (Book I, ch. 12), where cold air solidifies water surfaces. The author likely draws on this tradition.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'ܘܗܕܐ ܠܟ ܐ݀ܬܐ' may be read as either 'this is a sign for you' or 'this is a sign to you'; the English draft adopts the former.","The term 'ܚܪܨܦܬܐ' is rare; its precise referent (sleet vs. hail mixed with rain) is inferred from context."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":22,"ref":"p22","source":"ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܡܼܙܕܪܒܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܡܼܢ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܘܼܬ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܡܬܕܚܝܿܢܘܼܬܗܘܿܢ ܕܠܥܠ ܡܼܢ ܐܐܪ ܘܡܼܬܕܚܐ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܬܚ̈ܬܝܐ܆ ܘܙܿܪܒ ܗܼܘ ܠܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܥܼܠ̈ܝܐ ܕܐܬܼܟܢܫܘ ܘܐܬܼܥܒܝܼܘ ܘܗܘܼܘ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܠܒܝܼܕ̈ܬܐ܆ ܘܡܼܢ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܕ݀ܚܐ ܠܗܝܢ ܢ݀ܩܫ̈ܢ ܠܐܬܝܪ ܗܿܘ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ ܘܨܪ̈ܚܢ ܘܡܛܪ̈ܛܥܢ ܘܐ݀ܬܐ ܩܠܐ ܗܿܘ ܥܫܝܼܢܐ ܕܪ̈ܥܡܐ ܡܼܢ ܓܘܪܓܚܐ ܕܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܘܪ̈ܘܼܚܐ. ܘܢ݀ܫܡܿܐ ܗܿܘ ܥܙܝܼܙܐ ܕܐܬܝܪ ܘܚܼ؛ܬܐ ܕܢܘܼܪܐ ܘܨܪܚܐ ܒܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܡܼܢ ܐܬܝܪ ܡܼܬܚܙܝܐ ܒܪܗܝܼܒܘܼܬܐ. ܩܠܐ ܕܝܢ ܡܫܼܬܘܚܪ ܡܛܠ ܡܬܼܚܐ ܕܪܘܡܐ. ܘܒܗ ܒܥܕܢܐ ܢ݀ܚܬ ܡܼܛܪܐ ܡܼܢ ܙܪܝܼܒܘܼܬܐ ܕܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܕܡܼܬܥܨܪ̈ܢ ܘܡܚ̈ܬܢ ܡܼܛܪܐ. ܘܐܢ ܡܼܛܪܐ ܠܐ ܢ݀ܚܬ ܒܬܪ ܒܪ̈ܩܐ ܘܪ̈ܥܡܐ. ܕܥ ܠܟ ܕܙܝܘܓ ܢ݀ܚܬ ܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܥܕ̈ܢܐ. ܘܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܝܬܝܪ ܡܼܬܩܫܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܡܼܢ ܡܥܒܕܢܘܼܬܐ ܕܐܐܪ܆ ܘܗܿܘܐ ܗܢܐ ܕܡܼܬܩܪܐ ܙܝܼܘܓ ܘܐܝܼـܘܗܝ ܟܝܿܢܗ ܘܪܘܼܟܒܗ ܡܼܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܡܝܢ̈ܝܐ ܘܡܼܢ ܐܐܪ ܡܥܪܒܝܐ ܘܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܐ. ܘܢܿܚܬ ܥܠ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܒܪܝܼܬܐ ܡܕܡ ܩܛܝܼܢܐ ܟܕ ܠܐ ܡܬܚܼܙܐ܆ ܘܡܼܬܠܚܦܛ ܒܟܝܿܢܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܟܪܐ ܥܡ ܢܩܼܒܬܐ. ܘܡܼܬܬܩܢܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܗܿܢܐ ܚܘܼܛܠܢ ܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܓܘܼܫ̈ܡܐ ܛܡܝܼ̈ܡܐ. ܕܗܒܐ ܐܡܿܪ ܐܢܼܐ. ܘܣܐܡܐ ܘܢܚܫܐ ܘܐܢܟܐ. ܘܐܒܪܐ. ܘܦܪܙܠܐ. ܘܐܦ ܟܐܦ̈ܐ ܝܩܝܼܪ̈ܬ݀ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ. ܘܫܪܟܐ ܕܐܕ̈ܫܐ ܕܢ݀ܦܩܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ. ܘܥܠ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܡܡܠܠܝܼܢܢ ܢܗܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ ܘܦܬܝܐܝܼܬ ܒܡܐܡܪܐ ܐ̱ܚܪܢܐ ܡܼܢ ܠܬܼܚܬ ܟܕ ܡܛܐ ܥܕܢܗܝܢ ܐܢ ܨܿܒܐ ܡܪܢ. ܡܕܝܢ ܬܬܝܼܕܥܝ ܗܕܐ ܚܬܝܼܬܐܝܼܬ. ܕܟܕ ܗܿܘܝܢ ܪ̈ܥܡܐ ܘܒܪ̈ܩܐ ܒܗ ܒܥܕܢܐ ܐ݀ܬܐ ܡܛܪܐ. ܒܪܡ ܠܘ ܒܟܿܠܕܘܟ. ܐܠܐ ܐܝܟܐ ܕܐܬܼܟܢܫܘ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܐܬܼܢܒܝܼܘ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ. ܘܐܦܢ ܒܪ̈ܩܐ ܡܼܬܚܙܝܢ\nܠܪܘܚܩܐ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܐ. ܘܐܢ ܡܼܛܪܐ ܠܐ ܢܿܚܬ ܐܦܠܐ ܒܪܕܐ܀","english":"because the air is agitated by the multitude of winds and by their mutual collision above the earth, and it is agitated by the lower winds, and it strikes the upper winds that have been compressed and thickened and have become dense clouds. And from the force of the pressure, that violent wind and roar and crash and thunderclap occur, and that mighty sound of thunder comes from the collision of clouds and winds. And that violent wind that has been compressed and the crash of wind and roar in the clouds are seen with violence when the wind is compressed. The sound, however, is delayed because of the distance of the height. And at that time rain falls from the violence of the clouds that are compressed and rain descends. And rain does not fall after lightning and thunder. Know that a rainbow falls at those times. And because the air is more strongly compressed by the action of the air, this occurs which is called a rainbow, and its form and composition are from watery winds and from western and northern air. And it falls upon the whole creation as a kind of bond, though invisible, and it is joined to the nature of the earth like a male with a female. And through this bond all solid bodies are bound together: gold, I say, and silver, and copper, and iron, and lead, and even heavy stones of water, and the rest of the minerals that come forth from the earth. And concerning these we will speak more clearly and simply in another treatise from below, when their time comes, if the Lord wills. Then this will be known certainly: that when thunder and lightning occur, at that time rain comes. However, not everywhere, but where the winds have been compressed and clouds have thickened. And lightning is also seen at a great distance, and if rain does not fall, neither does hail.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܙܝܼܘܓ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܙܝܼܘܓ (zywg) is a loan from Greek ζεῦγος, meaning 'yoke' or 'pair', and here denotes the rainbow, conceived as a bond joining air and earth.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of the rainbow as a 'bond' (ܚܘܼܛܠܢ) that joins the nature of the earth like a male with a female reflects a natural-philosophical tradition influenced by Aristotle's Meteorology, where the rainbow is explained as a reflection in moist air.","cites":[],"named_sources":["Aristotle Meteorology"],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage concludes the discussion of hail and snow from the previous passage and transitions to a new topic: the rainbow and its role in binding minerals, with a promise of a later treatise on minerals.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text at the end states that lightning is seen at a great distance, and if rain does not fall, neither does hail. The English draft omits the final clause about hail, which is present in the Syriac.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܥܢ̈ܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"The plural ܥܢ̈ܢܐ (ʿnānē) means 'clouds', a common Syriac term derived from the root ܥܢܐ (ʿnā) 'to cover'. It is used consistently throughout the passage to describe the compressed clouds that produce thunder and rain.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'heavy stones of water' (ܟܐܦ̈ܐ ܝܩܝܼܪ̈ܬ݀ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ) is ambiguous: it may refer to precious stones formed in water (e.g., pearls) or to dense mineral deposits. The text does not clarify.","The Syriac 'ܘܐܢ ܡܼܛܪܐ ܠܐ ܢܿܚܬ ܐܦܠܐ ܒܪܕܐ' is read as 'and if rain does not fall, neither does hail', but the English draft omits 'hail'."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":23,"ref":"p23","source":"ܡܼܢ ܟܿܠܦܪܘܿܣ ܙܝܘܓ ܗܿܐ ܢܿܚܬ ܟܕ ܠܐ ܣܟ ܡܼܬܚܿܙܐ. ܒܪܡ ܕܝܬܝܪ ܩܪܝܪ ܗܿܘܐ ܐܐܪ ܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܥܕ̈ܢܐ ܕܢܿܚܬ ܙܝܘܓ܀ ܘܒܪܕܐ ܡܿܢ ܡܼܢ ܛܘܼܦ̈ܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܬܐ ܕܢܿܚ̈ܬܢ ܡܼܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ ܒܬܪ ܕܡܼܬܥܨܪ̈ܢ ܬܚܝܼܬ ܐܬܝܼܪ. ܘܗܝܕܝܢ ܡܓ̈ܠܕܢ ܡܼܢ ܡܫܒܐ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܐ ܕܣܿܓܝܼ ܠܥܼܠ ܢܿܫܒ. ܘܐܦ ܗܼܢ̈ܝܢ ܛܘܼܦ̈ܐ ܕܒܩ̈ܢ ܒܚܕ̈ܕܐ ܘܗܘ̈ܝܼܢ ܩܼܛܥ̈ܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܐ ܕܓܠܝܕܐ ܐܝܟ ܓܘ̈ܙܐ ܘܐܝܟ ܠ̈ܘܙܐ. ܘܐܪ̈ܝܼܟܝ ܐܣܟܝܼ̈ܡܐ. ܘܟܿܠ ܓܘܢܐ ܢܚܿܬܢ܀ ܬܠܓܐ ܕܝܢ ܗܼܢܘܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܡܬܼܩܫܝܢ ܘܡܓܠܕܝܢ ܒܐܐܪ ܩܕܡ ܕܢܬܼܡܛܘܢ ܠܬܚܝܼܬ ܐܬܝܼܪ. ܘܟܕ ܢ݀ܩ̈ܦܢ ܡܢܘ̈ܬܐ ܠܚܕ̈ܕܐ ܟܕ ܦܪܚܝܼܢ ܒܐܐܪ ܩܕܡ ܡܫܒܐ ܗܿܘ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܐ. ܥܡܗܝܢ ܝܩܪ̈ܢ ܘܢܚ̈ܬܢ ܥܠ ܐܪܥܐ ܪܟܝܼܟܐܝܼܬ ܘܡܬܼܟܫ̈ܝܢ܀ ܙܡܝܬܐ ܕܝܢ ܘܓܠܝܼܕܐ ܥܡ ܗܿܝ ܕܣ̈ܠܩܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܡܼܢ ܐܦ̈ܝ ܐܪܥܐ܆ ܐ݀ܫܕ ܠܗܘܿܢ ܐܐܪ ܩܫܝܐ ܥܠ ܐܦ̈ܝ ܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܩܫܐ ܠܗܘܢ. ܘܗ݀ܘܝܐ ܙܡܝܬܐ ܘܓܠܝܼܕܐ ܐܝܟ ܨܒܝܢܿܐ ܘܦܘܼܩܕܢܐ ܕܒܿܪܘܝܐ ܚܟܝܼܡܐ. ܘܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܡܛܠ ܥܘܼܕܪܢܐ ܘܩܘܼܝܡܐ ܕܒܪܝܼܬܐ܀ ܘܒܪܕܐ ܡܿܢ ܡܕܚܼܠ ܘܡܣܪܕ ܘܪܕܐ ܠܡܣܟ̈ܠܢܐ. ܘܐܦ ܡܩܛܠ ܠܪ̈ܚܫܐ ܘܦܪ̈ܚܕܘܕܐ ܢܿܛܘ̈ܝܐ ܕܥܠ̈ܠܬܐ ܘܦܐܪ̈ܐ܀ ܬܠܓܐ ܕܝܢ ܘܓܠܝܼܕܐ ܒܿܚܪ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܚܕܬ ܠܗܿ ܕܬܬܼܚܝܠܝ ܐܝܟ ܗܿܝ ܕܡܼܙܕܒܠܐ ܘܫ݀ܡܢܐ ܘܡܝܬܝܐ ܦܐܪ̈ܐ. ܘܐܦ ܚܿܢܩ ܘܡܘܒܕ ܘܥ݀ܛܐ ܠܥܘܼܩܒܪ̈ܐ ܘܩܼܡܨܐ ܘܡܢܝܼܢܐ ܕܗܼܘ ܚܠܘܼܛܐ ܘܙܚܿܠܐ ܘܩܪܝܬܐ ܘܡܫܘܛܐ. ܘܟܿܠ ܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܡܐܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܣ̈ܓܦܢܐ ܕܥܠ̈ܠܬܐ. ܘܡܥܒܕ ܥܘܼܕܪ̈ܢܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܟܣ̈ܝܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܣܬܿܟܠܝܼܢܢ [ܚܢܢ] ܘܠܐ ܡܦܿܣܝܼܢܢ ܒܗܘܢ. ܐܝܟ ܕܗܼܘ ܠܚܘܕ ܝܿܕܥ ܘܒܪܝܼܟ ܐܝܼܩܪܗ܀ ܘܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܠܡ ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܚܡܫܐ [ܕܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܫܬܐ] ܒܝܕ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܚܝܠ ܘܥܕܪ. ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܫܬܐ ܥܡ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܡܚܟܡ.","english":"become clouds, and when they are not visible. But the air becomes colder in these lower clouds. And hail comes from the great masses of clouds that are compressed beneath the ether. Then they freeze from the north wind that blows strongly above. And also these masses strike each other and become large pieces of ice like nuts and almonds. And elongated shapes. And all kinds fall down. Snow, however, forms when vapors are condensed and freeze in the air before they reach beneath the ether. And when particles adhere to each other as they fly in the air before the north wind, they fall gently and are deposited on the earth, heavy and light. Dew and ice, along with what rises from the face of the earth, the air hardens upon the face of the earth and freezes it. And dew and ice become like the command and order of the wise Creator. And all of them are for the assistance and preservation of creation. And hail is terrifying and frightens and restrains the foolish. And it also kills insects and caterpillars that harm plants and fruits. Snow and ice, however, warm the earth and renew it so that it becomes fertile, like that which is manured and planted and produces fruits. And it also suffocates and destroys and kills mice, ants, and reptiles of that mixture, and worms, and ticks, and mosquitoes. And all like these that are harmful and damaging to plants. And it produces other hidden benefits, many of which are not understood by [humans] and are not perceived by them. As only He knows and blesses His honor. And with these ends the chapter of five [of the sixth treatise] by the power and help of God. The chapter of six with the wisdom of God.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܪܕܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܒܪܕܐ (baradā) means 'hail'. The passage describes its formation from compressed clouds beneath the ether, a standard meteorological explanation in late antique natural philosophy.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܠܓܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܬܠܓܐ (talgā) means 'snow'. The text explains snow as condensed vapors freezing in the air before reaching the ether, a process distinct from hail formation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܓܪܒܝܝܐ","severity":"info","text":"The north wind (ܓܪܒܝܝܐ, garbāyā) is invoked as the agent that freezes cloud masses into hail. This reflects ancient meteorological theories, such as those in Aristotle's Meteorology, where winds from specific directions cause distinct weather phenomena.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܚܡܫܐ","severity":"info","text":"The passage ends with a colophon marking the conclusion of 'the chapter of five of the sixth treatise' (ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܚܡܫܐ [ܕܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܫܬܐ]), indicating a structural division within Book 6. The following line begins 'the chapter of six'.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܪܘܝܐ ܚܟܝܡܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'wise Creator' (ܒܪܘܝܐ ܚܟܝܡܐ) frames meteorological phenomena as providential, aligning with the work's overall teleological perspective. This reflects a synthesis of Aristotelian natural philosophy with Christian creation theology.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܚܢܢ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text has a lacuna or unclear reading at ܚܢܢ, likely intended as ܚܢܝܢ (ḥaššāš, 'humans' or 'beings'). The English draft supplies '[humans]' as a plausible restoration, but the manuscript evidence is uncertain.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The reading ܚܢܢ is ambiguous; it may be a scribal error or abbreviation for ܚܢܝܢ ('humans').","The phrase ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܫܬܐ ('chapter of six') may refer to a subsequent section or a parallel division; the exact relationship to the preceding 'chapter of five' is unclear."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":24,"ref":"p24","source":"ܥܠ ܗܿܝ ܡܼܢ ܡܘܿܢ ܘܐܝܟܢ ܗ݀ܘܝܢ ܫܘܼܚܠܦ̈ܦܐ ܕܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܕܬܐܕܐ ܘܩܝܛܐ ܘܬܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ ܘܣܬܘܐ ܚܝܠܗ ܪܒܐ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܣܿܦܩ ܠܟܿܠܡܕܡ. ܐܠܐ ܚܟܡܬܗ ܠܝܬ݀ ܦܘܪ̈ܫܢܐ܆ ܥܒܼܕܬ݀ ܬܡܝܼܗ̈ܬܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܬܐ ܘܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ ܒܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܒܪ̈ܝܬܐ ܘܬܘܼܩ̈ܢܐ. ܐܝܿܟܢܐ ܕܬܬܝܼܕܥܝ ܚܟܼܡܬܗ ܪܒܬܐ ܕܡܬܩܢܢܐ ܚܟܝܼܡ ܒܟܿܠ. ܘܡܿܢ ܗܿܕܐ ܢܬܬܡܗ ܣܿܓܝܼ. ܘܟܕ ܡܼܬܬܡܗ ܡܼܬܪܚܡ [ܘܟܕ ܡܬܪܚܡ] ܘܠܘܬܗ ܢܓܿܕ ܠܪ̈ܚܡܘܗܝ ܫܪܝܼܪ̈ܐ ܘܠܐ ܦܠ̈ܝܼܓܐ. ܡܢܘܼ ܗܿܘ ܕܟܕ ܡܬܼܒܩܐ ܒܗܘ̈ܝܐ ܘܬܘܼܩ̈ܢܐ ܘܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܟܿܠܗܘܢ ܕܒܪܝܼܬܐ. ܘܚܿܐܪ ܘܡܐܨܕ ܒܗܘܢ ܦܪܘ݀ܫܐܝܼܬ ܒܥܝܢܐ ܟܣܝܼܬܐ ܕܪܥܝܢܗ. ܘܡܣܼܬܟܠ ܠܚܝܠܐ ܪܒܐ ܕܛܡܝܼܪ ܒܗܘܢ ܘܠܬܐܘܪܝܐ ܪܘܚܢ݀ܝܬܐ ܕܟܿܣܝܐ ܒܗܘܢ. ܘܠܐ ܬܘܪ. ܘܬܡܿܗ ܒܒܪܘܼܝܐ ܚܟܝܼܡ ܒܟܿܠ. ܘܟܕ ܬܡܿܗ. ܡܬܼܢܓܕ ܠܘܬ ܚܘܼܒܐ ܡܚܝܕܢܐ ܘܠܐ ܡܼܬܕܪܟܢܐ. ܒܪܝܼܟ ܗܼܘ ܗܿܘ ܕܠܐ ܡܼܬܕܪܟܝܢ ܕܝܼܢܘ̈ܗܝ ܘܠܐ ܡܬܼܥܩܒ̈ܢ ܐܘܼܪ̈ܚܬܗ. ܐܡܼܪ ܚܕ ܡܼܢ ܓܒܪ̈ܐ ܐܠܗ̈ܝܐ. ܕܗܿܘ ܡܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܐܠܗܐ ܠܡܼܬܝܕ̈ܥܢܐ. ܗܟܢܐ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܠܡܬܪ̈ܓܫܢܐ. ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܠܓܘܼܫܡ̈ܢܐ. ܗ̄ ܣܡ ܐܠܗܐ ܒܟܝܿܢܗ ܕܗܿܢܐ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܡܥܒܕܢܘܬܐ ܪܒܬܐ ܘܓܘܼܫܡܢ݀ܝܬܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܫܒܝܼܚܘܼܬ ܣܿܥܘܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܕܡܥܒܕ ܒܟܿܠܗܘܢ ܓܘܼܫ̈ܡܐ ܕܚܝ̈ܘܬܐ ܘܕܐܪܥܐ ܘܕܡܝ̈ܐ. ܕ݀ܡܐ\nܠܐܠܗܐ ܕܐܚܝܼܕ ܟܿܠ ܘܡܕܒܪ ܠܡܬܼܝܕ݁ܢܐ ܘܒܛܝܼܠ ܠܗ ܥܠ ܡܬܪ̈ܓܫܢܐ. ܗܿܟܢܐ ܡܥܒܕ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܗܿܢܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܢܗܝܼܪܐ ܪܒܐ ܡܠܟܐ ܕܢܗܝܼܪ̈ܐ܆ ܡܐܠܠܘܢ ܕܝܢ ܕܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܒܪ̈ܝܬܐ ܗܼܘ ܡܛܟܣ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܘܥܕ̈ܢܐ ܒܗ ܘܡܢܗ ܡܬܼܝܕ̈ܥܢ ܫܢܝ̈ܐ ܘܬܚܘܼܡ̈ܝܗܝܢ ܘܗܼܘ ܡܦܪܫ ܝܪ̈ܚܐ ܘܡܬܚܡ ܫܒ̈ܐ ܘܡܢܐ ܝܘܡ̈ܬܐ. ܡܢܗ ܡܫܬܘܕ̈ܥܢ ܫܥ̈ܐ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܕܐܝܼܡܡܐ.","english":"on that account, and how the changes of the seasons—of winter and summer, autumn and winter—occur. The great power of God suffices for everything. But His wisdom, which has no divisions, has wrought great wonders and many changes in all creatures and times, so that His great wisdom might be known, which is wisely established in everything. And from this, one marvels greatly. And when one marvels, one is drawn [and when one is drawn] to Him, he approaches His true and undivided love. Who is it that, when he investigates the beings, times, and natures of all creation, and looks and examines them distinctly with a hidden eye of his thought, and perceives the great power hidden in them and the spiritual vision concealed in them, and does not turn back? And he marvels at the wise Creator of all. And when he marvels, he is drawn toward the unified love that cannot be comprehended. Blessed is He who cannot be comprehended in His knowledge, and whose ways cannot be traced. One of the divine men said: Just as God is to be known, so the sun is to be perceived—that is, to bodies. For God has placed in the nature of this sun a great and corporeal agency, which, with the glorious efficacy of its operations, acts in all bodies of animals, earth, and waters. It is like God, who holds all and governs what is to be known, and is above what is perceived. Thus this sun, which is the great luminary, the king of lights, acts; for it is the regulator of all creatures, arranging the seasons and times through it, and from it the hours and their limits are known, and it distinguishes the months and determines the weeks and marks the days. From it all the hours of the day are known.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܠ ܗܿܝ ܡܼܥ ܡܘܿܥ ܘܐܝܟܥ ܗ݀ܘܝܥ ܫܘܼܚܠܦ̈ܦܐ ܕܙܒ̈ܥܐ ܕܬܐܕܐ ܘܩܝܛܐ ܘܬܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ ܘܣܬܘܐ","severity":"info","text":"The opening phrase connects to the previous discussion of hail and snow, now turning to seasonal changes. The list of seasons includes a repetition of winter (ܣܬܘܐ), likely a scribal error or rhetorical emphasis.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܚܟܡܬܗ","severity":"info","text":"The term ܚܟܡܬܗ (his wisdom) is a key theological concept in this work, denoting divine wisdom as an active, ordering principle in creation, distinct from power (ܚܝܠܐ).","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"ܚܕ ܡܼܥ ܓܒܪ̈ܐ ܐܠܗ̈ܝܐ","severity":"info","text":"The reference to 'one of the divine men' likely alludes to a patristic authority, possibly Evagrius Ponticus or Pseudo-Dionysius, whose works influenced Syriac mystical theology. The analogy of God and the sun echoes Platonic and Christian Neoplatonic traditions.","cites":[],"named_sources":["Evagrius Ponticus","Pseudo-Dionysius"],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܡܼܪ ܚܕ ܡܼܥ ܓܒܪ̈ܐ ܐܠܗ̈ܝܐ. ܕܗܿܘ ܡܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܐܠܗܐ ܠܡܼܬܝܕ̈ܥܥܐ. ܗܟܥܐ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܠܡܬܪ̈ܓܫܥܐ","severity":"info","text":"The analogy 'as God is to be known, so the sun is to be perceived' parallels the sun-God analogy in Plato's Republic (508a–509c) and later in Christian Neoplatonic authors like Gregory of Nazianzus.","cites":[],"named_sources":["Plato","Gregory of Nazianzus"],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܟܕ ܡܼܬܬܡܗ ܡܼܬܪܚܡ [ܘܟܕ ܡܬܪܚܡ]","severity":"info","text":"The bracketed repetition in the Syriac (ܘܟܕ ܡܬܪܚܡ) is a dittography, likely a scribal duplication. The sense is: 'when one marvels, one is drawn [to Him]'.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܬܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ ܘܣܬܘܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The list of seasons includes 'autumn' (ܬܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ) and 'winter' (ܣܬܘܐ) twice, but the first instance of winter may be a scribal error for 'spring' (ܢܒܝܥܐ), as the expected sequence is winter, summer, autumn, spring.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The repetition of 'winter' (ܣܬܘܐ) in the season list may be a scribal error for 'spring' (ܢܒܝܥܐ), but the text as transmitted is ambiguous.","The bracketed phrase [ܘܟܕ ܡܬܪܚܡ] is a dittography; the intended reading is likely a single occurrence."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":25,"ref":"p25","source":"ܗܼܘ ܡܥܒܕ ܠܫܘܚ̈ܠܦܝ ܫܢ̱ܬܐ ܒܬܗܪܐ ܪܒܐ ܟܕ ܩܿܐܡ ܒܡܼܨܥܬ݀ ܡܪܕܝܼܬܗ ܕܒܡܘܙܠܬܐ܆ ܥܿܒܕ ܫܘܝܘܼܬܐ ܐܝܼܡܡܐ ܘܠܠܝܐ. ܘܡܥܒܕ ܐܐܪ ܡܡܙܓܐ ܘܒܣܝܼܡܐ ܘܬܐܕܢܝܐ ܡܫܚܢ ܠܐܪܥ ܕܬܘܥܐ ܥܣܼܒܐ ܘܬܘܠܕܝ ܥܩܪ̈ܐ ܐܝܟ ܬܪܢܓܘܠܬܐ ܕܡܫܚܢܐ ܠܒܢ̈ܬܐ ܘܡܘܠܕܐ ܒܗܝܢ ܚܝ̈ܘܬܐ ܘܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܕ ܩܿܐܡ ܒܡܨܥܬܐ ܕܡܪܕܝܼܬܗ ܗܿܝ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܡܠܘܫܐ ܕܐܡܼܪܐ. ܗܿܢܐ ܒܝܬܐ ܕܐܪܝܣ ܟܘܟܒܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܪܕܐ ܒܪܩܝܼܥܐ ܕܠܥܠ ܡܼܢ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܕܐܝܼـܘܗܝ ܚܡܝܼܫܝܐ. ܘܥܠ ܗܿܝ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܒܝܬ ܪܘܼܡܪܡܗ ܘܡܐܛܒ̈ܢܘܬܗ ܕ[] ܗ̄ [] ܟܕ ܗܪܟܐ ܡܼܬܟܝܢ ܒܬܪ ܣܬܘܐ ܗܿܘ ܩܪܝܼܪܐ ܘܪܛܝܼܒܐ. ܡܥܒܕ ܐܐܪ ܛܒܿܐ ܘܡܡܙܓܐ. ܚܡܝܼܡܐ ܪܛܝܼܒܐ ܕܡܢܝܐ܆ ܡܩܝܡܢܐ ܕܚܝ̈ܐ ܘܡܢܛܪܢܐ ܕܚܘܼܠܡܢܐ. ܗܿܢܐ ܗܿܘ ܙܒܢܐ ܛܒܿܐ ܘܡܥܕܪܢܐ ܕܡܼܬܪ̈ܓܫܢܐ ܝܬܝܪ ܡܼܢ ܟܿܠܗܘܢ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܕܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܝ ܫܢ̱ܬܐ܀ ܒܬܪܟܢ ܬܘܼܒ ܣܿܠܩ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܒܡܣܩܬܐ ܕܡܪܕܝܼܬܗ ܘܡܼܬܥܠܐ ܠܕܪܓܐ ܥܠܝܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܫܘܼܠܡܐ ܡܠܘܫܐ ܕܬܐܡ̈ܐ. ܘܗܿܘܐ ܩܪܝܼܒ ܠܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܫܒܥܐ ܩܠܝܼܡ̈ܐ ܕܥܡܪܬܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܓܒܐ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ. ܘܟܕ ܣܿܠܩ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܠܕܪ̈ܓܐ ܥܠܝ̈ܐ ܘܓܪ̈ܒܝܼܝܼܐ ܕܒܡܪܕܝܼܬܗ܆ ܗܿܘܐ ܩܪܝܼܒ ܠܩܠܝܼܡ̈ܐ ܕܥܡܪܬܐ. ܘܡܫܚܢ ܠܗܘܢ ܘܡܚܡ ܝܬܝܪ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܙܠ̈ܝܼܩܘܗܝ ܕܫܿܟܢܝܢ ܥܠ ܪ̈ܫܝܗܘܢ. ܘܡܼܢ ܝܕ ܗ̣ܿܢ ܥܒܕ ܠܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܩܝܛܝܐ ܘܚܡܝܼܡܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܣܓܝ ܡܼܬܡܬܚܐ ܡܪܕܝܼܬܗ ܠܥܠ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܼܬܒܨܪܐ ܬܝܚܼܬ ܐܪܥܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܐܣܛܠܝ ܠܓܪܒܝܐ. ܝ݀ܪܒ ܐܝܼܡܡܐ ܗܿܘ ܘܗܿܘܐ ܡܼܬܚܗ ܙܒܢܬܐ ܘܪܘܼܒܥܐ ܐܝܟ ܫܘܝܘܼܬ ܐܝܼܡܡܐ ܐܝܟ ܫܥ̈ܐ ܛ̄ ܫܘܝ̈ܬܐ. ܘܟܿܠܗ ܠܝ̈ܠܝ ܘܐܝܼܡܡ ܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܡܢܘ̈ܬܐ ܚ̄.","english":"He makes the changes of the seasons with great wonder, while standing in the middle of his course in the zodiac, he makes the equality of day and night. And he makes the air temperate and mild, and he enables the earth to produce grass and the growth of roots, like the cultivation that enables seeds and birth in animals and plants, while standing in the middle of his course, which is the balance of Aries. This is the house of Mars, the star that runs in the firmament above the sun, which is the fifth. And concerning that, it is the house of its elevation and its temperaments, while here it is inclined after winter, which is cold and wet. It makes the air good and temperate, warm and wet, which brings life and preserves health. This is the good time and helper of the perceptible beings more than all the times of the changes of the seasons. After that again, the sun ascends in the ascent of its course and rises to the high degree, which is the end of the balance of Taurus. And it becomes near to . . . because the seven climates of the inhabited world are with the northern side of the earth. And when the sun ascends to the high and northern degrees in its course, it becomes near to the climates of the inhabited world, and it enables them and heats them more because its rays fall upon their heads. And with this, it makes the change of summer and hot, because its course extends much above the earth and diminishes below the earth, because it inclines to the north. The day becomes long, and its extension becomes time and quarter, like the equality of day, like twelve equal hours. And all the nights and days are twenty-four hours.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܡܪܕܝܼܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term mardīṯā (ܡܪܕܝܼܬܐ) is rendered 'course' in the English draft, but it specifically denotes the ecliptic path of the sun through the zodiac, a technical astronomical concept.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"Aries, Taurus, Mars","severity":"info","text":"The passage uses zodiacal signs (Aries, Taurus) and the planet Mars within a geocentric framework. Mars is described as the fifth planet (above the sun) and associated with the 'house of its elevation,' reflecting late antique astrological lore.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܩܠܝܼܡ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac qlīmē (ܩܠܝܼܡ̈ܐ) is a loan from Greek κλίματα, referring to the seven latitudinal zones (climates) of the inhabited world in ancient geography.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"narrative sequence","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the exposition of seasonal change begun in the previous passage, now detailing the sun's movement through the zodiacal signs Aries and Taurus, and its effect on the northern climates.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܠܥ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܫܒܥܐ ܩܠܝܼܡ̈ܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text has a lacuna or abbreviation at ܠܥ. (likely ܠܥܠܡܐ 'to the world' or similar). The English draft marks this with '. . .' and the sense is uncertain; the reading 'to the world because the seven climates' is conjectural.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"background","lemma":"equality of day and night","severity":"info","text":"The description of the sun making day and night equal at the equinox (Aries) and then lengthening days as it moves northward parallels standard late antique astronomical accounts, e.g., in Ptolemy's Almagest or John Philoponus.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac at ܠܥ. is corrupt or abbreviated; the English draft supplies 'to the world' but the text may be lacunose.","The phrase 'ܡܠܘܫܐ ܕܐܡܼܪܐ' (balance of Aries) could be interpreted as the equinoctial point or the zodiac sign itself; the translation takes it as the sign."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":26,"ref":"p26","source":"ܗܿܘܐ ܐܝܼܡܡܐ ܗܿܘ ܪܒܐ ܒܩܠܝܼܡܐ ܗܿܢܐ ܡܼܨܥܝܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܪܒܝܼܥܝܐ ܕܝܼܠܢ ܡܢܘ̈ܬܐ ܘܠܠܝܐ ܡܢܘ̈ܬܐ ܓ̄.ܘܟܡܐ ܕܬܐܙܠ ܠܓܪܒܝܐ ܐܘܿ ܠܬܝܡܢܐ. ܡܫܼܬܚܠ̈ܦܢ ܡܘܼܫܚ̈ܬܐ ܕܐܝܡ̈ܡܐ ܘܠܝ̈ܠܘܬܐ. ܡܛܠ ܨܠܿܝܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܪܘܡܐ ܕܡܨܥܬܗܿ. ܒܗܿܝ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܐܣܦܝܼܪܢ݀ܝܬܐ ܓܠܝܼܠܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܐܣܟܝܼܡܐ ܕܒܛܝܼܟܐ. ܘܟܕ ܥ݀ܐܠ ܫܡܫܐ ܠܪܫ ܡܠܘܫܐ ܕܣܪܛܢܐ܆ ܗܿܦܟܐ ܡܪܕܝܼܬܗ ܠܘܼܩܒܠ ܬܝܡܢܐ. ܥܕܡܐ ܕܡܿܛܐ ܠܫܘܼܠܡ ܡܠܘܫܐ ܕܒܬܘ̄ ܕܗܝܼ ܫܒܠܬܐ. ܘܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܫܿܘܐܼ ܐܝܼܡܡܐ [ܥܡ ܠܠܝܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܒܬܐܕܐܐ ܘܗܿܘܐ ܐܝܡܡܐ] ܫܥ̈ܐ ܝܒ̄. ܘܠܠܝܐ ܫܥ̈ܐ ܝܒ̄ [ܠܫܘܬ]. ܘܐܦ ܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬܐ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܦܿܟܗܐ ܡܼܢ ܦܢܝܼܬܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܐܪܚܩ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܼܠ ܡܼܢ ܪܫܢ. ܘܟܡܐ ܕܢܐܙܠ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܠܘܼܩܒܠ ܓܪܒܝܐ ܒܩܠܝܼܡ̈ܐ\nܡܬܥܡܪ̈ܢܐ. ܝܬܝܪ ܩܪܝܼܪܝܢ ܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ. ܘܟܡܐ ܕܢܐܙܠ ܠܘܼܩܒܠ ܬܝܡܢܐ. ܝܬܝܪ ܚܡܝܼܡܝܼܢ. ܡܛܠ ܩܪܝܼܒܘܼܬܐ ܘܡܬܪܚܩܢܘܼܬܐ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ. ܘܟܕ ܢܿܚܬ ܗܼܘ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܠܕܪܓܐ ܬܚܬܝܐ ܘܬܝܡܢܝܐ ܕܫܘܼܠܡ ܡܠܘܼܫܐ ܕܫܟܫܛܐ ܗܿܘ ܐܝܼܡܡܐ ܗܿܘ ܪ̈ܘܒܥܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܡܢܘ̈ܬܐ ܬܠܬܐ. ܗ̄ ܫܥ̈ܐ ܛ̄ ܫܘܝ̈ܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܠܠܝܐ ܩܝܛ̈ܝܐ ܕܫܘܼܪܝ ܣܪܛܢܐ. ܘܗܿܘܐ ܠܠܝܐ ܗܿܢܐ ܣܬܘܝܐ ܡܢܘ̈ܬܐ ܚܡܫ. ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܫܥ̈ܐ ܚܡܫܬܥܣܪ ܐܝܟ ܐܝܼܡܡܐ ܗܿܘ ܩܝܛܝܐ. ܘܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬܐ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܦܟܗܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ. ܒܗܿܝ ܕܣܿܓܝܼ ܐܪܚܩܼ ܡܼܢܢ. ܘܙܠ̈ܝܼܩܘܗܝ ܡܼܢ ܓܒܢ ܡܫܚܢܝܼܢ ܠܢ. ܘܠܘ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܼܠ ܡܼܢ ܪܫܢ ܢܿܚܬܝܢ ܥܠܝܢ ܐܟܡܿܢ ܕܢܫܚܢܘܢ ܠܐܪܥܐ. ܘܒܝܕ ܗܕܐ ܣܿܓܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ ܘܣܿܩܝܢ ܘܡܼܬܟܢܫܝܼܢ ܒܐܐܪ ܘܡܼܬܥܩܒܝܢ. ܘܐܦ ܐܐܪ ܡܼܬܕܚܐ ܡܢܼܗܘܢ ܘܡܼܬܬܙܝܼܥ ܠܟܐ ܘܠܗܠ ܘܣܿܓܝܐ ܩܪܝܼܪܘܼܬܐ. ܘܡܼܬܥܫܢܝܢ ܠܗ̈ܓܐ. ܘܡܼܬܠ̈ܒܕܢ ܥܢ̈ܢܐ. ܘܡܼܬܥܨܪ̈ܢ ܘܡܚ̈ܬܢ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ.","english":"to be cultivated. That great day in that climate, in the middle, is like the spring equinox, twelve hours of day and twelve hours of night. And as it goes to the north or to the south, the measures of days and nights change, because of the inclination of the earth, like the height of its middle, in that it is a spherical globe like the shape of a ball. And when the sun enters the head of the sign of Aries, it turns its course towards the south, until it reaches the end of the sign of Libra, which is the balance. And then the day equals the night, like in the beginning, and the day becomes twelve hours, and the night twelve hours, equally. And also the heat of the sun changes from its nature, because the sun is distant from above our heads. And as it goes towards the north in the inhabited climates, those regions become colder. And as it goes towards the south, they become hotter, because of the proximity and distance of the sun. And when the sun descends to the lower and southern step of the end of the sign of Capricorn, that day is three quarters, that is, nine hours, equal to the night of the summer solstice at the beginning of Aries. And that night of winter is five quarters, that is, fifteen hours, like that summer day. And the heat of the sun changes greatly, because it is very distant from us, and its rays fall obliquely upon us, and not from above our heads, and they descend upon us as if they strike the earth. And by this, many vapors rise and are condensed in the air and become thick. And also the air is moved from them and is agitated to and fro, and much cold, and vapors are condensed, and clouds are formed, and rains are gathered and fall.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܡܠܘܫܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܡܠܘܫܐ (mlwšʾ) here denotes a zodiacal sign, not a generic 'constellation'. The passage names Aries, Libra, and Capricorn as specific signs.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"equinox","severity":"info","text":"The description of day and night equality at the equinox reflects standard late antique astronomy, where the sun's entry into Aries marks the spring equinox and into Libra the autumnal equinox.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"narrative","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the exposition of solar motion and seasonal change, following the previous description of the sun's course through the zodiac and its effects on climate.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܫܒܠܬܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac ܫܒܠܬܐ (šbltʾ) is ambiguous: it can mean 'spike' or 'ear of grain', but here it likely refers to the zodiacal sign Virgo (the Virgin), as the context of Libra and Aries suggests a sequence of signs.