Adam Bremer-McCollum
@acbm.bsky.social
Aramaics, Coptic, Gəʕəz, Arabic, Iran. langs, Turk. langs, Old Georgian, Old Armenian 🎸🌱🍄☕️
Research Assoc., CSWR/HDS
Texts & Translations of Transcendence & Transformation (4T) https://tinyurl.com/494v9n59
The Pearlsong https://tinyurl.com/msajp4ut
Research Assoc., CSWR/HDS
Texts & Translations of Transcendence & Transformation (4T) https://tinyurl.com/494v9n59
The Pearlsong https://tinyurl.com/msajp4ut
Old Georgian word of the day
ცრემლო(ვ)ა
be teary, tearful, shed tears (ცრემლი tear) 😭
as in John 11:35 (pre-Ath)
და ცრემლოოდა იესუ
"and Jesus was tearful" (or "Jesus wept," if you like: ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς)
ცრემლო(ვ)ა
be teary, tearful, shed tears (ცრემლი tear) 😭
as in John 11:35 (pre-Ath)
და ცრემლოოდა იესუ
"and Jesus was tearful" (or "Jesus wept," if you like: ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς)
February 17, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Old Georgian word of the day
ცრემლო(ვ)ა
be teary, tearful, shed tears (ცრემლი tear) 😭
as in John 11:35 (pre-Ath)
და ცრემლოოდა იესუ
"and Jesus was tearful" (or "Jesus wept," if you like: ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς)
ცრემლო(ვ)ა
be teary, tearful, shed tears (ცრემლი tear) 😭
as in John 11:35 (pre-Ath)
და ცრემლოოდა იესუ
"and Jesus was tearful" (or "Jesus wept," if you like: ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς)
Reposted by Adam Bremer-McCollum
marvelous quote aside, does anybody know why ‘Arab’ might have been borrowed into Syriac with initial aleph rather than ayin? my first thought is that Greek/Latin are at play, but the CAL notes that ʔarbāy with initial aleph appears only in *later* texts
Barhebraeus in the 13th century on Uyghur script being adapted for Mongolian:
February 17, 2026 at 7:18 PM
marvelous quote aside, does anybody know why ‘Arab’ might have been borrowed into Syriac with initial aleph rather than ayin? my first thought is that Greek/Latin are at play, but the CAL notes that ʔarbāy with initial aleph appears only in *later* texts
Tonight! 📣
Theurgists, dactylic hexametrists, chresmologists, Porphyrians, and others: welcome, all!
And say "χαῖρε" if you're there in person!
Theurgists, dactylic hexametrists, chresmologists, Porphyrians, and others: welcome, all!
And say "χαῖρε" if you're there in person!
Next Tuesday, at Harvard and on Zoom, is the book launch for the second installment in our 4T series. Fabien Muller and Aaron Johnson will discuss Fabien's new book on Porphyry's /Letter to Anebo/ and /Philosophy from Oracles/. Please join us in-person or online!
Calendar | Center for the Study of World Religions
cswr.hds.harvard.edu
February 17, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Tonight! 📣
Theurgists, dactylic hexametrists, chresmologists, Porphyrians, and others: welcome, all!
And say "χαῖρε" if you're there in person!
Theurgists, dactylic hexametrists, chresmologists, Porphyrians, and others: welcome, all!
And say "χαῖρε" if you're there in person!
