Day 11 - Ardā-Wirāz-nāmag. Excerpts (I)

On Day 11, we will start reading a significant and well-known Middle Persian treatise dedicated to the afterlife. In the beginning, we will go over the homework and discuss questions students might have had at home; then, we will read excerpts from the text of the Ardā-Wirāz-nāmag.

Homework and questions - At the beginning of the class students will be given a chance to ask questions related to the grammatical, lexical and stylistic aspects of the text of Wizārišn ī čatrang, after which a brief introduction to the new text will be given.

Reading - After checking the homework and answering the questions students had, we will read excerpts from the text of the Ardā-Wirāz-nāmag and explanations related to the difficult grammatical, lexical and stylistic aspects of the texts will be given. The reading of the text will be accompanied by interesting and stimulating discussions of the cultural, etymological, religious and historical aspects of the text.

Discussion and conversation - After completing the text, the remaining time will be dedicated to various activities related to enhancing the understanding of the text and language.

Text (excerpt from Ardā-Wirāz-nāmag):

ēdōn gōwēnd kū ēw-bār ahlaw zardušt dēn ī padīrift andar gēhān rawāg be kard. tā bawandagīh [ī] sēsad sāl dēn andar abēzagīh ud mardōm andar abē-gumānīh būd hēnd. ud pas gizistag gannāg mēnōg [ī] druwand gumān kardan ī mardōmān pad ēn dēn rāy ān gizistag *alek/sandar ī *hrōmāyīg ī muzrāyīg-mānišn wiyāb/ānēnīd *ud pad garān sezd ud *nibard ud *wišēg ō ērān-šahr *frēstīd. u-š ōy ērān dahibed ōzad ud dar ud xwadāyīh wišuft ud awērān kard.