The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa

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Scriptures Ginza Rabba Right Ginza Left Ginza Mandaean Book of John Qolasta Niana Haran Gawaita The Wedding of the Great Shishlam The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa Diwan Abatur The Thousand and Twelve Questions Scroll of Exalted Kingship The Coronation of the Great Shishlam Alma Rišaia Rba Alma Rišaia Zuṭa Zihrun Raza Kasia Scroll of the Parwanaya Book of the Zodiac Dmut Kušṭa Scroll of the Rivers Secrets of the Ancestors Scroll of the Ancestors
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Rituals Masbuta Masiqta Tamasha Rishama Kushta Qabin Misha
Ritual food and drink Mambuha Halalta Hamra Pihta Fatira Zidqa brika Lofani Sa Dukrana
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Objects and symbols Drabsha Rasta Burzinqa Pandama Klila Taga Riha Skandola
Cosmology Hayyi Rabbi World of Light Mana Manda Uthra Manda d-Hayyi Yushamin Abatur Ptahil Hibil Shitil Anush Sam Ziwa Bihram Rabba Adathan Yadathan Shilmai Nidbai Yawar Ziwa Simat Hayyi Yufin-Yufafin Nsab Nbat Gubran Shihlun Urfeil Marfeil Saureil Zihrun Etinsib Ziwa Piriawis Tarwan Yura Yurba Yukashar Ziwa Shahrat Malwasha Nishimta Dinanukht Shishlam Ezlat škina Dmuta Mshunia Kushta Adam kasia Adam pagria Shatrin Laufa Hitfun Tibil World of Darkness Sea of Suf Siniawis Matarta Ruha Ur Krun Gaf Qin Zahreil Anathan Giu Shdum Zartai-Zartanai Hag Mag
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The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa or Diwan Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziwa (

The scroll is lavishly illustrated, showing figures of dozens of uthras and mythological creatures and realms.

Synopsis of narrative

The beginning of the text is missing, and the text as it exists opens with Yawar Hibil approaching the King of Light, who baptises him in 360 yardeni, clothes him in 360 robes of light, and bestows him with the Great Mystery, seven staves, and other attributes. Hibil is dispatched to the World of Darkness, descends to confront and seal Krun, and ascends to the world of Qin, where he secretly takes the mysteries of the jewel, mirror and bitter herb from Qin when she reveals them, and captures Ruha, who is pregnant with Ur, also taking Ptahil.^[2]

He ascends further to the world of Gaf and offers prayers to the King of Light, who sends for Manda d-Hayyi to send a Letter of Kushta and phial of oil to Hibil, which are received, but Hibil and his companions remain detained by the powers of darkness, until a masiqta is performed, following which they ascend to the middle world, alarming the guards, in response to which the Great Mana dispatches Yushamin, who interrogates Hibil's identity and permits him re-entry to the World of Light. The remainder of the text is a detailed ritual commentary and instruction on the 360-fold baptism performed on Hibil after returning, which is a form of baptism traditionally used to restore ritual purity to a priest.^[2]

Manuscripts and translations

The Diwan Masbuta d-Hibil Ziwa and the

Add. 23,602B, Kholasta sive liturgica Sabiorum Libri Joannis Fragmenta Mendaice is a book of fragments that was probably obtained by Colonel John George Taylor. It contains fragments of Maṣbuta ḏ-Hibil Ziua and Alma Rišaia Rba.^[4]

Parallels

The narrative portion of the text parallels book 5 of the

It has also been compared to the Hymn of the Pearl from the apocryphal Acts of Thomas.^[5]

References