Reposted by Adam Bremer-McCollum
Some iron-hells from an Old Uyghur text (Totenmesse, ed. Röhrborn, 399-403):
/tämir yantirlıg tamu/
iron-tool hell
/tämir toorlug tamu/
iron-net hell
/tämir üŋürlüg tamu/
iron-cave hell
/tämir yumgaklıg tamu/
iron-ball hell
/tämir/ "iron"
/tamu/ "hell" (< Sgd)
/yantir/ (ult) < Skt /yantra/
/tämir yantirlıg tamu/
iron-tool hell
/tämir toorlug tamu/
iron-net hell
/tämir üŋürlüg tamu/
iron-cave hell
/tämir yumgaklıg tamu/
iron-ball hell
/tämir/ "iron"
/tamu/ "hell" (< Sgd)
/yantir/ (ult) < Skt /yantra/
Old Uyghur word of the day
/yumgak/
"lump, chunk, ball, piece"
as in *U 9175 (T II B 29) [lost; images in Müller, Uigurica, 1908]
/bir yumgak tašıg/
"a chunk of stone"
/yumgak/
"lump, chunk, ball, piece"
as in *U 9175 (T II B 29) [lost; images in Müller, Uigurica, 1908]
/bir yumgak tašıg/
"a chunk of stone"
February 16, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Some iron-hells from an Old Uyghur text (Totenmesse, ed. Röhrborn, 399-403):
/tämir yantirlıg tamu/
iron-tool hell
/tämir toorlug tamu/
iron-net hell
/tämir üŋürlüg tamu/
iron-cave hell
/tämir yumgaklıg tamu/
iron-ball hell
/tämir/ "iron"
/tamu/ "hell" (< Sgd)
/yantir/ (ult) < Skt /yantra/
/tämir yantirlıg tamu/
iron-tool hell
/tämir toorlug tamu/
iron-net hell
/tämir üŋürlüg tamu/
iron-cave hell
/tämir yumgaklıg tamu/
iron-ball hell
/tämir/ "iron"
/tamu/ "hell" (< Sgd)
/yantir/ (ult) < Skt /yantra/
Reposted by Adam Bremer-McCollum
E.C. Ball with Orna Ball - Aint No Grave Can Hold My Body Down [USA, Religious/Appalachian Music] (1973)
https://redd.it/vib508
https://youtu.be/WdMjWvyD8u4
https://redd.it/vib508
https://youtu.be/WdMjWvyD8u4
E.C. Ball with Orna Ball - Aint No Grave Can Hold My Body Down [USA, Religious/Appalachian Music] (1973)
youtu.be
February 16, 2026 at 10:09 PM
E.C. Ball with Orna Ball - Aint No Grave Can Hold My Body Down [USA, Religious/Appalachian Music] (1973)
https://redd.it/vib508
https://youtu.be/WdMjWvyD8u4
https://redd.it/vib508
https://youtu.be/WdMjWvyD8u4
Some iron-hells from an Old Uyghur text (Totenmesse, ed. Röhrborn, 399-403):
/tämir yantirlıg tamu/
iron-tool hell
/tämir toorlug tamu/
iron-net hell
/tämir üŋürlüg tamu/
iron-cave hell
/tämir yumgaklıg tamu/
iron-ball hell
/tämir/ "iron"
/tamu/ "hell" (< Sgd)
/yantir/ (ult) < Skt /yantra/
/tämir yantirlıg tamu/
iron-tool hell
/tämir toorlug tamu/
iron-net hell
/tämir üŋürlüg tamu/
iron-cave hell
/tämir yumgaklıg tamu/
iron-ball hell
/tämir/ "iron"
/tamu/ "hell" (< Sgd)
/yantir/ (ult) < Skt /yantra/
Old Uyghur word of the day
/yumgak/
"lump, chunk, ball, piece"
