palästraAramäische

PalästraAramäische refers to the Aramaic language. Aramaic is a Semitic language that likely originated in ancient Syria. It has a long history, with evidence of its use dating back to the early first millennium BCE. Over centuries, Aramaic became a lingua franca across much of the Middle East, playing a significant role in trade, administration, and religious texts.

The Aramaic alphabet, derived from Phoenician script, is considered one of the most influential writing systems in history, forming the basis for scripts like Hebrew, Arabic, and even the Latin alphabet indirectly. Various dialects of Aramaic emerged over time, including Old Aramaic, Imperial Aramaic, and later, Jewish Aramaic, Syriac, and Neo-Aramaic dialects spoken today.

Crucially, Aramaic was the spoken language of Jesus and his disciples. Portions of the Hebrew Bible, such as the Book of Daniel and Ezra, are written in Aramaic. It was also the liturgical and scholarly language for many Jewish communities and a vital language for early Christianity, particularly in its Syriac form. Despite a decline in its widespread use due to the rise of Arabic, Aramaic continues to be spoken by a small number of communities and is studied for its historical and religious significance.