The New Year festival in Edessa (1)

Text
Acts of Sharbel:
At the city of Edessa of the Parthians it was the great festival on the eighth of Nisan, on the third day of the week. The whole city was assembled together near the great altar which is in the middle of the city opposite the office of records, all the gods having been brought together, and been decorated, and set up in honour, both Nebu and Bel together with their companions. And all the high-priests were offering sweet incense and libations, and the odour of the sacrifices was diffusing itself, and sheep and oxen were being slaughtered, and the voice of the harp and the tabor was heard in the whole of the city. But Sharbel was the chief and ruler of all the priests, and he was greatly honoured above all his fellows, and he was clad in splendid and magnificent vestments, and a headband which was embossed with figures of gold was set upon his head, and at the intimation of his word everything that he ordered was done.

Source (list of abbreviations) (source links will open in a new browser window)
Acts of Sharbel

Bibliography

Amar Annus

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