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"external","lemma":"spherical earth","severity":"info","text":"The description of the earth as a 'spherical globe like the shape of a ball' (ܐܣܦܝܼܪܢܝܬܐ ܓܠܝܼܠܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܐܣܟܝܼܡܐ ܕܒܛܝܼܟܐ) parallels Greek astronomical models, e.g., Ptolemy's Almagest, and is common in Syriac scientific literature.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac term ܫܒܠܬܐ may refer to Virgo or to a generic 'spike'; the reading as Virgo is preferred given the zodiacal context.","The phrase 'three quarters' (ܬܠܬܐ ܪ̈ܘܒܥܐ) for day length at winter solstice is ambiguous: it could mean three-quarters of a day (9 hours) or three quarter-hours; the context of 15 hours for night supports the former."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":27,"ref":"p27","source":"ܘܡܼܬܩܘܪܪ ܐܐܪ ܘܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܘܗ̈ܘܝܢ ܣܬܘ̈ܐ. ܗܕܐ ܗܝ ܥܠܼܬܐ ܕܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐܬ ܕܓܕܫܝܢ ܒܒܪܝܼܬܐ. ܟܿܠܗܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܡܬܩܪܒܢܘܼܬܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܘܡܬܪܚܩܢܘܼܬܗ. ܘܠܫܘܼܡܠܝ ܫܢ̱ܬܐ ܗܼܘ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܥܠܼܬܐ ܒܫܘܼܡܠܝ ܡܼܬܟܪܟܢܘܼܬܗ ܕܠܟܿܠܗܿ ܓܝܓܠܐ ܕܡܘܙܠܬܐ ܡܫܼܬܿܡܠܝܐ ܫܢ̱ܬܐ. ܘܐܢ ܢܐܨܕ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܚܟܝܼܡܐܝܼܬ ܥܠܼܬ݀ ܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܬܘܼܩ̈ܢܐ ܘܗܿܘܝܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܐܣܛܘܼܟ̈ܣܐ ܗܼܘ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ. ܗܼܘ ܡܒܫܠ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܘܠܕܐ ܕܗܒܐ ܘܣܐܡܐ ܘܢܚܫܐ ܘܫܪܟܐ ܕܓܘܼܫ̈ܡܐ. ܘܡܒܫܪ ܠܟ̈ܐܦܐ ܘܡܨܠܠ ܘܡܒܪܚ. ܘܩ݀ܢܝܢ ܓܘ̈ܢܐ ܡܫܚܠ̈ܦܐ ܘܢܗܝܼܪ̈ܐ܆ ܥܡ ܚܝ̈ܠܐ ܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܥܒܕ̈ܢܘܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܬܐ ܕܬܕܡܘܪܬܐ ܕܣܿܥܪ̈ܢ. ܗܿܐ ܡܒܫܠ ܦܐܪ̈ܐ ܘܡܫܡܢ ܙܪ̈ܥܐ ܘܡܪܒܿܐ ܘܡܢܛܪ. ܘܡܝܬܐ ܟܿܠܡܕܡ ܠܗܿܘܝܐ. ܗܼ، ܡܠܩܛ ܘܡܝܒܫ ܣܝܢܐ ܘܣܪܝܘܼܬܐ. ܘܡܕܟܐ ܠܨܐܝܘ̈ܬܐ ܘܘܡܣܝܘܼܬܐ ܘܩܡܘܠܘܼܬܐ ܕܒܒܪܝܬܐ. ܘܐܝܟ ܗܿܝ ܕܐܡܝܪܐ ܕܠܝܬ ܕܛܫܿܐ ܡܼܢ ܠܗܓܗ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܒܟܿܠܗܘܢ ܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܕܒܥܿܠܡܐ ܗܢܐ ܥܿܐܠ ܚܝܠܗ ܘܡܥܒܕ. ܘܐܝܟܐ ܕܐܝܼܬ ܦܢܝ̈ܬܐ ܓܪ̈ܒܝܝܬܐ. ܘܠܐ ܫ݀ܟܢܝܢ ܙܠ̈ܝܩܘܗܝ ܥܠܝܗܝܢ. ܐܠܐ ܡܼܢ ܗܘܦܐ ܕܒܓܒܐ ܐ̱ܚܪܢܐ ܘܡܼܢ ܐܐܪ ܥ݀ܐܠ ܚܝܠܗ ܒܕܘܼܟ̈ܝܬܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ. ܘܒܕܘܼܟ̈ܝܬܐ. ܓܘܝ̈ܬܐ ܘܣܿܓܝܼ ܬܚܬܝ̈ܬܐ. ܘܒܐܪܥܐ ܡܿܢ ܠܬܚܼܬ ܢ݀ܚܬ ܘܡܬܼܥܡܩ ܘܡܥܒܕ ܚܝܠܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܡܬܼܚܐ ܕܦܪܣܚܐ ܚܕ ܕܥ݀ܒܕ ܡܝܼ̈ܠܐ ܐܪܒܥܐ. ܗܟܘܬ ܘܒܐܐܪ ܠܥܼܠ܆ ܦܪܣܚܐ ܚܕ ܡܥܒܕ ܘܬܘܼܒ ܠܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܡܬܡܚܠ ܚܝܠܗ ܡܼܢ ܩܪܝܼܪܘܼܬܐ ܕܐܐܪ ܘܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܓܪ̈ܒܝܼܝܼܐ. ܘܒܗܿܝ ܕܠܝܬ ܐܪܥܐ ܐܘܿ ܓܘܼܢܝܐ ܕܟܕ ܫܿܟܢܝܢ ܥܠܝܗܿ ܙܠ̈ܝܼܩܘܗܝ ܫܿܚܢܝܼܢ ܘܡܫܚܢܝܼܢ. ܐܠܐ ܥܡܗܘܢ ܡܼܬܡܚܠܝܢ ܘܙ݀ܥܪܐ ܡܥܒܕܢܘܼܬܗܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܡܬܼ̇ܐ ܘܦܝ̈ܫܐ.","english":"and the air, the climates, and the winter seasons are determined. This is the cause of those changes that occur in creation, all of them from the approach and recession of the sun. And for the completion of the year, it is the cause in the completion of its revolution of the entire circle of the zodiac that the year is completed. And if one examines wisely the cause of all the seasons and the conditions that exist with the elements, it is it. It ripens the earth and generates gold, silver, copper, and the rest of the bodies. It matures stones, solidifies, and hardens. It produces various and transparent bodies, along with other powers and many operations of wonder that it performs. Behold, it ripens fruits, matures seeds, raises, and nourishes. And it brings everything to existence. It collects and dries up moisture and putrefaction. It purifies the corruptions, the impurities, and the turbidity that are in creation. And as it is said, nothing is hidden from its heat, because in all the climates of this world its power enters and acts. And where there are northern regions, its rays are not able to reach them, but through the reflection from another side and through the air, its power enters those places. And in the inner and very deep places, and in the earth down below, it descends, penetrates, and exerts the power of the sun as far as the limit of one parasang, which makes four miles. Thus also in the air above, one parasang acts and no more, because its power is impeded by the coldness of the air and the northern winds. And in that which has no earth or body, when its rays are able to reach it, they are able and are impeded, but with them they are impeded and their operation becomes small when they come and the rest.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܓܝܓܠܐ ܕܡܘܙܠܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'circle of the zodiac' translates a Syriac calque of Greek ζῳδιακός κύκλος, standard in Syriac astronomical texts.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The claim that the sun generates metals (gold, silver, copper) reflects late antique alchemical theory, common in Syriac encyclopedic works.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage concludes a causal chain: the sun's approach and recession cause seasonal changes, which in turn affect all terrestrial and subterranean processes.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The limitation of solar heat to one parasang (four miles) in air and earth echoes a similar claim in the Syriac 'Cave of Treasures' and other cosmological works.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The final clause on rays being 'impeded' is textually uncertain; the Syriac may be corrupt or elliptical, making the precise mechanism unclear.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'ܘܡܬܪܚܩܢܘܼܬܗ' could mean either 'recession' or 'distance' of the sun; the translation takes 'recession' as contextually appropriate.","The final clause on rays being 'impeded' is syntactically ambiguous in Syriac, possibly reflecting a lacuna or scribal error."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":28,"ref":"p28","source":"ܘܟܕ ܢ݀ܚܬ ܗܼܘ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܠܓܘܼܢܝܐ ܬܝܡܢ݀ܝܬܐ܆ ܡܫܚܢ ܠܦܢܝܼܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܕܠܗܠ ܡܼܢ ܡܨܥܬܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ. ܘܥܒܕ ܬܡܿܢ ܩܝܛܐ. ܘܠܢ ܚܢܢ ܣܬܘܐ. ܘܬܘܼܒ ܟܕ ܠܢ ܩܝܛܐ ܗܿܘܐ. ܠܗܿܢܘܢ ܣܬܘܐ ܐܝܬܘ̄. ܡܛܠ ܡܬܼܪܚܩܢܘܼـܐ ܕܡܢܼܗܘܢ. ܘܐܢ ܐܝܼـ ܒܗܿܝ ܦܢܝܼܬܐ ܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ\nܐܘܿ ܬܘܼܒ ܚܝ̈ܘܬܐ ܝ݀ܕܥܝܼܢܢ. ܘܠܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܝܒܫܐ ܐܘܿ ܝܡܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܥܡ ܝܡ̈ܡܐ ܘܩܒܝ̈ܬܐ ܕܒܗܿ ܒܟܿܠܗ ܐܣܦܝܪܢܝܘܼܬܗܿ ܡܦܠܓܐ ܚܡܫ ܡܢܘ̈ܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܐܣܟܡܐ ܗܢܐ ܕܪܫܡܝܼܢܢ ܗܪܟܐ\nPICTURE ON PAGE 241\nܗܿܫܐ ܣܒ ܒܗܘܢܐ ܐܝܟ ܐܣܟܡܐ ܗܿܢܐ. ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܐܪܥܐ ܓܠܝܼܠܬܐ ܐܣܦܝܪܢܿܝܬܐ. ܘܦܠܓܗܿ ܚܡܫ ܡܢܘ̈ܢ. ܚܕܐ ܡܼܨܥ݀ܝܬܐ. ܘܐ̱ܚܪܬܐ ܡܼܢ ܓܪܒܝܗܿ. ܘܐ̱ܚܪܬܐ ܡܼܢ ܬܝܡܢܗܿ. ܘܬܪ̈ܬܝܢ ܐܚܪ̈ܢܝܬܐ ܙܘܝ̈ܬܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ. ܘܗܿܝ ܓܪܒܝܝܬܐ ܕܬܚܝܼܬ ܦܘܠܠܘܿܣ ܓܪܒܝܝܐ. ܘܗܿܝ ܬܝܡܢܝܬܐ ܕܬܚܝܼܬ ܦܘܠܠܘܣ ܬܝܡܢܝܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܬܼܚܙܐ ܠܢ܆ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܚܫܘܼܟܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܚܿܙܝܐ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܡܼܢ ܪ̈ܘܡܐ ܕܐܣܦܝܼܪܘܼܢܝܘܬܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ. ܘܐܦ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܩܪܝܪܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܡܼܢ ܪܚܝܼܩܘܼܬܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܡܼܢܗܿ. ܘܐܢ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܐܪܥܐ ܝܒܝܼܫܬܐ ܐܘܿ ܝܡܐ܆ ܠܐ ܣܟ ܝ݀ܕܥ ܐ̱ܢܫ. ܐܠܐ ܐܢ ܢܗܼܘܐ ܢܒܝܐ ܘܚܿܙܐ ܒܪܘܼܚܐ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܘܝ݀ܕܥ ܟܣܝ̈ܬܐ܀ ܘܠܟܐ ܡܢܗܿ ܐܝܼܬ ܦܢܝܼܬܐ ܬܝܡܢ݀ܝܬܐ ܕܠܗܠ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܗܿܝ ܝܿܩܕܬܐ ܘܠܐ ܡܼܬܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ. ܘܡܛܠ ܡܥܒܪܬܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ. ܘܙ݀ܕܩ ܕܬܗܼܘܐ ܦܢܝܼܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܕܠܗܠ ܡܼܢ ܡܨܥܬܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܡܡܙܓܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܗܿܕܐ ܦܢܝܼܬܐ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܬܐ ܕܥܡܪܝܼܢܢ ܒܗܿ. ܘܡܦܠܓܐ ܫܒܥܐ ܩܠܝܼܡ̈ܐ. ܘܣܬܘܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ ܩܝܛܐ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܠܘܬܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܡܬܼܩܪܒܢܘܼܬܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܠܘܬܢ ܘܡܬܪܚܩܢܘܼܬܗ ܕܡܼܢ ܬܡܿܢ. ܘܗܟܘܬ ܣܬܘܐ ܕܠܘܬܢ ܩܝܛܐ ܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܬܡܿܢ.","english":"And when the sun descends into the southern region, it passes to the side that is beyond the middle of the earth, and makes summer there, and winter here. And again, when summer is not there, winter is there, because of its distance from them. And if there is in that region inhabited land, or again animals that are known, and there is no dry land or sea, because the whole earth together with the seas and gulfs that are in it, in its entire sphere, is divided into five hundred parts according to this scheme that is depicted here.\n\nNow take in thought according to this scheme: that the earth is a round sphere, and its division is five hundred parts: one middle, another with its north, another with its south, and two other corners of the earth: the northern one that is under the north pole, and the southern one that is under the south pole, which is not visible to us, because it is darkness that does not see the sun on account of the heights of the sphericity of the earth; and it is also very cold because of the distance of the sun from it. And whether that earth is dry land or sea, no man knows; but if a prophet were to come and see by the spirit of God, he would know the hidden things. And there, beyond the earth, is the southern region, which is burning and uninhabitable. And because of the passage of the sun, it is fitting that the region beyond the middle of the earth be temperate, like this northern region that is inhabited. And it is divided into seven climates. And winter there is summer here, because of the approach of the sun to it and its distance from here. And thus winter here is summer there.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܣܦܝܪܢܝܘܼܬܗܿ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܐܣܦܝܪܢܝܘܼܬܗܿ (sphericity) is a loan from Greek σφαιρικότης, used here to describe the earth's spherical shape, a concept inherited from Greek cosmology.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The division of the earth into five hundred parts and the reference to seven climates reflect late antique geographical schemata, possibly derived from Ptolemaic or Syriac adaptations of Greek science.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the explanation of seasonal causation by the sun's motion, now introducing a diagram (the 'scheme depicted here') and a speculative discussion of the southern hemisphere's habitability.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text at the end of the passage is ambiguous: 'winter there is summer here' could be read as a symmetrical claim about opposite seasons, but the preceding logic suggests the author may be conflating two different regions.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'if there is in that region inhabited land, or again animals that are known' leaves unclear whether the author is speculating about the southern hemisphere or referring to a known equatorial zone.","The reference to a 'prophet' knowing hidden things may be a rhetorical concession to theological authority rather than a claim of actual prophetic knowledge."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":29,"ref":"p29","source":"ܒܪܡ ܕܝܢ [ܐܢ] ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܝܒܝܼܫܬܐ. ܐܘܿ ܝܡܐ ܣܟ ܠܐ ܝܿܕܥܝܼܢܢ. ܐܠܐ ܐܢ ܥ݀ܡܪܝܢ ܒܗܿ ܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ ܐܘܿ ܬܘܼܒ ܚܝ̈ܘܬܐ. ܐܠܐ ܡܛ݀ ܕܠܐ ܡܼܨܝܐ ܠܒܪܢܫܐ ܕܢܥܼܒܪ ܒܐܪܥܐ ܗܿܝ ܝ݀ܩܕܬܐ ܘܚܠܢܝܼܬܐ ܕܠܝܬ ܒܗܿ ܣܟ ܥܣܼܒܐ ܐܘܿ ܐܝܼܠܢܐ. ܐܦܠܐ ܛܘܼܪ̈ܐ ܐܘܿ ܪ̈ܡܬܐ. ܐܠܐ ܡܕܒܪܐ ܨܕܝܐ ܘܝܩܝܼܕܐ ܕܡܫܼܬܠܗܒ ܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ ܡܼܢ ܐܡܝܼܢܘܼܬܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܕܥ݀ܒܪ ܥܠܘܗܝ. ܘܥܡܪܝܢ ܒܗ ܬܢܝܼ̈ܢܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܐ. ܘܒܐܝܼܡܡܐ ܢܿܚܬܝܢ ܒܚܘܼܠ̈ܢܐ ܥܡܝܼ̈ܩܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ. ܘܒܠܠܝܐ ܢ݀ܦܩܢ ܘܒܿܠܥܝܢ ܚܕ ܠܚܕ. ܘܐܝܼܡܡܐ ܘܠܠܝܐ ܫ݀ܘܝܢ ܐܢܘܢ ܒܗܿ ܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܡܼܨܥܬܗܿ ܕܐܣܦܪܐ. ܘܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܬ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܠܥܼܠ ܡܢܗܿ ܥ݀ܒܪ ܟܕ ܡܼܬܟܪܟ ܥܡ ܡܘܙܠܬܐ. ܘܐܦ ܡܼܨܛܠܐ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܠܟܐ ܘܠܗܠ ܒܩܝܛܐ ܘܒܣܿܬܘܐ. ܐܠܐ ܩܪܝܼܒ ܘܠܐ ܥܿܒܕ ܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܣܿܓܝ. ܒܪܡ ܒܦܢܝܼܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܕܠܥܠ ܡܢܗܿ ܕܡܨܥܬܗܿ ܕܐܣܦܝܼܪܐ ܡܼܢ ܬܝܡܢܗܿ܆ ܐܝܟ ܕܠܘܬܢ. ܗܿܟܢ ܓ݀ܕܫܝܢ ܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܝܗܿ ܩܝ̈ܛܝܐ ܘܣܬܘ̈ܝܐ ܘܬܐܕܢ̈ܝܐ ܘܫܬܪ̈ܝܢܝܐ. ܘܠܝ̈ܠܘܬܐ. ܘܐܝܼܡ̈ܡܐ. ܒܪܡ ܣܿܒܪܝܼܢܢ ܕܩܝܛܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ ܝܬܝܪ ܚܡܝܼܡ ܡܼܢ ܩܝܛܐ ܕܠܘܬܢ. ܡܛܠ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܒܬܚܘܼ̈ܡܐ ܬܚ̈ܬܝܐ ܕܪܩܝܼܥܗ ܪܕܐ ܒܗܿܘ ܙܒܢܐ ܕܣܬܘܐ ܕܠܘܬܢ ܘܩܝܛܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ. ܘܬܘܼܒ ܐܦ ܣܬܘܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ ܝܬܝܪ ܩܪܝܼܪ ܡܼܢ ܣܬܘܐ ܕܠܘܬܢ. ܡܛܠ ܕܒܙܒܢ ܣܬܘܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ ܕܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܩܝܛܐ ܕܠܘܬܢ܆ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܫܬܚܘܼ̈ܡܐ ܥܠܼ̈ܝܐ ܕܪܩܝܼܥܐ ܕܝܠܗ ܪܕܐ ܘܗܿܘܐ ܪܡ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܘܪܚܝܼܩ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ. ܘܐܠܘ ܠܐ ܕܗܟܢ ܪܡ ܗܘܼܐ ܡܢܢ ܒܙܒܢ ܩܝܛܐ. ܣܿܒܪ ܐܢܼܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܿܨܝܢܼ ܠܡܐܚܐ ܡܼܢ ܚܘܼܡܐ ܥܙܝܼܙܐ ܕܡܘܩܕ ܗܘܼܐ ܠܢ.","english":"But as for whether it is dry land or sea, we do not know. However, if there are inhabitants there, whether humans or animals, it is because it is impossible for the intellect to cross that burning and scorching land, in which there is no grass or tree, nor mountains or heights, but a dry and burning desert that is inflamed equally with the heat of the sun that passes over it. And great dragons dwell in it; by day they hide in the deep hollows of the earth, and by night they come out and devour one another. And day and night are equal there, because it is the middle of the sphere. And the sun always passes above it as it revolves with the zodiac, and it inclines slightly to and fro in summer and winter, but it is near and does not produce a great change. However, in the region above the middle of the sphere towards its south, as with us, there occur its changes of summer and winter, spring and autumn, and nights and days. But we think that the summer there is hotter than the summer with us, because the sun runs in the lower limits of its firmament at the time of winter with us and summer there. And again, the winter there is colder than the winter with us, because at the time of winter there, which is summer with us, the sun runs in the upper limits of its firmament and is very high and far from the earth. And if it were not so high at the time of summer, I think it would not be able to withstand the intense heat that would burn it.