as in *U 9175 (T II B 29) [lost; images in Müller, Uigurica, 1908]
/bir yumgak tašıg/
"a chunk of stone"
/yumgak/
"lump, chunk, ball, piece"
as in *U 9175 (T II B 29) [lost; images in Müller, Uigurica, 1908]
/bir yumgak tašıg/
"a chunk of stone"
February 16, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Some iron-hells from an Old Uyghur text (Totenmesse, ed. Röhrborn, 399-403):
/tämir yantirlıg tamu/
iron-tool hell
/tämir toorlug tamu/
iron-net hell
/tämir üŋürlüg tamu/
iron-cave hell
/tämir yumgaklıg tamu/
iron-ball hell
/tämir/ "iron"
/tamu/ "hell" (< Sgd)
/yantir/ (ult) < Skt /yantra/
/tämir yantirlıg tamu/
iron-tool hell
/tämir toorlug tamu/
iron-net hell
/tämir üŋürlüg tamu/
iron-cave hell
/tämir yumgaklıg tamu/
iron-ball hell
/tämir/ "iron"
/tamu/ "hell" (< Sgd)
/yantir/ (ult) < Skt /yantra/
Reposted by Adam Bremer-McCollum
We regularly publish overviews of available digital sources in our sub-disciplines. If you're a student or teacher of South Asian, Central Asian, or East Asian languages and civilizations, check out our latest guides:
(links below⬇️)
(links below⬇️)
February 15, 2026 at 5:13 PM
We regularly publish overviews of available digital sources in our sub-disciplines. If you're a student or teacher of South Asian, Central Asian, or East Asian languages and civilizations, check out our latest guides:
(links below⬇️)
(links below⬇️)
ܟܕ ܐܬܩܛܠ ܗ̄ܘܐ ܡܠܟܐ ܗ̇ܘ ܪܫܝܥܐ ܠܘ ܟܠܒ̈ܐ ܠܕܡܗ ܠܚܟܘ؟
kaḏ ʔeṯqṭel-wå malkå haw raššiʕå, law kalbē la-ḏm-eh lḥaḵ?
kaḏ ʔeṯqṭel-wå malkå haw raššiʕå, law kalbē la-ḏm-eh lḥaḵ?
When that wicked king was slain, the dogs, did they not lick his blood?
February 15, 2026 at 9:31 PM
ܟܕ ܐܬܩܛܠ ܗ̄ܘܐ ܡܠܟܐ ܗ̇ܘ ܪܫܝܥܐ ܠܘ ܟܠܒ̈ܐ ܠܕܡܗ ܠܚܟܘ؟
kaḏ ʔeṯqṭel-wå malkå haw raššiʕå, law kalbē la-ḏm-eh lḥaḵ?
kaḏ ʔeṯqṭel-wå malkå haw raššiʕå, law kalbē la-ḏm-eh lḥaḵ?
This week in "Blunders by Big-name Big-price Publishers"
I purchased an Oxford paperback and Every. Single. Entry. of the bibliography is missing ALL or a portion of the last name. Some of the footnote citations are also missing whole chunks of text.
February 15, 2026 at 4:23 PM
This week in "Blunders by Big-name Big-price Publishers"
ܙ̇ܡܪ ܐ̇ܪܚܐ ܕܕܠܐ ܟܣܦܐ ܩܕܡ ܠܣܛܝܐ܃
/zåmar ʔårḥå ḏa-ḏlå ḵespå qḏåm lesṭåyå/
(12-syllable meter)
/zåmar ʔårḥå ḏa-ḏlå ḵespå qḏåm lesṭåyå/
(12-syllable meter)
Latin verse of the day:
cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator
(Juvenal, Satire 10.22)
"a traveler who is empty-handed can sing in the mugger's face."
cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator
(Juvenal, Satire 10.22)
"a traveler who is empty-handed can sing in the mugger's face."