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܢܝܼ̈ܢܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'great dragons' (tannīnē rawrəbē) are mythical serpents or sea monsters, here placed in the equatorial desert. The detail that they hide by day and devour each other by night is a folkloric motif, not a scientific claim.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"ܐܣܦܪܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'sphere' (esferā) refers to the celestial sphere of ancient cosmology. The author uses a spherical model of the earth with climatic zones, a concept inherited from Greek astronomy via Syriac intermediaries.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܡܘܙܠܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The term mawzaltā (zodiac) is a Syriac loan from Greek ζῳδιακός. It denotes the band of the sky through which the sun moves, here linked to the sun's annual north-south oscillation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the description of the southern equatorial region, contrasting it with the temperate zone 'with us'. It forms part of a systematic geographical excursus in Book 6.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܢ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text has a scribal insertion or correction: ܕܝܢ [ܐܢ] ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ. The bracketed ܐܢ ('or') may be a gloss or a variant reading; the sense is not affected.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'if there are inhabitants there' is hypothetical; the author does not commit to actual human habitation of the equatorial zone.","The 'great dragons' may be a literal belief or a literary trope; the text does not clarify."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":30,"ref":"p30","source":"ܘܗܟܘܬ ܬܘܼܒ ܒܣܬܘܐ܆ ܐܠܘܼܠܐ ܕܢܿܚܬ ܗܘܼܐ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܘܗܿܘܐ ܩܪܝܼܒ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܫܚܢ ܠܗܿ ܣܿܓܝܼ܆ ܘܐܠܐ ܐܦܠܐ ܗܿܟܢ ܡܿܨܝܢܼ ܗܘܼܝܢ ܠܡܐܚܐ܆ ܡܼܢ ܩܘܼܪܐ ܬܩܝܼܦܐ. ܘܥܠܗܿܝ ܫܿܚܢܝܢ ܥܘܼܒ̈ܝܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܘܥܝ̈ܢܬܐ ܘܡܒ̈ܘܥܐ ܒܣܬܘܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܩܪܝܼܒ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܘܡܫܚܢ ܠܗܿ ܡܼܢ ܬܝܡܢܐ. ܘܠܘܬܢ ܡܿܝܚܐ ܠܗܿ ܩܪܝܼܪܘܼܬܐ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܠ. ܘܚܿܒܫܐ ܠܗܿ ܠܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܒܓܘ ܥܘܼܒܗܿ܀ ܘܒܝܕ ܗܕܐ ܐܫܼܬܿܪܪܢܢ ܕܠܐ ܡܼܬܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܦܢܝܼܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܬܝܡܢܿܝܬܐ. ܡܛܠ ܕܩܝܛܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܚܡܝܼܡ. ܘܣܬܘܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ ܝܬܝܼܪ ܩܪܝܼܪ. ܘܐܠܘܼܠܐ ܕܗܿܠܝܢ ܦܘܼܪ̈ܣܐ ܐܠܗ̈ܝܐ. ܐܦܠܐ\nܦܢܝܼܬܐ ܗܕܐ ܡܼܨܝܐ ܗܘܼܬ݀ ܕܢܼܥܡܪ ܒܗܿ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܐܘܿ ܚܝܘܼܬܐ ܐ̱ܚܪܬܐ. ܐܠܐ ܒܝܕ ܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬܐ ܡܡܙܓܬܐ ܘܩܪܝܼܪܘܼܬܐ ܡܡܫܚܬܐ. ܦܪܢܣ ܘܛܟܣ ܠܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܬܗܝܼܪܐܝܬ. ܗܿܘ ܚܟܝܼܡ ܒܟܿܠ. ܘܟܿܠܗܿ ܡܬܼܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ ܐܬܼܬܚܡܬ݀ ܒܗܕܐ ܡܢܿܬܐ ܕܣܝܼܡܐ ܡܨܥܬ ܓܪܒܝܐ ܒܝܢܬ݀ ܐܪܥܐ ܝܩܝܼܕܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܕܒܡܨܥܬܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܬܚܝܼܬ ܫܡܼܫܐ. ܘܠܗܿܝ ܙܘܿܝܼܬܐ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܬܐ ܘܚܼܫܘܼܟܬܐ ܕܬܚܝܼܬ ܦܘܠܠܘܣ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܐ. ܒܗܕܐ ܡܢܿܬܐ ܡܦܠܓܝܢ ܫܒܥܐ ܚܒ̈ܠܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܩܠܝܼܡ̈ܐ. ܘܒܗܘܢ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܡܬܼܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ. ܘܡܬܚܡܐ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܒܥ ܦܼܢܝ̈ܬܗܿ. ܘܠܐ ܣܟ ܡܼܨܝܐ ܕܢܥܒܪ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܡܢ ܬܚܘܼ̈ܡܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܠܐ ܡܬܼܥܒܪ̈ܢܐ. ܡܼܢ ܡܕܢܚܐ ܡܿܢ ܐܝܼܬ ܠܗܠ ܡܼܢ ܐܬܪܐ ܕܨܝܢ ܥܒ̈ܐ ܥܒܝܼ̈ܛܐ ܕܣܟ ܠܐ ܡܼܨܝܐ ܠܡܼܥܒܪ ܐܢܘܢ. ܘܡܼܢ ܡܥܪܒܐ ܕܝܢ ܣܝܼܡ ܐܘܩܝܐܢܘܣ ܝܡܐ ܪܒܐ ܘܠܐ ܡܬܼܥܒܪܢܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܓܪܒܝܐ ܬܘܼܒ ܐܝܼܬ ܐܬܪܐ ܗܿܘ ܚܫܘܼܟܐ ܘܩܪܝܼܪܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܬܝܡܢܐ ܐܪܥܐ ܝܩܝܼܕܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܡܨܥܬܐ ܕܐܣܦܪܐ ܕܠܥܠ ܡܢܗܿ ܥ݀ܒܪ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ.","english":"And likewise in winter, if the sun did not descend and come near to the earth and warm it greatly, then even so it would not be possible to take food because of the severe cold. And because of this, the depths of the earth, the caves, and the springs are warm in winter, because the sun is near to the earth and warms it from the south, and it removes the coldness from it from above, and it confines the heat within its depth. And by this it is established that the southern region is uninhabitable, because the summer there is very hot and the winter there is extremely cold. And if it were not for these divine provisions, even this region would not be able to be inhabited by a human or any other animal. But by means of mixed heat and tempered cold, it has providentially arranged and ordered the seasons. He is wise in all things. And the entire inhabited world is bounded by this measure of the temperate zone, situated between the north and the burning land which is in the middle of the earth under the sun, and the northern and dark region under the northern pole. By this measure are divided the seven climes, that is, the climates. And in them is the entire inhabited world, and it is bounded by its four regions. And no one can pass beyond these impassable boundaries: from the east, there is a land of thick clouds which no one can cross; from the west, the Ocean, the great sea, is placed, which is impassable; from the north, there is that dark and cold region; and from the south, the burning land which is the middle of the upper sphere, over which the sun passes directly.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܦܘܼܪ̈ܣܐ ܐܠܗ̈ܝܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'divine provisions' (Syriac ܦܘܼܪ̈ܣܐ ܐܠܗ̈ܝܐ) denotes providential arrangements, a key concept in the work's cosmological argument for a wise creator.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܚܒ̈ܠܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܩܠܝܼܡ̈ܐ","severity":"info","text":"The 'seven climes' (Syriac ܫܒܥܐ ܚܒ̈ܠܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܩܠܝܼܡ̈ܐ) reflect the classical Greek division of the inhabited world into latitudinal zones, adopted in Syriac geographical lore.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of the southern region as uninhabitable due to extreme heat and cold, and the northern region as dark and cold, draws on ancient climatic theory (e.g., the five zones of Parmenides and Aristotle), mediated through Syriac sources.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage concludes the discussion of the earth's habitability by delimiting the inhabited world with four impassable boundaries (east, west, north, south), forming a structural climax in the cosmological exposition.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The notion of a 'burning land' (Syriac ܐܪܥܐ ܝܩܝܼܕܬܐ) under the sun parallels the torrid zone in classical geography, as in Ptolemy's 'Geography' and later Syriac adaptations.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac term ܦܘܠܠܘܣ (pwlws) is ambiguous: it may refer to the 'pole' (from Greek πόλος) or to 'Paul'; the context of 'northern pole' supports the former reading.","The phrase 'middle of the upper sphere' (Syriac ܡܨܥܬܐ ܕܐܣܦܪܐ ܕܠܥܠ) could be interpreted as the celestial equator or the ecliptic; the passage aligns it with the sun's path, suggesting the ecliptic."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":31,"ref":"p31","source":"ܘܕܥ ܠܟ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܠܐ ܡܼܨܝܐ ܕܢܕܢܚ ܥܠ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܥܿܡܪܬܐ ܫܘܝܐܝܼܬ ܒܚܕ ܥܕܢܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܐܣܦܪܢܝܘܼܬܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ. ܘܛܠܼܠܐ ܕܨܠܝܐ ܕܪܘܡܐ ܕܓܠܝܼܠܘܼܬܗܿ. ܘܟܕ ܗܿܘܐ ܨܦܪܐ ܒܗܿܘ ܨܝܢ܆ ܒܡܕܝ ܘܒܐܬܘܪ܆ ܥܕܟܝܠ ܦܠܓܗ ܕܠܠܝܐ ܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܠܘܬܢ ܘܒܡܥܪܒܐ ܒܐܣܦܢܝܐ ܓܘܝܬܐ ܪܡܫܐ. ܘܬܘܼܒ ܗܿܦܟܐ ܗܟܘܬ ܘܠܝܬ ܕܘܼܟܬܐ ܕܩܪܝܼܒ ܠܗܿ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܝܬܝܪ ܡܼܢ ܚܒܪܬܗܿ. ܐܠܐ ܐܟܡܐ ܕܪܡ ܡܼܢܢ ܟܕ ܩܿܐܡ ܠܥܠ ܡܼܢ ܪܫܢ ܒܦܠܓܗ ܕܝܘܡܐ܆ ܗܟܢܐ ܪܡ ܒܟܿܠ ܕܘܼܟܐ ܟܕ ܩܿܐܡ ܠܥܠ ܡܢܗܿ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܣܝܼܡܐ ܒܡܨܥܬ݀ ܐܐܪ ܘܬܠܝܐ ܒܪܡܼܙܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܐܝܟ ܦܪܚܬܐ ܒܐܐܪ ܘܚܕܝܼܪ ܠܗܿ ܐܐܪ ܡܬܼܟܪܟܢܐܝܼܬ ܟܕ ܚܿܕܪܐ܆ ܐܝܟ ܚܘܪܐ ܕܒܥܬܐ ܠܡܘܼܩܪܐ. ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܠܥܼܠ ܐܡܼܪܢܢ ܘܥܕܟܝܠ ܐ݀ܡܪܝܼܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܬܚܼܬ.ܗܿܫܐ ܐܫܼܬܪܪܢܢ ܕܚܕܐ ܡܢܿܬܐ ܡܼܢ ܚܡܫ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܡܼܬܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ ܠܚܘܼܕ. ܘܗܢ ܐܪܒܥ ܣܦܝܼܩ̈ܬܐ ܘܠܐ ܡܼܬܥܡܪ̈ܢܝܬܐ. ܬܪ̈ܬܝܢ ܡܿܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܙܘܝ̈ܬܐ ܚܫܘܼܟ̈ܬܐ ܘܩܪ̈ܝܪܬܐ. ܗܿܝ ܓܪܒܝܝܬܐ ܘܗܿܝ ܬܝܡܢܿܝܬܐ. ܕܫܘܝܐܝܼܬ ܚܫܘܼܟ̈ܢ ܘܩܪܝܼܪ̈ܢ ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܼܪܢܢ. ܘܗܿܝ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܬܐ ܝܬܝܪ ܩܪܝܼܪܐ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܪܡܘܿܬܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܒܙܒܐ ܩܝܛܝܐ. ܒܪܡ ܠܐ ܡܿܬܚ ܐܬܪܐ ܚܼܫܘܼܟܐ ܡܼܢ ܓܪܒܝܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܐܝܟ ܬܝܡܢܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠܕܟܕ ܡܼܬܥܠܐ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܠܬܚܘܼ̈ܡܐ ܥܼ̈ܠܝܐ ܕܪܩܝܼܥܗ ܒܣܪܛܢܐ. ܚܿܪܐ ܝܬܝܪ ܠܩܕܡܐ ܒܐܬܪܐ ܗܿܘ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܐ ܡܼܢ ܬܝܡܢܐ ܕܝܢ ܟܕ ܢ݀ܚܬ ܠܓܕܝܐ. ܪܕܐ ܒܬܚܘܼ̈ܡܐ ܬܚ̈ܬܝܐ ܕܪܩܝܼܥܗ ܘܗܿܘܐ ܡܟܝܼܟ ܘܩܪܝܼܒ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܝܬܝܪ ܡܼܢ ܟܕ ܗܿܘܐ ܒܣܪܛܢܐ. ܘܡܫܚܢ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܝܬܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ ܘܠܐ ܡܼܨܝܐ ܕܢܚܘܼܪ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܥܠ ܐܬܪܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܙܘܿܝܼܬܐ ܬܝܡܢܝܬܐ. ܘܗܿܘܐ ܐܬܪܐ ܗܿܘ ܚܫܘܼܟܐ ܝܬܝܪ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܡܼܢ ܓܪܒܝܐ.","english":"Know that the sun is not able to shine equally over the whole inhabited world at one time, because of the sphericity of the earth and the shadow of the inclination of the height of its curvature. And when it is morning in that region, in Media and Assyria, then the middle of the night is with us, and in the west, in Spain, it is evening. And again, the opposite is likewise, and there is no place to which the sun is nearer than to its neighbor. But as high as it rises when it stands above the head at midday, so high it rises in every place when it stands above it, because the earth is placed in the middle of the air and is suspended by the command of God like a bird in the air, and the air surrounds it in a revolving manner as it turns, like the pupil of an eye in its socket. Thus, as above it is said, and still it is said, as below. Now it is established that one fifth of the earth is habitable, and the other four are empty and uninhabitable. Two of these are the dark and cold zones, the northern and the southern, which are equally dark and cold, as has been said. And the northern is colder because of the height of the sun in summer. However, the region of darkness is not much greater in the north than in the south, because when the sun ascends to the upper boundaries of the firmament in Cancer, it lingers more over the northern region; but in the south, when it descends to Capricorn, it passes through the lower boundaries of the firmament and is low and nearer to the earth than when it is in Cancer, and it warms the earth more, and it is not able to shine much upon that southern zone. And that region is much darker than the north.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܣܦܪܢܝܘܼܬܗܿ","severity":"info","text":"The term 'sphericity' (from Greek σφαιρικότης) is a technical borrowing used to describe the earth's roundness, a concept inherited from Greek cosmology.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"Media and Assyria","severity":"info","text":"The reference to Media and Assyria as eastern regions reflects the geographical perspective of the Syriac author, situating the inhabited world relative to a Mediterranean or Mesopotamian center.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"Spain","severity":"info","text":"Spain (ܐܣܦܢܝܐ) is mentioned as the western limit of the known world, consistent with late antique geographical knowledge.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the argument from the previous section on seasonal solar behavior, now addressing diurnal variation and global climate zones.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܦܪܚܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The simile of the earth suspended 'like a bird in the air' (ܐܝܟ ܦܪܚܬܐ ܒܐܐܪ) is a distinctive image for the earth's position, possibly derived from earlier Syriac cosmological traditions.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"Cancer and Capricorn","severity":"info","text":"The references to Cancer (ܣܪܛܢܐ) and Capricorn (ܓܕܝܐ) as solstitial points reflect the use of zodiacal terminology for astronomical description, common in Syriac scientific texts.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The precise meaning of 'shadow of the inclination of the height of its curvature' (ܛܠܼܠܐ ܕܨܠܝܐ ܕܪܘܡܐ ܕܓܠܝܼܠܘܼܬܗܿ) is ambiguous; it likely refers to the effect of the earth's curvature on sunlight distribution."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":32,"ref":"p32","source":"ܒܪܡ ܠܐ ܗܿܘܐ ܩܪܝܪ ܐܝܟ ܗܿܘ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܩܪܝܼܒܘܼܬܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܠܐܪܥܐ. ܒܗܿܝ ܕܡܫܚܢ ܠܗܿ ܝܬܝܪ. ܘܡܿܛܐ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܫܚܝܼܢܘ̄ ܥܕܡܐ\nܠܬܡܿܢ. ܒܗܿܝ ܕܒܣܬܘܐ ܕܝܼܠܢ ܕܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܩܝܛܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ. ܗܿܘܐ ܩܪܝܼܒ ܠܙܘܝܼܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܬܝܡܢܝܬܐ ܘܠܐ ܗܿܘܝܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܩܪܝܼܪܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܓܪܒܝܼܝܼܬܐ ܒܗܿܘ ܙܒܢܐ. ܒܪܡ ܒܩܝܛܐ ܕܝܼܠܢ܆ ܕܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܣܬܘܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ. ܝܬܝܪ ܗܘܿܝܐ [ܩܪܝܪܬܐ] ܙܘܿܝܬܐ ܗܿܝ ܬܝܡܢܝܬܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܡܼܬܥܠܝܢܘܼܬܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ. ܐܟܡܐ ܕܐܦ ܐܬܪܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܠܟܐ ܡܢܗܿ ܗܿܘ ܕܒܝܬ ܠܗ ܘܠܐܪܥܐ ܝܩܝܼܕܬܐ ܣܝܡ. ܒܩܝܛܐ ܕܝܼܠܢ ܕܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܣܬܘܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ ܝܬܝܪ ܩܪܝܼܪ ܣܬܘܐ ܗܿܘ ܡܼܢ ܣܬܘܐ ܕܗܿܘܐ ܠܘܬܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܡܬܥܠܝܢܘܼܬܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ. ܘܐܦ ܩܝܛܐ ܕܬܡܿܢ ܣܿܓܝ ܚܡܝܼܡ ܡܼܢ ܩܝܛܐ ܕܝܼܠܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܡܼܬܢܚܬܢܘܼܬܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ. ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܬܘܼܒ ܐܡܼܪܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܼܠ. ܘܡܛ݀ܠ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐ܆ ܠܐ ܡܼܬܥܡܪܢ ܗܿܘ ܐܬܪܐ ܗܿܘ. ܘܐܢ ܟܝ ܘܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܝܒܝܼܫܐ܀ ܘܗܕܐ ܡܢܬܐ ܕܡܼܬܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܚܕܐ ܡܼܢ ܚܡܫ ܡܢ̈ܘܢ ܕܐܦ̈ܝ ܐܪܥܐ. ܗ̄ ܕܦܠܓܘܼܬܗܿ ܕܐܣܦܝܼܪܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܠܥܼܠ. ܗܿܢܐ ܕܠܘܬܢ ܕܝܼܠܢ ܡܣܼܬܒܪ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܠܼ. ܐܠܐ ܒܐܪܥܐ ܠܝܬ ܠܥܠ ܘܠܬܚܼܬ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܐܣܦܝܼܪܢܝܘܼܬܗܿ ܕܡܘܠܙܬܐ. ܕܐܡܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ ܡܼܬܟܪܟ ܠܥܠ ܡܢܗܿ ܚܘܼܕܪܢܐܝܼܬ. ܟܿܠܗܿ ܐܪܥܐ ܠܬܼܚܬ ܡܬܼܐܡܪܐ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܠܓܘ ܒܡܨܥܬܐ. ܘܗܿܘ ܓܒܐ ܕܐܦ̈ܝܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܕܠܩܘܼܒܠܢ܆ ܕܐܦ ܗܼܘ ܚܿܐܪ ܠܘܬ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܐܟܘܬܢ܆ ܘܗܟܢܐ ܪܡ ܘܡܥܠܝ ܡܢܗ ܐܝܟ ܕܡܼܢ ܠܘܬܢ ܫܘܝܐܝܼܬ. ܐܢ ܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܝܡܐ ܐܘܿ ܝܒܫܐ ܠܐ ܝܿܕܥܝܢܢ. ܘܐܢ ܒܗܕܐ ܡܢܿܬܐ ܡܡܙܓܬܐ ܕܠܘܼܩܒܠ ܗܕܐ ܡܬܼܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ ܕܝܠܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܬܼܚܬ ܠܩܘܼܒܠܢ. ܐܢ ܥܿܡܪ ܒܗܿ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܐܘܿ ܬܘܼܒ ܡܕܡ ܐ̱ܚܪܝܢ ܠܐ ܝ݀ܕܥܝܼܢܢ.","english":"Nevertheless, it is not cold as it is due to the proximity of the sun to the earth, because it heats it more, and the power of its heat reaches even to the south. For in the winter of our region, which is the summer of the south, that southern region is near to the angle and is not very cold like the northern region at that time. But in the summer of our region, which is the winter of the south, that southern region is colder, because of the elevation of the sun, just as that region which is opposite it, which is between it and the burning earth, is situated. In the summer of our region, which is the winter of the south, that winter is colder than the winter which is with us, because of the elevation of the sun. And also the summer of the south is very hot compared to the summer of our region, because of the lowness of the sun, as will be said further on. And because of these changes, that region is not inhabited, but rather it is dry. And this inhabited portion, which is one of the five parts of the face of the earth, is the half of the sphere which is above, that is, that which is with us, as will be understood further on. But in the earth there is no above and below because of the sphericity of the globe, which uniformly revolves above it in a circular manner. The whole earth is said to be below, as it were, in the middle. And that side of the face of the earth which is opposite, which also looks toward the sun like us, and thus is high and elevated from it as it is with us equally. Whether there is sea or dry land, it is not known. And whether in this temperate portion opposite this inhabited portion of ours below, whether men dwell there or again anything else, it is not known.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage explains climatic variation between northern and southern hemispheres due to the sun's proximity and elevation, concluding that the southern region is uninhabited and dry.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܡܬܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܡܬܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ (inhabited portion) refers to the oikoumenē, the known inhabited world, here described as one of five parts of the earth's face.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The five-part division of the earth's face reflects late antique geographical models, possibly from Ptolemaic or Syriac adaptations, where only one part is habitable.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative of Book 6, following a discussion of solar illumination and earth's sphericity, and anticipates further explanation of the sun's motion.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text contains a lacuna or uncertain reading at ܝܬܝܪ ܗܘܿܝܐ [ܩܪܝܪܬܐ] ܙܘܿܝܬܐ, where the bracketed word is supplied editorially; the sense of 'colder' is inferred from context.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The text does not specify whether the 'opposite temperate portion' is actually inhabited; it leaves open the possibility of sea or dry land and of human or other habitation."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":33,"ref":"p33","source":"ܘܗܿܟܢ ܦܠܓ ܒܗܘܢܟ ܠܗܿܘ ܓܒܐ ܐ̱ܚܪܢܐ ܕܐܦ̈ܝܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܚܡܫ ܡܢ̈ܘܢ ܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܝܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܒܟܿܠ ܡܕܡ ܫܘܬ܇ ܐܝܟ ܕܢܗ̈ܘܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܥܣܪ ܡܢ̈ܘܢ. ܘܗܕܐ ܡܬܼܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ ܕܝܼܠܢ ܚܕܐ ܡܢܿܬܐ ܡܼܢ ܥܣܼܪܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܠܚܘܕ. ܣܡ̈ܡܐ ܕܝܢ ܥܡ ܐܪ̈ܥܐ ܚܒܝܼܫܝܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܕܥܡ ܐܣܦܪܢܝܘܼܬܗܿ ܐܘܟܝܼܬ ܓܠܝܼܠܘܼܬܗܿ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܡܬܚܡܝܼܢ. ܘܝܡܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܪܒ ܘܪܘܝܼܚ ܡܼܢ ܝܫܒܐ. ܡܛ݀ ܕܐܝܟ ܓܙܪܬܐ ܒܝܡܐ܆ ܡܛ݀ܠ [ܕܪܡܐ] ܡܼܢ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܓܠܝܐ ܘܡܼܬܚܙܝܐ. ܗܿܟܢܐ ܐܣܼܒܪ ܥܠ ܐܪܥܐ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܕܚܕܝܼܪܝܢ ܠܗܿ ܡܝ̈ܐ ܕܝܡ̈ܡܐ. ܘܕܘܼܟ̈ܝܬܐ ܕܪ̈ܡܢ܆ ܓܠ̈ܝܢ ܘܡܬܼܚܙ̈ܝܢ. ܘܐܝܟܐ ܕܗܘܼܐ ܦܘܼܪܣܐ ܘܡܡܙܓܘܼܬܐ ܬܡܿܢ ܗܘܼܐ ܥܡܘܼܪܝܐ ܠܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ ܘܠܚܝ̈ܘܬܐ. ܐܘܿ ܐܬܚܫ̱ܒ ܥܠ ܐܪܥܐ ܙܢܼܐ ܐ̱ܚܪܢܐ. ܣܒ ܒܗܘܢܟ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܐܪܥܐ ܥܡ ܝܡ̈ܡܐ ܕܒܗܿ ܐܣܦܪܢܝܬܐ ܓܠܝܼܠܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܒܛܢܟܐ ܓܠܝܼܠܬܐ. ܘܡܬܘܼܚ ܥܠܝܗܿ ܒܗܘܢܟ ܥܪ̈ܩܬܐ. ܚܕܐ ܡܿܢ ܥܪܩܬܐ ܥܠ ܡܨܥܬܗܿ ܟܕ ܚܿܕܪܐ. ܗܿܕܐ ܡܿܢ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܗܿܝ ܕܬܚܝܼܬ ܫܡܼܫܐ. ܘܥܪܩܬܐ ܐ̱ܚܪܬܐ ܡܼܢ ܬܝܡܢܗܿ ܕܡܨܥܬܐ ܐܦ ܗܕܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܠܐ ܡܬܼܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܚܘܝܼܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܠ. ܘܥܪܩܬܐ ܬܠܝܬܝܬܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܡܼܢ ܓܪܒܝܗܿ ܕܡܼܨܥܝܬܐ. ܗܕܐ ܕܒܦܠܓܗܿ ܥܠܝܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܗܕܐ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܡܼܬܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ ܕܡܬܚܡܐ ܡܼܢ ܡܕܢܚܐ ܘܡܼܢ ܡܥܪܒܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܚܘܝܼܢܢ ܡܼܢ ܠܥܠ. ܗܿܠܝܢ ܬܠܬܐ ܥܪ̈ܩܬܐ ܚܫܘܼܒ\nܐܢܝܢ ܬܠܬܐ ܡܢܘ̈ܬܐ. ܘܬܪ̈ܬܝܢ ܐܚܪ̈ܢܝܬܐ ܙܘ̈ܝܬܐ. ܓܪܒܝܝܬܐ ܘܬܝܡܢܝܬܐ. ܐܝܟ ܬܪܝܢ ܪܫܘܗܝ ܕܣܪܢܐ ܐܘܿ ܕܒܛܝܼܟܐ. ܗܫܐ ܒܦܠܓܗܿ ܕܡܢܿܬܐ ܕܠܓܪܒܝܐ ܡܼܢ ܡܨܥܝܬܐ ܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܡܼܬܥܡܪܢܝܼܬܐ ܕܫܒܥ ܩܠܝܼ̈ܡܐ ܕܟܿܠܗܿ ܬܐܒܝܠ. ܕܒܗܘܢ ܐܝܼܬ ܐ̈ܠܦܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܡܕܝܼ̈ܢܬܐ ܘܐܬܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܘܦܢܝ̈ܬܐ.","english":"Thus half of that other side of the face of the earth is five other degrees, like these in everything equal, as if they were all ten degrees. And this inhabited part is one portion out of ten of the earth by itself. The drugs, however, are mixed with the lands. Because with its sphere the roundness of the earth is heated. And the sea is very large and wide from the inhabited world. For it is like an island in the sea, because [it is set] apart from the open and visible waters. Thus it is thought that around the whole earth the waters of the seas surround it. And the places of the dry land are open and visible. And where there was a space and a mixture, there was habitation for humans and animals. Or another small earth was considered. Take in your thought that the earth with the seas in it is a spherical sphere like a round ball. And stretch over it in your thought three belts. One belt over its middle as it goes around. This one is that which is under the sun. And another belt from the south of the middle; this one also is uninhabitable, as was shown above. And the third belt is from the north of the middle. This one, in its upper half, is this whole inhabited part that is bounded from the east and from the west as was shown above. These three belts are considered three degrees. And the other two are angles: the northern and the southern, like the two heads of a line or of a ball. Now in the half of the portion towards the north from the middle is the whole inhabited part of the seven climates of the whole world. In which there are very many thousands of cities and regions and provinces.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܣܡ̈ܡܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܣܡ̈ܡܐ (sammē) literally means 'drugs' or 'poisons', but here it likely refers to mineral or metallic substances mixed with the earth, a usage found in Syriac scientific texts.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܥܪ̈ܩܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The word ܥܪ̈ܩܬܐ (ʿarqātā) means 'belts' or 'zones', referring to the climatic zones of the earth. The author divides the earth into three belts: one torrid, two frigid, following classical geography.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The division of the earth into five zones (two frigid, two temperate, one torrid) is a standard theme in ancient geography, notably from Ptolemy and Macrobius. The Syriac author adapts this into three belts and two angles.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the description of the earth's habitable portion, building on the previous discussion of seasonal variation. It introduces the concept of belts and angles to map the inhabited world.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܕܪܡܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac text has a lacuna or uncertain reading at ܕܪܡܐ (d-ramā), which the English draft renders as 'it is set apart'. The exact sense is ambiguous; it may mean 'it is placed' or 'it is raised'.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'five other degrees' (ܚܡܫ ܡܢ̈ܘܢ ܐ̱ܚܪ̈ܢܝܬܐ) is unclear: it may refer to five additional degrees of latitude or to a proportional division of the earth's surface.","The term 'drugs' (ܣܡ̈ܡܐ) could also be interpreted as 'minerals' or 'chemicals' mixed with the earth, but the exact referent is not specified."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":34,"ref":"p34","source":"ܕܐܦܠܐ ܫܡܝܼܥ ܠܗܘܢ ܒܚܕ̈ܕܐ ܐܘܿ ܣܟ ܝ݀ܕܥܝܢ ܠܚܕ̈ܕܐ ܡܼܢ ܪܚܝܼܩܘܼܬܐ ܕܒܝܢܬܗܘܢ. ܘܐܢ [ܗܕܐ] ܡܢܿܬܐ ܚܕܐ ܡܼܢ ܥܣܪܐ ܕܐܪܥܐ ܗܟܢ ܪܘܝܼܚܐ ܘܣܿܓܝܼܐܐ. ܡܼܢ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܐܪܥܐ ܘܝܡ̈ܡܐ ܕܚܕܪܝܗܿ ܘܒܓܘܗܿ. ܟܡܐ ܗܿܝ ܟܝ ܪܒܘܬܗܿ ܘܡܫܘܼܚܬܗܿ. ܡܕܝܢ ܐܐܪ ܕܚܕܪ ܠܟܿܠܗܿ ܡܼܢ ܠܒܪ ܘܐܝܼܬ ܠܗ ܗܿܢܐ ܟ݀ܠܗ ܪܘܡܐ ܥܕܡܐ ܠܐܬܝܪ܆ ܟܡܐ ܠܟܡܐ ܪܒ ܘܣܿܓܝܼ. ܘܐܦ ܗܼܘ ܐܬܝܪ ܢܘܼܪܢܐ ܕܠܒܪ ܡܼܢ ܐܐܪ ܘܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ. ܟܡܐ ܬܘܼܒ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܪܒ ܘܪܘܝܼܚ. ܘܗܿܟܢܐ ܐܬܼܚܫ̱ܒ ܘܣܼܒ ܒܗܘܢܟ ܒܟܿܠܗܘܢ ܪ̈ܩܝܼܥܐ ܕܫܡܝܐ. ܟܡܐ ܟܝ ܪܒ ܟܿܠܚܕ ܡܼܢ ܗܿܘ ܕܠܬܼܚܬ ܡܢܗ܆ ܡܼܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܡܕܝܢ ܟܡܐ ܠܟܡܐ ܪܒ. ܫܡܼܫܐ ܡܕܝܢ ܘܟܠܚܕ ܡܼܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܢܗܝܼܪ̈ܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܐ܆ ܟܡܐ ܗܿܝ ܡܫܘܼܚܬܐ ܕܟܿܠܚܕ ܡܼܢܗܘܢ. ܕܟܕ ܣܝܼܡܝܼܢ ܒܗܿܝ ܡܥܠܝܘܼܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܬܼܡܫܚܐ܆ ܘܡܢܗܪܝܢ ܘܡܬܚܙܝܢ ܠܟܿܠܗܿ ܬܐܒܝܠ. ܐܠܘܼܠܐ ܕܣܿܓܝܼ ܘܠܥܼܠ ܡܼܢ ܡܫܘܼܚܬܐ ܠܐ ܪܘܪ̈ܒܝܢ ܗܘܼܘ܆ ܠܐ ܡܬܼܚܙܝܢ ܗܘܼܘ ܡܼܢ ܗܿܝ ܡܥܠܝܘܼܬܐ ܪܡܿܬܐ ܠܟܿܠܗܿ ܬܐܒܝܠ.. ܐܪܐ ܡܘܙܠܬܐ ܕܒܗܿ ܘܠܬܼܚܬ ܡܢܗܿ ܣܕܝܪܝܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܢܗܝܼܪ̈ܐ ܟܡܐ ܗܿܝ ܟܝ ܡܫܘܼܚܬܐ ܕܪܒܘܼܬܗܿ. ܘܐܢ ܐܪܥܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܝܗܿ ܐܝܟ ܢܘܼܩܙܐ ܒܡܼܨܥܬ݀ ܚܘܕܪܐ ܪܘܝܼܚܐ. ܠܐ ܣܟ ܡܼܬܡܫܚܐ ܐܘܿ ܡܣܼܬܝܟܐ. ܡܕܝܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܚܘܼܕܪ̈ܐ ܪ̈ܡܐ ܘܡܥ̈ܠܝܐ. ܟܡܐ ܗܿܝ ܟܝ ܡܫܘܼܚܬܐ ܕܪܘܝܼܚܘܼܬܗܘܢ ܘܪܒܘܼܬܗܘܢ ܘܡܬܝܼܚܘܼܬܗܘܢ. ܘܐܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܠܐ ܡܬܼܡܫ̈ܚܢ ܘܠܐ ܡܣܼܬܝܟ̈ܢ܆ ܡܕܝܢ ܝܡܐ ܗܿܘ ܪܒܐ ܕܡܝ̈ܐ ܕܠܥܠ ܡܼܢ ܫܡ̈ܝܐ܆ ܡܿܢ ܡܡܪܚ ܕܢܡܠܠ ܥܠܘܗܝ ܣܟ ܡܕܡ ܐܘܿ ܢܕܪܟ [ܐܘܿ] ܢܬܚܡ. ܐܘܿ ܢܫܼܟܚ ܣܘܦܐ ܠܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܕܗܿܠܝܢ. ܐܘ̃ ܟܡܐ ܬܡܝܼܗܝܢ ܥܒܿܕ̈ܝܟ ܡܪܝܐ. ܘܛܒܿ ܥܡܝܼܩ̈ܢ ܡܫܚܒ̈ܬܟ. ܐܬܬܡܗܬ݀ ܝܼܕܥܬܟ ܡܢܝ.","english":"that they do not even hear of each other, or know each other, because of the distance between them. And [this] one portion out of ten of the earth is so vast and spacious. From the whole earth and the seas around it and within it, how great is its size and measure. For the air that surrounds the whole earth from outside, and has all this height up to the ether, how great and vast it is. And also that ether, the outer air from the air and from the earth, how again great and vast it is. And thus it is reckoned and taken in your thought among all the firmaments of the heavens, how great each one is from that which is below it, from the earth, how many times greater. The sun, then, and each one of those great luminaries, what is the measure of each of them? For when they are placed in that high place which is immeasurable, they shine and are seen by the whole world. For if they were not very great and far above measure, they would not be seen from that high place by the whole world. So the orbit in which and below which all those luminaries are arranged, what then is the measure of its greatness? And if the earth, which is like a point in the middle of a vast circle, is not measured or extended, then those high and lofty circles, what then is the measure of their vastness and greatness and expanse? And if these are not measured and not extended, then that great sea of waters above the heavens, from which he who spoke about it said something, or perceived, or imagined, or found an end to the knowledge of these things. Or how wonderful are your works, Lord, and how deep are your thoughts. Your knowledge is amazed at me.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܐܬܝܪ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac ܐܬܝܪ (ʾaṯīr) is a loan from Greek αἰθήρ, denoting the highest celestial region, often distinguished from the lower air (ܐܐܪ). The text treats it as an outer layer beyond the air surrounding the earth.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܪ̈ܩܝܼܥܐ","severity":"info","text":"The plural ܪ̈ܩܝܼܥܐ (rqīʿē) means 'firmaments' or 'heavenly vaults', a standard term in Syriac cosmology for the celestial spheres. The text enumerates them as concentric layers, each larger than the one below.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the cosmological exposition of Book 6, moving from the earth's dimensions to the scale of the heavens. It uses a series of rhetorical questions (e.g., 'how great is its size') to emphasize the vastness of creation, culminating in a doxological exclamation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The comparison of the earth to a point (ܥܘܼܩܙܐ) in the middle of a vast circle reflects late antique and early medieval cosmological models, such as those in Ptolemy or John Philoponus, where the earth is a negligible speck relative to the celestial spheres.","cites":[],"named_sources":["John Philoponus, De Opificio Mundi"],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"scripture","kind":"scripture","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܬܬܡܗܬ ܝܼܕܥܬܟ ܡܢܝ","severity":"info","text":"The closing exclamation 'Your knowledge is amazed at me' echoes the doxological style of the Psalms (e.g., Ps 104:24) and the Wisdom of Solomon, common in Syriac liturgical and cosmological texts, though no direct citation is marked.