February 15, 2026 at 3:10 PM
ܙ̇ܡܪ ܐ̇ܪܚܐ ܕܕܠܐ ܟܣܦܐ ܩܕܡ ܠܣܛܝܐ܃
/zåmar ʔårḥå ḏa-ḏlå ḵespå qḏåm lesṭåyå/
(12-syllable meter)
/zåmar ʔårḥå ḏa-ḏlå ḵespå qḏåm lesṭåyå/
(12-syllable meter)
Reposted by Adam Bremer-McCollum
Middle Georgian word of the day
გული
"heart, mind"
as in Visramiani/Vis o Rāmin (prose), ed. Gvakharia and Todua, p61
გამოჩნდა ვისის პირი და მისისა გამოჩენისაგან დატყუევდა რამინის გული
"the face of Vis was revealed, and Ramin's heart was captivated by her appearance"
გული
"heart, mind"
as in Visramiani/Vis o Rāmin (prose), ed. Gvakharia and Todua, p61
გამოჩნდა ვისის პირი და მისისა გამოჩენისაგან დატყუევდა რამინის გული
"the face of Vis was revealed, and Ramin's heart was captivated by her appearance"
February 14, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Middle Georgian word of the day
გული
"heart, mind"
as in Visramiani/Vis o Rāmin (prose), ed. Gvakharia and Todua, p61
გამოჩნდა ვისის პირი და მისისა გამოჩენისაგან დატყუევდა რამინის გული
"the face of Vis was revealed, and Ramin's heart was captivated by her appearance"
გული
"heart, mind"
as in Visramiani/Vis o Rāmin (prose), ed. Gvakharia and Todua, p61
გამოჩნდა ვისის პირი და მისისა გამოჩენისაგან დატყუევდა რამინის გული
"the face of Vis was revealed, and Ramin's heart was captivated by her appearance"
Reposted by Adam Bremer-McCollum
"Oriental Suite was originally released in 1979 on the Soviet label Melodiya and remains a rare example of modal jazz shaped from within Central Asian musical traditions rather than through exotic stylization."
Recorded 1979, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
maqomsoulrecords.bandcamp.com/album/orient...
Recorded 1979, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
maqomsoulrecords.bandcamp.com/album/orient...
February 15, 2026 at 6:22 AM
"Oriental Suite was originally released in 1979 on the Soviet label Melodiya and remains a rare example of modal jazz shaped from within Central Asian musical traditions rather than through exotic stylization."
Recorded 1979, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
maqomsoulrecords.bandcamp.com/album/orient...
Recorded 1979, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
maqomsoulrecords.bandcamp.com/album/orient...
"This is the Black history lesson Ivey and many of our lawmakers have been teaching us. The white Alabamians who dominate our government — who have dominated it from the start two centuries ago — see themselves as the victims of state history."
My column from Monday. The Alabama government’s ceaseless panic over DEI and Black history reminds us that the fundamental principle of state government over the last 200 years is silencing Black voices and pushing Black Alabamians out of public life.
How Alabama gives us a never-ending lesson in Black history | Alabama Reflector
By pushing their voices off campuses and out of classrooms, leaders remind us that controlling Black Alabamians has always been this state's priority.
alabamareflector.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:09 PM
"This is the Black history lesson Ivey and many of our lawmakers have been teaching us. The white Alabamians who dominate our government — who have dominated it from the start two centuries ago — see themselves as the victims of state history."
Middle Georgian word of the day
გული
"heart, mind"
as in Visramiani/Vis o Rāmin (prose), ed. Gvakharia and Todua, p61
გამოჩნდა ვისის პირი და მისისა გამოჩენისაგან დატყუევდა რამინის გული
"the face of Vis was revealed, and Ramin's heart was captivated by her appearance"
გული
"heart, mind"
as in Visramiani/Vis o Rāmin (prose), ed. Gvakharia and Todua, p61
გამოჩნდა ვისის პირი და მისისა გამოჩენისაგან დატყუევდა რამინის გული
"the face of Vis was revealed, and Ramin's heart was captivated by her appearance"
February 14, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Middle Georgian word of the day
გული
"heart, mind"
as in Visramiani/Vis o Rāmin (prose), ed. Gvakharia and Todua, p61
გამოჩნდა ვისის პირი და მისისა გამოჩენისაგან დატყუევდა რამინის გული
"the face of Vis was revealed, and Ramin's heart was captivated by her appearance"
გული
"heart, mind"
as in Visramiani/Vis o Rāmin (prose), ed. Gvakharia and Todua, p61
გამოჩნდა ვისის პირი და მისისა გამოჩენისაგან დატყუევდა რამინის გული
"the face of Vis was revealed, and Ramin's heart was captivated by her appearance"
Bar Bahlul's entry (col. 936) on ܠܒܐ /lebbå/ ❤️
"if it's about a person, it means 'heart [/qalb/], understanding [/fuʔād/],' and if it's about the sea, it means 'depth [/qaʕr/], abyss [/luǧǧah/],' [Syr] 'the heart of the sea.'"
[Syr /bar lebbå/, Arb /labab/]
"upper chest; chest strap"
"if it's about a person, it means 'heart [/qalb/], understanding [/fuʔād/],' and if it's about the sea, it means 'depth [/qaʕr/], abyss [/luǧǧah/],' [Syr] 'the heart of the sea.'"
[Syr /bar lebbå/, Arb /labab/]
"upper chest; chest strap"
February 14, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Bar Bahlul's entry (col. 936) on ܠܒܐ /lebbå/ ❤️
"if it's about a person, it means 'heart [/qalb/], understanding [/fuʔād/],' and if it's about the sea, it means 'depth [/qaʕr/], abyss [/luǧǧah/],' [Syr] 'the heart of the sea.'"
[Syr /bar lebbå/, Arb /labab/]
"upper chest; chest strap"
"if it's about a person, it means 'heart [/qalb/], understanding [/fuʔād/],' and if it's about the sea, it means 'depth [/qaʕr/], abyss [/luǧǧah/],' [Syr] 'the heart of the sea.'"
[Syr /bar lebbå/, Arb /labab/]
"upper chest; chest strap"
Reposted by Adam Bremer-McCollum
lufung, f.n: loving, action of loving. (LUH-vung / ˈlʌ-vʌŋ)
Image: Book of Hours; Flanders (Cambrai?), c. 1300-1310; Walters Art Museum, Ms. W.88, f. 139v.
#OldEnglish #WOTD
Image: Book of Hours; Flanders (Cambrai?), c. 1300-1310; Walters Art Museum, Ms. W.88, f. 139v.
#OldEnglish #WOTD
February 14, 2026 at 8:01 AM
lufung, f.n: loving, action of loving. (LUH-vung / ˈlʌ-vʌŋ)
Image: Book of Hours; Flanders (Cambrai?), c. 1300-1310; Walters Art Museum, Ms. W.88, f. 139v.
#OldEnglish #WOTD
Image: Book of Hours; Flanders (Cambrai?), c. 1300-1310; Walters Art Museum, Ms. W.88, f. 139v.
#OldEnglish #WOTD
Reposted by Adam Bremer-McCollum
Next Tuesday, at Harvard and on Zoom, is the book launch for the second installment in our 4T series. Fabien Muller and Aaron Johnson will discuss Fabien's new book on Porphyry's /Letter to Anebo/ and /Philosophy from Oracles/. Please join us in-person or online!
Calendar | Center for the Study of World Religions
cswr.hds.harvard.edu
February 13, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Next Tuesday, at Harvard and on Zoom, is the book launch for the second installment in our 4T series. Fabien Muller and Aaron Johnson will discuss Fabien's new book on Porphyry's /Letter to Anebo/ and /Philosophy from Oracles/. Please join us in-person or online!