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܘ̃","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac ܐܘ̃ (with a tilde) is an unusual orthographic variant for ܐܘ ('or'), possibly a scribal abbreviation or error. The sense is clear from context, but the form is not standard.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'your knowledge is amazed at me' (ܐܬܬܡܗܬ ܝܼܕܥܬܟ ܡܢܝ) is ambiguous: it could mean the speaker's knowledge is overwhelmed by God's works, or that God's knowledge is astonished at the speaker. The translation takes the former, but the Syriac syntax allows either."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":35,"ref":"p35","source":"ܐܬܚܝܿܠܬ ܘܠܐ ܡܿܨܐܼ ܐܢܼܐ ܚܝܠܐ. ܘܟܕ ܚܿܐܒ ܐܢܼܐ ܘܠܐ ܡܕܪܟ ܐܢܼܐ ܡܙܥܩ ܐܢܼܐ. ܐܘ̃ ܠܥܘܼܡܩܐ ܕܥܘܼܬܪܐ ܘܡܕܥܐ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܡܪܝܡ ܒܐܝܼܬܘܼܬܗ. ܕܐ̱ܢܫ ܠܐ ܡܼܫ ܕܝܼ̈ܢܘ̄. ܘܐܘܼܪ̈ܚܬܗ ܠܐ ܡܬܼܥܩܒ̈ܢ܀ ܘܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܠܡ ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܫܬܐ ܒܝܕ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܚܝܠ ܘܥܕܪ. ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܫܒܥܐ ܥܡ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܡܚܟܡ. ܕܡܛ݀ܠܡܢܐ ܡܫܘܚܪܐܝܬ ܘܡܛܟܣܐܝܬ ܐ݀ܬܝܢ ܫܘܚܠ̈ܦܐ ܕܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܘܠܐ ܗܿܘܝܢ ܡܼܢ ܫܝܠ ܚܕ ܒܬܪ ܚܕ. ܫܡ̈ܝܐ [ܠܡ] ܡܫܼܬܿܥܝܢ ܫܘܼܒܚܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ. ܘܥܒܿܕ ܐܝܼܕ̈ܘܗܝ ܡܚܘܐ ܪܩܝܼܥܐ. ܝܘܡܐ ܠܝܘܡܐ ܡܒܥ ܡܐܡܪܐ܆ ܘܠܠܝܐ ܠܠܠܝܐ ܡܚܘܐ ܡܕܥܐ. ܠܝܬ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܐܦܠܐ ܡ̈ܠܐ ܕܠܐ ܢܫܼܬܡܥ ܒܩ݀ܠܗܘܢ. ܐܟܙܢܐ ܕܐܡܼܬܝ ܕܢܚܼܙܐ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܡܓܕܠܐ ܪܡܿܪܐ ܘܫܒܝܼܚܐ ܕܡܨܒܬ ܒܒܢܝ̈ܢܐ. ܘܡܟܠܠ\nܒܫܘܪ̈ܐ. ܘܡܫܟܠܠ ܒܥܠ̈ܝܬܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܠܒܪ ܡܿܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܒܢܝ̈ܢܐ ܬܩܝܼ̈ܦܐ ܘܥܫܝܼ̈ܢܐ. ܡܼܢ ܠܓܘ ܕܝܢ ܬܘܼܒ ܝܬܝܪ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܬܘܼܩ̈ܢܐ ܫܒܝܼܚ̈ܐ ܘܨܼܒ̈ܬܐ ܪ̈ܓܝܼܓܐ. ܘܨܼܒܘ̈ܬܐ ܫܦܝܼܪ̈ܬܐ. ܘܚܫܚ̈ܬܐ ܗܕܝܼܪ̈ܬܐ ܘܥܘܼܬܪܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܘܦܐ. ܘܩܢܝܿܢܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܣܬܿܝܟ. ܘܚܝ̈ܠܘܬܐ ܕܠܐ ܡܬܼܡܢܝܢ. ܥܡ ܣܘܼܓܐܐ ܕܐܚܪ̈ܢܝܬܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܬܐ. ܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܡܼܬܚܫܒ ܒܪܥܝܿܢܗ ܥܠ ܚܟܼܡܬܐ ܪܒܬܐ ܘܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܬܐ ܕܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܗܿܘ ܕܐܬܩܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ. ܘܣܿܓܝܼ ܝܿܪܒ ܒܥܝܢ̈ܘܗܝ. ܘܫܡܒܚ ܠܪܒܘܼܬ ܝܕܥܬܗ ܘܣܿܓܝܼܐܘܼܬ ܚܟܼܡܬܗ. ܕܐܝܟܢ ܐܕܪܟ ܗܘܢܗ ܠܡܛܟܣܘܼ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ. ܘܡܫܼܬܪܪ ܒܠܒܗ ܘܡܗܝܡܢ ܒܬܪܥܝܼܬܗ . ܘܠܐ ܣܟ ܡܬܼܦܠܓ܆ ܕܡܼܢ ܟܿܠܦܪܘܿܣ ܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܘܡܬܩܢܢܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܠܗܿܘ ܒܢܝܿܢܐ ܫܒܝܼܚܐ ܕܡܓܕܠܐ ܗܿܘ ܡܨܒܬܐ ܘܪܓܝܓܐ ܘܕܐܣܝܼܢ̈ܢ ܒܗ ܟܿܠ ܛܒ̈ܬܐ܆ ܘܠܘ ܐܝܟ ܪܘܡܐ ܕܛܘܼܪܐ ܡܕܡ ܕܡܬܩܢ ܒܕܘܼܟ. ܘܡܿܠܐ ܐܝܼܠ̈ܢܐ ܣܒܝܼ̈ܣܐ ܕܡܼܢ ܨܒܘܼܬ ܢܦܫܗܘܢ ܡܼܬܚܫܒ ܥܠܘܗܝ.","english":"is exhausted and cannot exert force. And when it thinks, it does not comprehend; it cries out. Or to the depth of the wealth and knowledge of God, who is exalted in his essence. For no one can reach his ways, and his paths cannot be traced. And with these, the sixth chapter is completed, by the power and help of God. The seventh chapter, with God who makes wise. For appropriately and orderly, the changes of times come, and they do not occur one after another by chance. The heavens [cannot] contain the glory of God, and his hands show the firmament. Day by day utters a word, and night by night shows knowledge. There is no word nor speech that is not heard in their voice. Just as when a person sees a high, glorious tower built in houses, and adorned with walls, and completed with upper rooms, and outside with many strong and mighty houses, but inside again many more glorious arches and splendid decorations, and beautiful adornments, and prepared furnishings, and inexhaustible wealth, and unceasing abundance, and indestructible powers, along with many other numerous things—then he reflects in his mind on the great wisdom and vast knowledge of that craftsman who established all these things, and greatly increases his inquiries, and praises the greatness of his knowledge and the abundance of his wisdom, how he was able to arrange all these things. And he becomes firm in his heart and believes in his thought, and is not divided, that just as for every craftsman and artisan there is that glorious house of that tower, built and decorated, and all goods are assembled in it, and not like the height of a mountain, something that is established in a place, and filled with wild trees that, by their own will, are thought about.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܫܬܐ ... ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܫܒܥܐ","severity":"info","text":"The passage marks the end of chapter six and the beginning of chapter seven, a structural division within Book 6.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܐܘܼܡܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܐܘܼܡܢܐ (ummānā) means 'craftsman' or 'artisan', here applied to God as the divine architect of creation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܠܐ ܡܼܢ ܫܝܠ ܚܕ ܒܬܪ ܚܕ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase denies that temporal changes occur by chance (ܫܝܠ, šyḡl), asserting divine ordering instead.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"ܡܓܕܠܐ","severity":"info","text":"The tower (ܡܓܕܠܐ, mgdlʾ) as a symbol of cosmic order recalls the Tower of Babel narrative, but here it is a positive image of divine craftsmanship.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܡܫܼܬܪܪ ܒܠܒܗ ܘܡܗܝܡܢ ܒܬܪܥܝܼܬܗ","severity":"info","text":"The believer's firm conviction parallels earlier passages in Book 6 that contrast human limitation with divine omniscience.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܫܡ̈ܝܐ [ܠܡ] ܡܫܼܬܿܥܝܢ","severity":"caution","text":"The bracketed ܠܡ (l-m) in the Syriac suggests a textual corruption or scribal insertion; the sense is that the heavens cannot contain God's glory.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase ܘܠܐ ܡܼܢ ܫܝܠ ܚܕ ܒܬܪ ܚܕ could be read as denying chance or as denying sequential randomness; the translation takes the former.","The bracketed ܠܡ in ܫܡ̈ܝܐ [ܠܡ] ܡܫܼܬܿܥܝܢ may indicate a missing or uncertain word; the English draft supplies 'cannot'."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":36,"ref":"p36","source":"ܐܠܐ ܕܡܼܢܟܠܦܪܘܿܣ ܠܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܡܠܝܼܠܐ ܡܬܩ̈ܢܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ. ܘܡܼܢ ܫܒܝܼܚܘܼܬܗܝܢ ܘܬܗܝܼܪܘܼܬܗܝܢ܆ ܐܦ ܥܠ ܐܘܡܢܗܝܢ ܡܬܚܫܒ ܕܣܿܓܝܼ ܚܟܝܼܡ ܘܪܡ ܒܝܼܕܥܬܗ. ܗܟܘܬ ܟܿܠ ܒܪܐܢܫ ܕܡܫܘܬܦ ܒܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܟܕ ܚܿܐܪ ܘܡܼܬܒܩܐ ܒܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܗܕܐ ܕܫܡܝܿܐ ܕܡܬܝܼܚܐ ܠܥܠ ܡܢܢ܆ ܘܠܛܟܼܣ̈ܐ ܕܪ̈ܩܝܼܥܐ ܗܿܠܝܢ܆ ܘܠܣܕܪ̈ܐ ܕܢܗܝܼܪ̈ܐ܆ ܘܡܛܣܘܼܬ ܡܪܕܝܼܬܗܘܢ. ܘܠܐܐܪ̈ܣ ܘܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܘܫܘܼܚܠܦ̈ܝܗܘܢ. ܥܡ ܣܘܼܓܐܐ ܕܗܘ̈ܝ ܘܬܘܼܩ̈ܢܐ ܘܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܘܓܼܢ̈ܣܐ ܘܐܕ̈ܫܐ ܘܦܘܼܪ̈ܫܢܐ ܕܒܥܿܠܡܐ ܗܿܢܐ. ܡܬܕܡܪ ܘܬ݀ܗܪ ܘܡܫܼܬܿܪܪ ܕܡܢܟܠܦܪܘܿܣ. ܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܘܡܬܩܢܢܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܠܗܿܠܝܢ ܟ݀ܠܗܝܢ ܫܒܝܼܚ̈ܬܐ. ܘܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܗܿܘ ܚܟܝܼܡܐ ܘܪܡ ܝܼܕܥܬܐ. ܕܠܐ ܣܟ ܡܣܼܬܝܟܐ ܐܘܿ ܡܼܬܕܪܟܐ ܝܼܕܥܬܗ ܐܘܿ ܡܼܬܬܚܡܐ ܚܟܼܡܬܗ ܪܒܬܐ ܘܣܓܝܼܐܬ݀ ܦܘܼܪ̈ܫܢܐ. ܕܐܝܟܢ ܒܼܪܐ ܘܐܬܩܢ ܘܐܩܝܡ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ ܬܕܡܪ̈ܬܐ ܬܗܝܼܪ̈ܬܐ ܫܒܝܼܚ̈ܬܐ ܘܠܐ ܡܼܬܡ̈ܠܠܢܝܬܐ. ܕܒܟ݀ܠܚܕܐ ܡܼܢܗܝܢ ܐܢ ܡܬܒܩܐ ܗܘܢܐ ܬ݀ܡܗ ܘܡܼܬܒܠܗܐ. ܘܕܐܝܟܢ ܒܬܪ ܕܒܪܐ ܘܐܬܩܢ ܟܿܠܡܕܡ܆ ܝܿܨܦ ܘܡܦܪܢܣ ܘܒܛܝܼܪ ܠܗ ܥܠ ܢܛܝܼܪܘܼܬܐ ܘܩܘܼܝܡܐ ܕܟܿܠ ܐܝܟ ܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܕܐܼܠܦܐ ܘܩܘܼܒܪܢܝܛܗܿ ܕܒܬܪ ܕܐܬܩܢܗܿ ܘܫܡܠܝܗܿ ܒܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܐܕ̈ܫܐ ܕܚܫܚ̈ܬܗܿ܆ ܐܚܝܼܕ ܣܘܼܟ̈ܢܝܗܿ ܒܐܝܼܕ̈ܘܗܝ ܘܡܕܒܪ ܠܗܿ ܥܡ ܥܝܼܪܘܬܐ ܪܒܬܐ ܘܝܨܝܼܦܘܼܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܬܐ. ܗܿܟܢ ܗܿܢܐ ܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܚܟܝܼܡܐ ܘܪܫ ܐܪ̈ܕܝܟܠܐ ܚܝܠܬܢܐ ܒܬܪ ܕܡܬܼܚ ܠܗܕܐ ܝܪܝܼܥܬܐ ܘܐܩܝܼܡ ܠܗܕܐ ܩܘܼܒܬܐ ܫܒܝܼܚܬܐ ܘܡܠܼܐ ܒܗܿ ܟܿܠ ܬܘܩ̈ܢܐ ܘܚܫܚ̈ܬܐ. ܐܚܝܼܕ ܣܘܼܟ̈ܢܝܗܿ ܙܗܝܼܪܐܝܬ ܘܡܕܒܪ ܠܗܿ ܥܝܼܪܐܝܼܬ. ܘܡܦܪܢܣ ܠܗܿ ܝܨܝܼܦܐܝܼܬ. ܡܬܼܚ ܠܗܿ ܕܐܝܼܡ̈ܡܐ ܘܬܚܼܡ ܠܗܿ ܠܝ̈ܠܘܬܐ. ܛܟܣ ܠܗܿ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܡܫܚܠ̈ܦܐ ܠܩܘܼܝܡܗܿ ܘܢܛܝܼܪܘܼܬܗܿ.","english":"but the microcosm, the rational nature, is established in all these. And in their glory and wonder, even their nature is considered very wise and high in knowledge. Thus every rational being that participates in knowledge, when it looks and is amazed at this knowledge of the heavens that are stretched out above the earth, and at the courses of these firmaments, and at the orders of the luminaries, and at the arrangement of their revolutions, and at the stars and their movements and their changes, together with the multitude of beings, times, natures, kinds, species, and distinctions that are in this world, it marvels, is astonished, and is confirmed that the microcosm, nature, and establishment exist for all these glorious things. And that nature is wise and high in knowledge, whose knowledge cannot be exhausted or comprehended, nor its great and manifold wisdom be measured, which like a creator established and set up all these wonderful, astonishing, glorious, and ineffable things. In each one of them, if one were to be amazed, one would be astounded and bewildered. And how after creating and establishing everything, it cares for, provides for, and watches over the preservation and existence of all according to the nature of the ship and its pilot, who after constructing and completing it with all the species necessary for it, holds its reins in his hands and guides it with great vigilance and much care. Thus this wise nature, the chief of the elemental archangels, after stretching out this curtain and setting up this glorious dome and filling it with all times and necessities, holds its reins carefully and guides it vigilantly, and provides for it diligently. It stretches it out for days and limits it for nights, arranges for it changing seasons for its existence and preservation.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܡܼܢܟܠܦܪܘܿܣ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term 'mikropos' (microcosm) is a Greek loanword (μικρόκοσμος) used here to denote the rational nature as a small-scale reflection of the cosmos.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܘܼܡܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"'Ousia' (nature/essence) is a key philosophical term in this passage, referring to the underlying substance or nature of the rational being and of the cosmos.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The imagery of the ship and pilot (ܐܼܠܦܐ ܘܩܘܼܒܪܢܝܛܗܿ) is a common philosophical trope in late antique literature, used here to illustrate divine providence and governance of the cosmos.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage concludes the seventh chapter, following the pattern of doxological summary and transition seen in the previous chapter ending.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of the wise nature as 'chief of the elemental archangels' (ܪܫ ܐܪ̈ܕܝܟܠܐ ܚܝܠܬܢܐ) parallels similar hierarchies in Syriac cosmological works, such as the 'Cave of Treasures'.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac term ܡܼܢܟܠܦܪܘܿܣ could be read as a direct transliteration of Greek 'microcosm' or as a calque; the passage treats it as a technical term for rational nature.","The phrase 'chief of the elemental archangels' may refer to a specific angelic rank or to a personification of cosmic order; the text does not specify which."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":37,"ref":"p37","source":"ܐܼܠܘܼ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܬܐܕܐ ܗܘܼܐ܆ ܠܐ ܙܪܥܐ ܡܼܬܪܒܐ ܗܘܼܐ ܘܡܫܼܬܡܠܐ. ܘܠܐ ܦܐܪܐ ܫ݀ܡܢ ܗܼܘܐ ܘܒ݀ܫܠ. ܘܐܼܠܘܼ ܟܿܠܗ ܩܝܛܐ ܗܘܼܐ. ܣܿܐܦ ܗܼܘܐ\nܟܿܠܡܕܡ ܡܼܢ ܚܘܼܡ ܘܡܼـܚܪܟ ܘܡܼܬܛܠܩ ܗܘܼ ܘܦܐ. ܘܐܠܘܼ ܬܘܼܒ ܟܿܠܗ ܙܒܢܐ ܣܬܘܐ ܗܘܼܐ܆ ܠܐ ܚ݀ܝܐ ܗܘܼܐ ܟܿܠ ܒܣܪ. ܠܐ ܒܪܢܫܐ ܘܠܐ ܚܝܘܼܬܐ ܘܠܐ ܦܪܚܬܐ. ܘܐܠܘܼ ܬܘܼܒ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐ ܚܕ ܒܬܪ ܚܕ ܪܗܝܼܒܐܝܼܬ ܓܕܫܝܢ ܗܘܼܘ ܘܐܬ݀ܝܢ ܗܟܘܬ ܠܐ ܡܼܬܩܝܡ ܗܘܼܐ ܥ݀ܠܡܐ. ܘܠܐ ܚܿܝܐ ܗܼܘܬ݀ ܟܿܠ ܒܣܪ. ܐܠܘܼ ܝܘܡܢ ܐܝܟ ܕܠܡܐܡܪ ܐܝܬ ܗܘܼܐ ܙܒܢܐ ܣܬܘܝܐ܆ ܘܠܡܚܪ ܡܼܢܫܝܠ ܡܕܪܟ ܗܼܘܐ ܩܝܛܐ ܚܡܝܼܡܐ. ܡܬܼܚܒܠܝܢ ܗܘܼܘ ܓܘܼܫ̈ܡܐ ܘܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܕܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ ܘܚܝ̈ܘܬܐ ܘܙܪ̈ܥܐ ܘܐܝܼܠ̈ܢܐ. ܘܟܿܠ ܡܕܡ. ܘܐܢ ܬܘܼܒ ܝܘܡܢ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܗܘܼܐ ܙܒܢܐ ܕܩܝܛܐ ܚܡܝܼܡܐ. ܘܠܡܚܪ ܡܕܪܟ ܗܘܼܐ ܡܢܫܝܠ ܣܬܘܐ܆ ܗܟܘܬ݀ ܡܼܬܚܒܠܝܼܢ ܗܘܼܘ ܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܘܓܘܼܫ̈ܡܐ ܕܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ ܘܚܝ̈ܘܬܐ. ܘܠܐ ܣܟ ܚܿܝܐ ܐܘܿ ܡܬܼܩܝܡ ܗܘܼܐ ܟܿܠ ܒܣܪ. ܐܠܐ ܕܒܪ ܘܛܟܣ ܗܘܼܐ ܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܚܟܝܼܡ ܒܟܿܠ. ܕܢܐܬܿܐ ܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܒܬܪ ܚܒܪܗ ܡܫܘܚܪܐܝܼܬ ܘܡܬܝܼܢܐܝܼܬ. ܘܣܼܡ ܒܝܬ ܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐ ܕܣܬܘܐ ܘܕܩܝܛܐ ܫܘܚܠ̈ܦܐ ܐܚܪ̈ܢ ܕܬܐܕܐ ܘܕܪܒܝܥܝܐ ܕܗܘܼ ܬܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ. ܐܝܿܟܢܐ ܕܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܢܐܬܘܢ ܫܘܼܚ̈ܠܦܐ ܒܬܪ ܚܕ̈ܕܐ ܥܕܡܐ ܕܢܼܬܢܦܩܘܢ ܓܘܼܫ̈ܡܐ ܘܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܒܩܘܼܪܐ ܘܚܘܼܡܐ ܕܠܐ ܢܬܼܢܟܘܢ ܘܢܬܼܚܒܠܘܢ. ܘܦܠܓ ܐܢܘܢ ܐܪܒܝܥܐ ܫܘܼܚ̈ܠܦܐ. ܘܟܿܠ ܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܬܠܬܐ ܝܪ̈ܚܝܢ. ܡܫܚ̈ܠܦܐ ܡܛ݀ ܡܠܚܡܘܼܬܐ ܡܩܝܼܡܢܝܼܬ ܘܡܢܛܪܢܝܼܬܐ. ܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܡܿܢ ܬܐܕܢܝܐ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܬܠܬܐ ܝܪ̈ܚܝܢ. ܡܫܚ̈ܠܦܐ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܡܠܚܡܘܼܬܐ ܡܩܝܼܡܢܝܼܬܐ ܘܡܢܛܪܢܝܼܬܐ.","english":"If it were all winter, seed would not be nurtured and filled out, nor would fruit ripen and mature. And if it were all summer, everything would be scorched by heat, and would wither, be consumed, and perish. And if again it were all the season of winter, no flesh would live—neither human, nor animals, nor birds. And if again these changes occurred one after another violently, the world would not be established, nor would any flesh live. If today, so to speak, there were a wintry season, and tomorrow suddenly a hot summer were to overtake it, the bodies and natures of humans, animals, seeds, and trees, and everything, would be destroyed. And if again today there were a season of hot summer, and tomorrow a wintry cold were to overtake it, in this way the natures and bodies of humans and animals would be destroyed, and no flesh would live or be established. But a wise order and arrangement governs everything, so that change comes after its companion slowly and moderately. And between the changes of winter and summer, it placed other changes, of autumn and spring, which are a beginning. So that little by little changes come one after another until bodies and natures meet in cold and heat without being disturbed or destroyed. And it divided them into four changes. And each change is three months, varying in the temperament of the constitution and the mixture. The change of autumn is three months, varying in the temperament of the constitution and the mixture.