Barhebraeus in the 13th century on Uyghur script being adapted for Mongolian:
February 13, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Barhebraeus in the 13th century on Uyghur script being adapted for Mongolian:
Old Armenian word of the day
խորշակ
/xoršak/
"hot, scorching wind" (cf. MP /hōšāg/ [same], Pa /hōš-/ "b/c dry")
as in Ełišē, ed. Tēr-Minassian, 111.6-8
Սառնամանիք ձմերայնւոյ եւ խորշակք ամարայնւոյ, հիւանդութիւնք տարաժամք եւ ախտք մահաբերք հանապազ տանջեն զմարդիկ
ET ⬇️
խորշակ
/xoršak/
"hot, scorching wind" (cf. MP /hōšāg/ [same], Pa /hōš-/ "b/c dry")
as in Ełišē, ed. Tēr-Minassian, 111.6-8
Սառնամանիք ձմերայնւոյ եւ խորշակք ամարայնւոյ, հիւանդութիւնք տարաժամք եւ ախտք մահաբերք հանապազ տանջեն զմարդիկ
ET ⬇️
February 13, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Old Armenian word of the day
խորշակ
/xoršak/
"hot, scorching wind" (cf. MP /hōšāg/ [same], Pa /hōš-/ "b/c dry")
as in Ełišē, ed. Tēr-Minassian, 111.6-8
Սառնամանիք ձմերայնւոյ եւ խորշակք ամարայնւոյ, հիւանդութիւնք տարաժամք եւ ախտք մահաբերք հանապազ տանջեն զմարդիկ
ET ⬇️
խորշակ
/xoršak/
"hot, scorching wind" (cf. MP /hōšāg/ [same], Pa /hōš-/ "b/c dry")
as in Ełišē, ed. Tēr-Minassian, 111.6-8
Սառնամանիք ձմերայնւոյ եւ խորշակք ամարայնւոյ, հիւանդութիւնք տարաժամք եւ ախտք մահաբերք հանապազ տանջեն զմարդիկ
ET ⬇️
Reposted by Adam Bremer-McCollum
OTD 1970 Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album in the UK (it'd be 4 more months until WB released it in the US). One of the most influential records of all-time. Entire genres and sub-genres have spawned from the notes on this album. RIP Ozzy.
February 13, 2026 at 2:17 PM
OTD 1970 Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album in the UK (it'd be 4 more months until WB released it in the US). One of the most influential records of all-time. Entire genres and sub-genres have spawned from the notes on this album. RIP Ozzy.
Reposted by Adam Bremer-McCollum
RIP Waylon Jennings. Gone 24 yrs now. Dang.
February 13, 2026 at 12:58 PM
RIP Waylon Jennings. Gone 24 yrs now. Dang.
👏 👏 👏
📕 New Release - 'Coptic Studies from Egypt to Los Angeles'
This volume, a Festschrift in honor of Hany N. Takla, presents a collection of essays–many of which contain unpublished archival material–showcasing historical and liturgical aspects of Coptic Christianity.
🔗 brill.com/display/ti...
This volume, a Festschrift in honor of Hany N. Takla, presents a collection of essays–many of which contain unpublished archival material–showcasing historical and liturgical aspects of Coptic Christianity.
🔗 brill.com/display/ti...
February 13, 2026 at 11:42 AM
👏 👏 👏
From 56 years ago today (also a Friday the 13th), a "Dark Star" that @bourgwick.bsky.social calls an "exquisite half-hour all-timer"
Dark Star (Live at Fillmore East, February 13-14, 1970)
YouTube video by Grateful Dead - Topic
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 11:40 AM
From 56 years ago today (also a Friday the 13th), a "Dark Star" that @bourgwick.bsky.social calls an "exquisite half-hour all-timer"
Next Tuesday, at Harvard and on Zoom, is the book launch for the second installment in our 4T series. Fabien Muller and Aaron Johnson will discuss Fabien's new book on Porphyry's /Letter to Anebo/ and /Philosophy from Oracles/. Please join us in-person or online!
Calendar | Center for the Study of World Religions
cswr.hds.harvard.edu
February 13, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Next Tuesday, at Harvard and on Zoom, is the book launch for the second installment in our 4T series. Fabien Muller and Aaron Johnson will discuss Fabien's new book on Porphyry's /Letter to Anebo/ and /Philosophy from Oracles/. Please join us in-person or online!
How to say hauberk and corslet in Syriac and Arabic according to Bar Bahlul (10th cent) [with help from Iranian vocabulary; NB also Syr ܬܢܘܪܐ /tannurå/]
February 13, 2026 at 11:01 AM
How to say hauberk and corslet in Syriac and Arabic according to Bar Bahlul (10th cent) [with help from Iranian vocabulary; NB also Syr ܬܢܘܪܐ /tannurå/]