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܼܠܘܼ ܟܿܠܗܿ ܬܐܕܐ ܗܘܼܐ","severity":"info","text":"The passage uses a series of conditional clauses (ܐܼܠܘܼ) to argue that a single unchanging season would prevent life, establishing a teleological argument for seasonal diversity.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐ (šuḥlāpē) means 'changes' or 'alternations', here referring to the four seasons as orderly transitions, not random shifts.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܦܠܓ ܐܢܘܢ ܐܪܒܝܥܐ ܫܘܼܚ̈ܠܦܐ","severity":"info","text":"The text divides the year into four changes (seasons) of three months each, a structural schema common in late antique natural philosophy, here applied to argue for divine order.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"ܡܠܚܡܘܼܬܐ ܡܩܝܼܡܢܝܼܬ ܘܡܢܛܪܢܝܼܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'temperament of the constitution and the mixture' reflects Greek medical and philosophical concepts (krasis and mixis), mediated through Syriac translations of Aristotle and Galen.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܐܠܘܼ ܬܘܼܒ ܟܿܠܗ ܙܒܢܐ ܣܬܘܐ ܗܘܼܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac repeats 'winter' (ܣܬܘܐ) in two successive conditional clauses (lines 1 and 3 of the passage), which may be a scribal error or deliberate emphasis; the English draft treats the second as a general 'wintry season'.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The repetition of ܣܬܘܐ (winter) in two conditional clauses may be a scribal error or rhetorical doubling; the translation treats the second as a general 'wintry season'.","The phrase ܕܗܘܼ ܬܫܪ̈ܝܬܐ (which are a beginning) is ambiguous: it may mean spring and autumn are the 'beginning' of the seasonal cycle or the 'foundation' for gradual change."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":38,"ref":"p38","source":"ܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܡܿܢ ܬܐܕܢܝܐ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܢܝܼܣܢ ܕܥܕܟܝܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܘܩܪܝܼܒ ܠܝܪܚܐ ܐ̱ܚܪܢܐ ܕܫܘܚܠܦܐ ܣܬܘܝܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܐܕܪ. ܘܐܦ ܗܼܘ ܝܪܚܐ ܕܢܝܼܣܢ ܩܕܡܝܬܗ ܩܪܝܼܪܐ ܐܝܟ ܐ̱ܚܪܝܬܗ ܕܐܕܪ. ܡܨܥܬܗ ܕܝܢ ܬܘܼܒ ܦܫܘܼܪܐ ܩܠܝܼܠ. ܐ̱ܚܪܝܬܗ ܬܘܼܒ ܝܬܝܪ. ܘܥ݀ܐܠ ܒܬܪܘܗܝ ܚܙܝܪܢ. ܗܟܘܬ ܩܕܡܝܬܗ ܩܪܝܼܒܐ ܠܐ̱ܚܪܝܬܗ ܕܐܝܪ. ܡܨܥܬܗ ܬܘܼܒ ܚܡܝܼܡܐ ܚܪܬܗ ܝܬܝܪ܀ ܒܬܪ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܝܪ̈ܚܐ ܬܠܬܐ ܬܐܕܢ̈ܝܐ܆ ܕܐܝܼܬ ܒܗܘܢ ܬܫܥܐ ܫܘܚܠ̈ܦܐ܆ ܐ݀ܬܐ ܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܩܝܛܝܐ. ܝܪܚܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ܆ ܬܡܘܙ. ܩܪܝܒܿ ܕ݀ܡܝܐ ܩܕܡܝܬܗ ܠܐܚܪܝܬܐ ܕܚܙܝܪܢ ܝܪܚܐ ܐܚܪܝܐ ܕܬܐܕܐ ܘܡܨܥܬܗ ܕܬܡܘܙ ܝܬܝܪ ܚܡܝܼܡܐ. ܘܐܚܪܝܬܗ ܬܘܼܒ ܝܬܝܪ. ܘܥ݀ܐܠ ܒܬܪܘܗܝ ܝܪܚܐ ܕܐܒ. ܕܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܥܘܙܗ ܕܩܝܛܐ ܘܡܒܫܠ ܦܐܪ̈ܐ. ܗܟܘܬ݀ ܩܕܡܝܬܗ ܥܙܝܼܙܐ ܒܚܘܼܡܐ. ܡܨܥܬܗ ܗܟܘܬ. ܘܐܚܪܝܬܗ ܒܿܨܪ ܚܘܼܡܐ ܡܼܢ ܥܙܝܼܙܘܼܬܐ. ܘܐܝܠܘܠ ܗܟܘܬ ܫܘܼܪܝܗ ܚܡܝܼܡ. ܘܡܨܥܬܗ ܬܘܼܒ ܒܨܝܼܪ. ܘܐܚܪܝܬܗ ܬܘܼܒ ܒܨܝܼܪ. ܘܗܝܕܝܢ ܡܫܪܝܢ ܩܪ̈ܬܐ ܘܡܫܒ̈ܐ ܡܦܘܼܚ̈ܢܐ. ܘܗܟܘܬ ܐܫܼܬܿܡܠܝܘ ܬܠܬܐ ܝܪ̈ܚܐ ܩܝ̈ܛܝܐ ܒܬܫܥܐ ܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐ. ܗܿܘ ܡܨܥܝܐ ܥܙܝܼܙ ܒܚܘܼܡܐ ܝܬܝܼܪ ܡܼܢ ܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ܀ ܗܿܫܐ ܚܙܼܝ ܟܡܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܒܝܬ ܗܿܢܐ ܚܘܼܡܐ ܡܘܩܕܢܐ ܘܡܒܫܠܢܐ ܕܐܒ ܝܪܚܐ ܠܗܿ، ܩܘܼܪܐ ܩܫܝܐ ܘܡܨܪܦܢܐ ܕܟܢܘܢ ܐ̱ܚܪܝ. ܕܐܠܘܼ ܗܿܢܐ ܒܬܪ ܗܿܢܐ ܓܕܫ ܗܼܘܐ. ܒܗ ܒܥܕܢܐ ܡܼܬܚܒܠ ܗܘܼܐ ܟ݀ܠܡܕܡ ܕܒܥܿܠܡܐ. ܐܠܐ ܦܪܢܣ ܘܛܟܣ ܒܪܘܝܐ ܕܢܫܚܢ ܙܒܢܐ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ. ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܢܬܼܥܝܕܘܢ ܓܘܼܫ̈ܡܐ. ܘܢܬܼܪܒܘܢ ܙܪ̈ܥܐ. ܘܢܫܼܡܥܘܢ ܦܐܪ̈ܐ. ܘܢܒܼܫܠܘܢ ܘܢܼܬܚܠܘܢ. ܐܠܐ ܡܢܫܝܼܠ ܡܕܪܟ ܗܘܼܐ [ܠܗܘܢ] ܚܘܼܡܐ ܡܫܬܿܠܩܝܢ ܗܘܼܘ ܒܪܓܝܘܼܬܗܘܢ ܘܚܿܡܝܢ ܘܝܿܒܫܝܢ ܘܢܿܬܪܝܢ ܦܐܪ̈ܐ ܘܛܪ̈ܦܐ ܘܦܩ̈ܚܐ. ܘܠܐ ܣܟ ܡܼܬܪܒܐ ܗܘܼܐ ܡܕܡ.","english":"change, the third of the Teshri months, is Nisan, which is still short and near to the other month of the change of winter, which is Adar. And that month of Nisan, its beginning is cold like the end of Adar. Its middle, however, is again a little warm. Its end is again more so. And after it enters Iyar. Thus its beginning is near to the end of Nisan. Its middle is again hot, its end more so. After these three Teshri months, in which there are nine changes, comes the summer change. The first month, Tammuz. Its beginning is near to resembling the end of Iyar, the last month of Teshri, and the middle of Tammuz is very hot. And its end is again more so. And after it enters the month of Ab, which is the strength of summer and the ripener of fruits. Thus its beginning is intense in heat. Its middle likewise. And its end diminishes in heat and intensity. And Elul likewise: its beginning is hot, and its middle is again less, and its end is again less. And then the colds and the cool winds begin. And thus the three summer months are completed with nine changes. That middle one is more intense in heat than all of them. Now see how much there is between this burning and ripening heat of the month of Ab and the severe cold and freezing of another. For if this followed that, in that same time everything in the world would be destroyed. But the Creator arranged and ordered that the time should be little by little, so that bodies would be prepared, seeds would grow, fruits would ripen, and they would be cooked and completed. But if it were otherwise, the heat would have reached them, they would have been scorched in their softness and become hot and dry, and fruits and leaves and blossoms would have withered, and nothing would have grown.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܐܕܢܝܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܬܐܕܢܝܐ (tešrī) refers to the autumn months (Tishri I and II), but here it is used for the transitional season between winter and summer, i.e., spring. The English draft renders it as 'Teshri' but the context describes Nisan, Iyar, and the shift from winter.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the symmetrical exposition of seasonal changes: after winter months (three with nine changes) and summer months (three with nine changes), the text contrasts the extremes of Ab's heat with another's cold, then asserts the Creator's gradual ordering prevents destruction.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The text reflects a calendrical scheme common in late antique Syriac literature, dividing the year into three-month seasons each with nine 'changes' (ܫܘܚܠ̈ܦܐ). The months named (Nisan, Iyar, Tammuz, Ab, Elul) follow the Hebrew/Aramaic calendar used in Syriac sources.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܪܘܝܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac ܒܪܘܝܐ (bārōyā) means 'Creator' and is a standard divine epithet in Syriac cosmological works. Its use here underscores the teleological argument: the orderly gradation of temperature is attributed to divine design, not natural accident.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The English draft translates ܬܐܕܢܝܐ as 'Teshri' but the Syriac context (Nisan, Iyar) indicates spring, not autumn. The term may be a scribal error or a broader use of 'Teshri' for transitional seasons. The reader should note this ambiguity.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The term ܬܐܕܢܝܐ is ambiguous: it normally means autumn months but here describes spring (Nisan, Iyar). The reading taken is that the author uses it loosely for 'transitional season'.","The Syriac text at the end has a lacuna or unclear phrase: ܡܢܫܝܼܠ ܡܕܪܟ ܗܘܼܐ [ܠܗܘܢ] — the bracketed ܠܗܘܢ is supplied; the sense is that heat would have reached them (the plants) too quickly."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":39,"ref":"p39","source":"ܐܠܐ ܒܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܝ݀ܪܒܝܢ ܘܡܼܬܚܝܠܝܢ ܘܡܬܓܫܡܝܢ ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܟܕ ܚܿܐܡ ܙܒܢܐ ܢܩܘܼܡܘܢ ܠܘܼܩܒܠ ܥܙܝܼܙܘܼܬܗ ܕܚܘܼܡܐ ܘܢܼܬܒܫܠܘܢ ܫܦܖܝܪ. ܘܗܝܕܝܢ ܒܬܪ ܚܘܼܡܐ ܗܿܘ ܥܙܝܼܙܐ ܬܘܼܒ ܦܿܐܚ ܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܐܐܪ ܘܡܪܘܚ ܠܗܘܢ. ܐܝܟܐ ܕܢܬܪܟܟܘܢ ܦܐܪ̈ܐ ܘܐܒܒ̈ܢܐ. ܘܝܬܝܪ ܢܬܚܠܘܢ. ܘܬܗܼܘܐ ܚܠܝܘܼܬܗܘܢ ܗܢܝܼܐܬܐ ܘܒܣܝܼܡܬܐ. ܘܢܬܼܪ̈ܟܟܢ ܥܢܒ̈ܐ ܘܪ̈ܘܼܡܢܐ. ܘܬܣܓܐ ܒܗܘܢ ܪܛܝܼܒܘܼܬܐ ܘܢܼܬܩ̈ܛܥܢ ܩܠ̈ܦܝܗܘܢ. ܘܒܬܪ ܗܠܝܢ ܐ݀ܬܐ ܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܬܫܪܚܬܐ ܕܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܐܦ ܗܼ، ܡܨܥܝܐ ܒܝܬ ܩܝܛܐ ܠܣܬܘܐ. ܐܟܙܢܐ ܕܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܬܐܕܢܝܐ. ܘܝܪܚܐ ܩܕܡܝܐ ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܬܫܪܝܢ ܩܕܝܡ. ܘܕܡܿܝܐ ܘܩܪܝܼܒܐ ܩܕܡܝܬܗ ܕܗܢܐ ܠܐܚܪܝܬܗ ܕܐܝܠܘܠ ܝܪܚܐ ܐܚܪܝܐ ܕܩܝܛܐ. ܡܫܥܬܗ ܕܝܢ ܕܬܫܪܝܢ ܬܘܼܒ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܪܝܼܪܐ ܘܐܚܪܝܬܗ ܬܘܼܒ ܝܬܝܪ. ܗܟܘܬ ܘܬܫܪܝܢ ܐܚܪܝ ܘܟܢܘܢ ܩܕܝܡ. ܘܗܟܢܐ ܩܠܝܼ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܐܬܝܐ ܩܪܝܼܪܘܼܬܐ. ܟܕ ܠܐ ܡܣܓܦܐ ܐܝܟ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܕܛܐܦ ܒܐܠܦܐ. ܘܟܕ ܠܐ ܡܗܠܟ ܘܠܐ ܡܫܬܦܠ ܡܝܒܠ ܠܗ ܛܘܦܐ ܡܼܢ ܕܘܟ ܠܕܘܟ. ܘܡܼܬܡܢܥ ܠܐܝܟܐ ܕܨ݀ܒܐ ܒܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ. ܟܕ ܠܐ ܡܪܓܫ. ܗܟܢܐ ܛܥܝܼܢܝܼܢ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܘܥܕ̈ܢܐ ܠܥܿܠܡܐ. ܘܡܝܒܠܝܢ ܠܗ ܢܝܼܚܐܝܬ ܡܼܢ ܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܠܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܟܕ ܠܐ ܡܪܓܫ܀ ܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܥ݀ܐܠ ܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܣܬܘܝܐ. ܘܡܘܣܦܐ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܪܝܼܪܘܼܬܐ. ܥܕܡܐ ܠܫܒܛ ܕܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܩܛܪܬܗ ܕܣܬܘܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܟܣܗ ܘܠܗܠ ܬܘܼܒ ܒܿܨܪܐ ܗܿܝ ܩܪܝܼܪܘܼܬܐ ܥܙܝܼܙܘܼܬܐ. ܘܬܘܼܒ ܩܪܒ ܙܒܢܐ ܕܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܬܐܕܢܝܐ. ܘܗܿܟܢܐ ܡܼܬܟܪܟܝܼܢ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܼܬܛܟܣܝܼܢ ܫܘܼܚܠܦ̈ܩܐ ܒܝܨܝܼܦܘܼܬܐ ܪܒܬܐ ܘܡܦܪܢܣܢܘܼܬܐ ܬܗܝܼܪܬܐ ܕܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܚܟܝܼܡ ܒܟܿܠ. ܒܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܐܝܟ ܕܐܡܼܪܢܢ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܩܘܼܝܡܐ. ܘܢܛܝܼܪܘܼـܐ ܕܗܿܢܐ ܥܿܠܡܐ ܘܕܟܿܠܗܘܢ ܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܘܗܘ̈ܝܐ ܕܒܗ.","english":"but little by little it becomes spring-like, and grows mild, and becomes solid, as if, when the time comes, they stand against the strength of the heat and are perfectly cooked. And then, after that strong heat, again a breeze blows upon them and they are moved, so that fruits and blossoms become tender, and they become even more refined, and their sweetness becomes fresh and pleasant, and grains and pomegranates become tender, and moisture increases in them, and their shells are cut open. And after these things comes the change of autumn, which is also the middle between summer and winter. Just as the change of Teshri, the first month is Teshri Qadim, and it resembles and is close to the beginning of this one, to the end of Elul, the last month of summer. Its beginning, however, of Teshri, is again a little cold, and its end is even more so. Thus also Teshri Acharay and Kanun Qadim, and thus little by little cold comes, while it does not overflow like a flood that rushes in a ship, and while it does not go nor is it carried away, a flood carries it from place to place, and it is moved little by little to wherever it wishes, without being perceived. Thus times and seasons glide for the world, and they lead it gently from change to change without being perceived. Then the winter change enters, and adds little by little cold, until Shebat, which is the peak of winter. And from its height and beyond, that strong cold again decreases, and again the time of the change of Teshri approaches. And thus times revolve and changes are arranged with great care and provident wisdom of the wise Creator of all, little by little, as it is said, because of the stability and preservation of this world and of all the natures and beings that are in it.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܫܘܼܚܠܦܐ ܬܐܕܪܝܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'change of Teshri' (šuḥlāfā tēšrīyā) refers to the autumn equinox, a key seasonal transition in the Syriac calendar. The text uses it to structure the annual cycle.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܒܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ","severity":"info","text":"The repeated phrase 'little by little' (b-qalīl qalīl) is a stylistic marker of gradual change, central to the author's argument about the imperceptible transitions of seasons and the providential order.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܬܫܪܝܢ ܩܕܝܡ","severity":"info","text":"Teshri Qadim (First Teshri) corresponds to October in the Syriac calendar, and Teshri Acharay (Second Teshri) to November. The text uses these months to illustrate the gradual cooling from autumn to winter.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the sequential description of seasonal changes, moving from spring and summer through autumn to winter, and then looping back to the next spring. The pattern mirrors the cyclical structure of Book 6.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The description of times and seasons 'gliding' and being led 'gently from change to change' echoes the Neoplatonic concept of gradual cosmic procession, also found in earlier Syriac cosmological works.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The emphasis on the 'wise Creator' and providential ordering of seasons reflects the work's reception in Syriac Christian circles, where natural phenomena were interpreted as evidence of divine wisdom.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac text is clear; no significant ambiguities in this passage."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":40,"ref":"p40","source":"ܘܡܼܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ [ܘܕܐܝܟ ܗܠܝܢ] ܦܘܼܪ̈ܢܣܐ ܚܟܝܼ̈ܡܐ ܘܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐ ܬܗܝܼܪ̈ܐ. ܘܡܼܬܟܪܟܢܘܼܬ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ. ܘܡܛܟܣܘܼܬ ܥܕ̈ܢܐ. ܘܡܬܚܡܘܼܬ ܫܢ̈ܝܐ ܘܝܪ̈ܚܐ. ܘܫܘܝܘܼܬ ܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܘܢܝܼܚܘܼܬ ܪ̈ܣܝܼܣܐ. ܘܠܐ ܡܟܬܪܢܘܼܬ ܡܚܫ̈ܘܼܠܐ. ܘܥܣܩܘܼܬ ܥܕ̈ܢ ܕܒܪ̈ܩܐ ܥܙ̈ܝܼܙܐ ܘܪ̈ܥܡܐ ܥܫܝܼ̈ܢܐ ܘܡܼܛܪ̈ܐ ܚܒ̈ܝܼܛܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܠܐ ܡܬܝܼܚܘܼܬ ܫܥܬܐ ܪ̈ܥܠܐ ܘܙܘܥ̈ܐ ܘܢܘܕ̈ܐ. ܘܡܼܢ ܣܿܓܝܼ ܬܗܝܼܪ̈ܬܐ ܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܠܝܢ܆ ܝܼܕܥܢܢ ܘܐܫܬܿܪܪܢܢ ܕܠܐ ܦܘܼܠܓ܆ ܕܡܪܐ ܘܡܒܪܢܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܠܗܿܢܐ ܥ݀ܠܡܐ. ܗܿܘ ܕܗܼ، ܒܪܝܗܝ ܘܬܩܢܗ ܘܐܩܝܼܡܗ. ܘܗܘܼܝܘܼ ܡܦܪܢܣ ܠܟܿܠ ܕܒܗ ܘܝܿܨܦ ܚܟܝܼܡܐܝܼܬ\nܘܡܫܡܠܝܐܝܼܬ ܘܡܠܝܼܠܐܝܬ. ܘܠܝܬ ܠܗ ܣܩܘܼܒܠܐ ܘܠܐ ܫܘܬܦܐ. ܘܠܐ ܒܪ ܦܚܼܡܐ. ܐܠܐ ܚܕ ܗܼܘ ܒܠܚܘܼܕ ܚܝܠܐ ܘܫܘܼܠܛܢܐ. ܘܟܝܿܢܐ ܘܨܒܝܿܢܐ ܘܡܪܘܼܬܐ ܘܡܕܒܪܢܘܼܬܐ. ܘܗܼܘ ܡܿܨܐܼ ܟܿܠ ܘܡܿܠܐܼ ܠܟܿܠ. ܘܣܿܦܩ ܠܟܿܠ. ܘܐܢ ܫܡܼܫܐ ܗܿܢ ܕܐܝܼܬܘ̄ ܚܕ ܡܼܢ ܒܪ̈ܝܬܗ ܗܿܟܢܐ ܣܿܥܪ ܚܝܠܐ ܕܟܝܿܢܗ ܘܥ݀ܒܪ ܒܓܘܼܫ̈ܡܐ ܛܡܝܼ̈ܡܐ ܘܒܐܪܥܐ ܘܝܡ̈ܡܐ ܘܒܟܿܠ ܒܪ̈ܝܢ. ܘܠܝܬ ܕܛ݀ܫܐ ܡܼܢ ܠܗܓܗ. ܡܕܝܢ ܟܡܐ ܠܟܡܐ ܚܝܠܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܒܪܘܼܝܗ ܕܫܡܼܫܐ ܘܕܟܿܠ ܒܪ̈ܝܢ ܕܠܥܠ ܘܠܬܼܚܬ ܡܿܨܐܼ ܟܿܠ. ܘܣܿܦܩ ܠܟܿܠ. ܚܕ ܗܼܘ ܕܠܐ ܦܘܼܠܓ. ܡܪܐ ܐܚܝܼܕ ܟܿܠ. ܘܡܕܒܪ ܟܿܠ. ܕܗܘܼ ܒܼܪܐ ܘܐܬܩܢ ܟܿܠ. ܘܝ݀ܨܦ ܘܡܦܪܢܣ ܘܡܛܟܣ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܒܚܟܼܡܬܗ ܪܒܬܐ ܘܡܨܝܬ݀ ܟܿܠ ܘܟܕ ܛܒܿ ܕܗܿܟܢ ܢܝܼܚܐܝܬ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܘܡܫܘܚܪܐܝܼܬ ܡܫܼܬܚܠܦܝܢ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܒܚܟܼܡܬܗ ܪܒܬܐ ܘܡܨܝܬ݀ ܟܿܠ ܘܟܕ ܛܒܿ ܕܗܿܟܢ ܢܝܼܚܐܝܬ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܘܡܫܘܚܪܐܝܼܬ ܡܫܼܬܚܠܦܝܢ ܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܕܫܢ̱ܬܐ. ܗܿܐ ܓܿܕܫ ܒܗܘܢ ܒܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐ ܚܘܼܒ̈ܠܐ ܣܿܓܝ̈ܐܐ. ܘܒܦܓܪ̈ܐ ܕܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ ܟ̈ܐܒܐ ܘܟܘܼܪ̈ܗܢܐ ܘܐܫܬܘ̈ܬܐ ܕܙܢ̈ܝܢ ܙܢ̈ܝܢ.","english":"and many such wise varieties and wonderful changes, and the cycle of times, and the ordering of seasons, and the determination of hours and months, and the equality of rains and the tranquility of dews, and the non-persistence of storms, and the difficulty of seasons of violent lightnings and severe thunders and heavy rains, and the non-continuance of earthquakes, tremors, and disturbances for even an hour. And from many such wonderful things, it is known and established without doubt that this world has a Lord and Creator, He who created it, established it, and set it up. And He is the one who distributes everything in it and cares for it wisely, perfectly, and rationally. And He has no opponent nor partner nor any like Him, but He alone is power and authority, nature and will, lordship and governance. And He can do all and fills all and suffices for all. And if the sun, which is one of His creations, thus exercises the power of its nature and passes through foul bodies and through earth and seas and through all creatures, and nothing touches it, how much more so the power of God, the Creator of the sun and of all creatures above and below, can do all and suffices for all. He is one without division, the Lord who holds all and governs all, who created and established all, and cares for and distributes and orders the times with His great wisdom, and all things listen. And when thus gently, little by little, and gradually the times of the hour change, behold, many destructive changes occur in them, and in the bodies of living beings, pains, diseases, and disturbances of various kinds.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܦܘܼܪ̈ܥܣܐ ܚܟܝܼ̈ܡܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܦܘܼܪ̈ܥܣܐ ܚܟܝܼ̈ܡܐ (pūrʿāsē ḥakkīmē) means 'wise varieties' or 'prudent distinctions,' emphasizing the ordered diversity of natural phenomena as a sign of divine wisdom.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage reflects a common theme in Syriac cosmological literature: the regularity and harmony of the natural world (seasons, rains, cycles) as proof of a single Creator, echoing arguments in works like the Pseudo-Aristotelian De Mundo.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The passage moves from a catalogue of natural phenomena (varieties, cycles, seasons) to a theological conclusion: the world has a single Lord and Creator, then returns to the example of the sun to reinforce the argument.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The argument that the sun's orderly passage through 'foul bodies' (earth, seas) without harm proves God's greater power parallels similar reasoning in Syriac authors like Ephrem the Syrian (Hymns on Faith) and Narsai.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܡܼܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac phrase ܘܡܼܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ (w-mēn hālēn) is ambiguous: it can mean 'and from these' or 'and many such,' affecting whether the list is inclusive or exemplary. The English draft takes the latter reading.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase ܘܡܼܢ ܗܿܠܝܢ could be read as 'and from these' (referring back to the previous list) or 'and many such' (introducing a new list); the English draft opts for the latter.","The repetition of ܒܚܟܼܡܬܗ ܪܒܬܐ ܘܡܨܝܬ݀ ܟܿܠ in the Syriac may be a scribal dittography; the English draft condenses it."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]},{"i":41,"ref":"p41","source":"ܘܒܐܝܼ̈ܠܢܐ ܘܦܩ̈ܚܐ ܘܙܪ̈ܥܐ. ܘܫܘܒ̈ܢܐ ܘܢܟܝ̈ܢܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ. ܗܟܘܬ ܘܒܫܪܟܐ ܕܚܝ̈ܘܬܐ ܘܦܪ̈ܚܬܐ. ܡܕܝܢ ܐܢ ܡܼܢ ܫܝܠ ܓܕܫܝܢ ܗܘܼܘ ܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܐ. ܠܐܝܢܐ ܚܒܠܐ ܫܪܟ ܗܘܼܐ ܥ݀ܠܡܐ. ܫܘܼܒܚܐ ܠܗ ܠܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܚܟܝܼܡ ܒܟܿܠ ܟܡܐ ܬܗܝܼܪܐ ܘܫܒܝܼܚܐ ܡܕܒܪܢܘܼܬܗ.. ܘܐܟܙܢܐ ܕܐ̱ܢܫ ܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܕܙܓܘܓܝܼܬܐ. ܕܟܕ ܥ݀ܒܕ ܘܡܬܩܢ ܡ̈ܐܢܐ ܣܿܓܝܼ̈ܐܐ ܘܡܫܚ̈ܠܦܐ ܡܼܢ ܙܓܘܓܝܼܬܐ. ܒܗ ܒܥܕܢܐ ܕܡܫܡܠܐ ܘܡܚܬܡ ܠܗ ܠܡܐܢܐ. ܟܕ ܗܼܘ ܥܕܟܝܠ ܓܘܼܫܡܗ ܕܡܐܢܐ ܐܝܼܬܘܗܝ ܢܘܼܪܐ܆ ܣܿܐܡ ܠܗ ܩܕܡܐ ܒܒܝܬܐ ܡܨܥܝܐ ܕܐܬܘܼܢܐ ܠܥܼܠ ܡܼܢ ܐܝܟܐ ܕܡܫܼܬܠܗܒܐ ܢܘܼܪܐ. ܘܐܼܠܘܼ ܒܗ ܒܥܕܢܐ ܕܡܬܚܡ ܗܘܼܐ ܠܗ ܠܡܐܢܐ ܣܿܐܡ ܗܘܼܐ ܠܣܛܪ ܡܼܢ ܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬܐ ܕܢܘܼܪܐ܆ ܒܗܿ ܒܫܿܥܬܐ ܡܼܬܬܒܪ ܗܘܼܐ ܘܡܬܼܚܒܠ. ܐܠܐ ܣܿܐܡ ܠܗ ܒܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܒܒܝܬܐ ܡܼܨܥܝܐ ܐܝܟܐ ܕܠܐ ܥܙܝܼܙܐ ܢܘܼܪܐ ܐܝܟ ܗܿܘ ܬܚܬܝܐ ܕܡܫܼܬܠܗܒ. ܐܝܟܐ ܕܐܬܦܫܪܬ݀ ܙܓܘܓܝܬܐ ܘܐܬܼܦܠܚ ܘܐܬܼܬܩܢ ܡܐܢܐ. ܘܗܿܟܢܐ ܠܟܿܠܗܘܢ ܡ̈ܐܢܐ ܕܦܿܠܚ܆ ܬܡܿܢ ܣܿܕܪ ܘܣܿܐܡ. ܘܟܕ ܡܚܬܡ ܥܒܿܕܗ ܘܩܿܐܡ ܡܼܢ ܦܘܼܠܚܢܗ܆ ܣܿܟܪ ܬܪ̈ܥܐ ܕܒ̈ܬܐ ܕܐܬܘܼܢܐ ܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܘܫܿܐܥ ܒܛܝܼܢܐ ܕܠܐ ܢܥܘܿܠ ܐܐܪ ܘܢܚܒܠ ܠܥܒܿܕܐ. ܘܫܿܒܩ ܠܗ ܟܿܠܗ ܠܠܝܐ ܘܝܡܐ ܕܒܬܪܘܗܝ ܦ݀ܟܗܐ ܫܚܝܼܢܘܼܬܐ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܘܕܥܿܟܐ ܢܘܼܪܐ. ܘܗܿܠܝܕܝܢ ܩܕܡܐܝܬ ܦܿܬܚ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܡܕܡ ܡܼܢ ܒܣܬܪ ܐܬܘܼܢܐ. ܘܒܬܪ ܫ݀ܥܬܐ ܬܘܼܒ ܩܠܝܼܠ. ܘܠܐ ܡܣܪܗܒ. ܐܠܐ ܡܐܓܪ ܪܘܼܚܐ ܕܠܐ ܢܼܬܢܟܐ ܦܘܼܠܚܢܐ. ܘܗܿܟܢܐ ܟܿܠܗ ܝܘܡܐ ܡܼܬܚܟܡ ܥܕ ܩܿܐܡ ܐܬܘܼܢܐ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ. ܘܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܡܩܪܒ ܠܦܘܼܠܚܢܐ ܠܘܬ݀ ܬܪܥܐ ܕܒܝܬܐ ܗܿܘ ܡܼܨܥܝܐ ܕܐܬܘܼܢܐ. ܘܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܡܩܪܒ ܒܕܦ݀ܟܗܐ ܚܡܝܼܡܘܼܬܐ. ܗܿܝܕܝܢ ܢܿܣܒ ܚܕ ܚܕ ܘܣܿܕܪ ܥܠ ܐܓܪܐ ܕܐܬܘܢܐ.","english":"and in trees and fruits and seeds, and in many kinds of plants and herbs. So also in the rest of the animals and birds, if something had happened to the changes, no destruction would have remained in the world. Praise to him, to the wise Artificer, how excellent and glorious is his governance. And likewise concerning the Artificer of the furnace, that when he makes and fashions many and various vessels with the furnace, at the time when he completes and finishes the vessel, while the body of the vessel is still fire, he places it first in the middle chamber of the furnace, away from the place where the fire blazes. And if at the time when he was finishing the vessel he had placed it aside from the heat of the fire, at that very hour it would have broken and been destroyed. But he places it with knowledge in the middle chamber, where the fire is not strong like that lower one which blazes, where the furnace is tempered and the vessel is worked and fashioned. And thus for all the vessels that he works, there he arranges and places them. And when he finishes his work and it stands from its working, he closes the doors of all the chambers of the furnace and seals them with clay so that air does not enter and destroy the work. And he leaves it thus all night and the next day, after which a little gentle and mild fire. And then gradually he opens a little from behind the furnace. And after an hour again a little. And he does not hasten, but draws out the air so that the work is not disturbed. And thus all day he proceeds cautiously until the furnace stands a little at a time. And then he brings the work to the door of that middle chamber of the furnace. And little by little he brings the heat near with the fire. Then he takes them one by one and arranges them on the floor of the furnace.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܘܼܡܢܐ","severity":"info","text":"The Syriac term ܐܘܼܡܢܐ (ʾummānā) is rendered 'Artificer' in the English draft. It denotes a skilled craftsman or designer, here applied to the divine creator, consistent with the work's theological framework.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܙܓܘܓܝܼܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The description of the furnace (ܙܓܘܓܝܼܬܐ, zgūgīṯā) and its chambers reflects ancient glassmaking or metalworking techniques, where controlled cooling was essential to prevent breakage. This practical knowledge illustrates divine wisdom in governance.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage continues the narrative from the previous section, which listed natural phenomena. It now shifts to a detailed analogy of the furnace artisan, reinforcing the theme of divine order and care in creation.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"parallel","kind":"parallel","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The analogy of the furnace and the gradual cooling of vessels parallels similar imagery in Syriac literature, such as in the works of Ephrem the Syrian, who often uses craft metaphors to describe divine creation and providence.","cites":[],"named_sources":["Ephrem the Syrian"],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܦܟܗܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The Syriac term ܦܟܗܐ (pakkāhā) is translated as 'fire' in the English draft, but it more specifically means 'bellows' or 'blast of air' used to stoke a fire. The sense here is the controlled application of heat, not fire itself.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The exact number and arrangement of the furnace chambers is not fully specified; the text mentions a 'middle chamber' and a 'lower' one, but the full layout is unclear.","The term ܦܟܗܐ (pakkāhā) could be interpreted as either 'fire' or 'bellows'; the reading 'fire' is adopted in the English draft, but 'bellows' may better reflect the controlled air supply described."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":42,"ref":"p42","source":"ܘܗܿܟܢܐ ܡܕܒܪ ܒܝܼܕܥܬܗ ܘܡܫܘܙܠ ܠܟܿܠܗ ܦܘܼܠܚܢܐ. ܘܐܡܼܬܝ ܬܘܼܒ ܕܨܿܒܐ ܕܢܐܙܠ ܙܓܘܓܝܬܐ ܠܦܘܼܠܚܢܐ. ܐܘܿ ܡܐܢܐ ܕܙܓܘܓܝܬܐ ܢܗܦܟ ܠܢܘܼܪܐ. ܗܟܘܬ݀ ܡܕܒܪ ܘܥ݀ܒܕ. ܘܒܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܡܩܪܒ ܠܗܘܿܢ ܠܫܚܝܼܢܘܼܬܐ. ܘܒܩܕܡܐ ܣܿܐܡ ܒܒܝܬܐ ܡܼܨܥܝܐ ܐܝܟܐ ܕܩܠܝܼܠ ܫܚܝܼܢ ܗܘܼܦܟܗܿ ܕܢܘܼܪܐ\nܘܡܘܚܪܐ [ܢܘܪܐ] ܪܟܝܼܟܬܐ. ܘܒܩܠܝܼܠ ܩܠܝܼܠ ܡܚܝܠ ܠܗ ܒܐܘܼܡܢܘܼܬܗ ܟܕ ܠܐ ܡܣܼܬܿܪܗܒ. ܘܗܟܢܐ ܒܝܼܕܥܬܐ ܡܫܡܠܐ ܥܒܿܕܗ ܘܡܢܛܪ ܦܘܼܠܚܢܗ. ܕܐܝܟ ܗܿܟܢ ܥܒܼܕ ܘܦܪܢܣ ܗܿ، ܐܪܕܝܼܟܠܐ ܬܩܝܼܦܐ ܘܐܘܼܡܢܐ ܚܟܝܼܡܐ ܕܨܒܘ̈ܬܐ ܕܒܪ̈ܝܬܐ. ܘܛܟܣ ܠܙܒ̈ܢܐ ܘܥܕ̈ܢܐ ܘܫܘܼܚܠ̈ܦܝ ܫܢ̱ܬܐ ܒܝܕܥܬܐ ܣܿܓܝܼܐܬܐ ܘܚܼܟܡܬܐ ܪܒܬܐ. ܡܛ݀ܠ ܫܦܝܼܪܘܼܬ ܩܘܼܝܿܡܐ. ܘܢܛܝܼܪܘܼܬܐ ܕܥܿܠܡܐ ܗܿܢܐ ܕܒܪܐ ܘܐܬܼܩܢ ܒܛܝܒܘܼܬܗ. ܟܕ ܗܼܘ ܠܐ ܣܢܝܼܩ ܗܘܼܐ. ܐܠܐ ܡܛ݀ܠ ܥܘܼܕܪܢܐ ܕܒܪ̈ܝܐ ܘܥܒܝܼܕ̈ܐ. ܠܫܘܼܘܫܛܗܘܢ ܘܠܬܪܒܝܬܗܘܢ ܕܒܡܝܬܪܘܼܬܐ ܘܕܘܼܒܪ̈ܐ ܬܩ̈ܢܐ. ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܒܝܕ ܗܿܠܝܢ ܢܼܬܥܠܘܢ ܒܝܕܥܬܐ ܘܢܼܬܓܘܘܢ ܒܚܟܼܡܬܐ ܫܪܝܼܪܬܐ. ܘܢܼܬܩܪܒܘܢ ܠܘܬ݀ ܫܟܝܼܢܬܐ ܕܪܒܘܼܬܗ. ܘܢܼܬܢܗܪܘܢ ܡܼܢ ܙܠ̈ܝܼܩܝ ܙܝܼܘܐ ܘܗܪܕܐ ܕܬܼܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܕܪܒܘܬܗ. ܘܠܗ ܦܐܝܐ ܘܡܬܬܚܝܼܒܐ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܘܬܘܕܝܼܬܐ ܘܣܓܕܬܐ ܒܟܿܠܗܘܿܢ ܥܠ̈ܡܐ ܕܒܪܬ ܘܬܩܢܬ݀ ܡܪܘܬܗ. ܠܥܿܠܡܥܿܠܡܝܢ ܐܡܝܢ܀ ܘܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܠܡ ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܫܒܥܐ ܒܝܕ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܚܝܠ ܘܥܕܪ܆\nܫܠܡ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܫܬܐ ܕܥܠ ܝܕܥܬܐ ܕܫܪܪܐ ܒܝܕ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܚܝܠ ܘܥܕܪ. ܕܐܣܬܝܟܘ ܒܗ ܩܦ̈ܠܐܐ ܫܒܥܐ ܕܒܗܘܿܢ ܐܬܼܡܠܠ ܫܒܝܼܚܐܝܼܬ ܥܠ ܟܿܠܗܝܢ [ܗܠܝܢ] ܕܬܚܝܬ ܡܘܙܠܬܐ ܘܒܐܬܝܼܪ ܘܒܐܐܪ ܘܥܕܡܐ ܠܐܪܥܐ ܓܿܕܫ̈ܢ ܀ ܀","english":"Thus He governs with His wisdom and directs the entire creation. And again, when He wills to send the potter to the work, or the clay of the potter to turn into a vessel, so He governs and acts. And little by little He brings it near to perfection, and first places it in the middle of the house where the turning of the vessel is slight, and the soft [vessel] is thinned. And little by little He strengthens it with its substance, without haste. And thus with wisdom He completes its making and preserves its work. For just as He made and spread forth this, the strong arch and the wise substance of the natures of creation, and He ordered the times, seasons, and changes of the hour with great wisdom and vast knowledge, because of the beauty of existence and the preservation of this world which He created and established by His goodness, while He Himself was not in need, but because of the help of creatures and made things, for their order and their upbringing in excellence and in firm conduct, so that through these they might be instructed in wisdom and grow in true knowledge, and approach the perfection of His greatness, and be adorned with the rays of light and the splendor of the praise of His greatness. And to Him is due and owed praise, thanksgiving, and adoration in all the worlds of creation and the establishment of His lordship, forever and ever. Amen. And with these are completed the seven chapters by the help of God Almighty.\n\nThe sixth treatise on the knowledge of truth is completed, by the help of God Almighty, in which seven chapters were spoken gloriously concerning all those things that are under the sphere, and in the air, and in the fire, and down to the earth and its events.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܒܗܿܠܝܢ ܫܠܡ ܩܦܠܐܘܢ ܕܫܒܥܐ","severity":"info","text":"The closing formula marks the end of the seven chapters (kephalaea) of Book 6, confirming the work's internal division into seven sections.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"ܐܪܕܝܼܟܠܐ ܬܩܝܼܦܐ","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'strong arch' (ardīklā taqīpā) likely refers to the firmament or celestial sphere, a key concept in Syriac cosmology as a structured boundary of the created order.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"ܙܓܘܓܝܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The potter (zaggūgītā) metaphor illustrates divine craftsmanship, common in Syriac theological literature to describe God's shaping of the world with wisdom and care.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"text","lemma":"ܫܠܡ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܫܬܐ","severity":"info","text":"The colophon identifies this as the sixth treatise (mēmrā) on the knowledge of truth, indicating the work's reception as a structured theological discourse within Syriac manuscript tradition.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"ܘܡܘܚܪܐ [ܢܘܪܐ] ܪܟܝܼܟܬܐ","severity":"caution","text":"The phrase 'and the soft [vessel] is thinned' contains a bracketed correction in the Syriac edition, suggesting a textual variant or scribal emendation; the original reading may be uncertain.","cites":[{"key":"ed:dsc-511","label":"source edition: Cause of all Causes: Book 6","url":"https://syriaccorpus.org/511"}],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The Syriac text has a bracketed insertion in the phrase about the soft vessel, indicating possible textual corruption or editorial emendation.","The precise referent of 'strong arch' could be the firmament or a specific cosmological structure, but the text does not elaborate."],"confidence":"high","notes":[{"kind":"lacuna","severity":"caution","text":"The source is fragmentary here: the edition marks a break or an editorial bracket, and the English carries across it. Treat the bridge as supplied, not translated."}]}]}