Gorgias Press
Founded in 2001 Gorgias Press is an independent academic publisher of books and journals related to history, languages, and religious studies, with specific areas of expertise in the Ancient Near East, Arabic and Islamic Studies, Archaeology, Biblical Studies, Classics, Early Christianity, Jewish Studies, Linguistics, and Syriac.

Gorgias [GOR-gee-us] Press was originally created by George and Christine Kiraz as a specialty press that could keep up with their research interests. With a background in computational linguistics, George Kiraz envisioned combining cutting-edge technology with humanities research. The new company would be completely online, with no physical storefront, and it would use automation and digital printing technology rather than traditional print runs. With these tools, the press could afford to publish rare and understudied topics that were previously considered unprofitable, and Gorgias soon became known for its pioneering work in language and linguistics, religion, and especially Syriac and Eastern Christianity.
Gorgias’ philosophy of “Publishing for the Sake of Knowledge” rather than profit, attracted a number of new authors, and the press’ areas of interest rapidly began to expand. Today, Gorgias Press publishes 50-60 new titles a year, including monographs, edited volumes, translations, and more, and Gorgias books can be found in academic collections all over the world.
The Reception and Remembrance of Abraham Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 160
ISBN: 9781463200541
Pub Date: 04 Aug 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Perspectives on Hebrew Scriptures and its Contexts
Description:
This book explores the role of the biblical patriarch Abraham in the formation and use of authoritative texts in the Persian and Hellenistic periods. It reflects a conference session in 2009 focusing on Abraham as a figure of cultural memory in the literature of these periods. Cultural memory is the shared reproduction and recalling of what has been learned and retained.
The Two Syriac Versions of the Prayer of Manasseh Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 279
ISBN: 9781463200503
Pub Date: 03 Aug 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Gorgias Eastern Christian Studies
Description:
The authors present a detailed philological and linguistic comparison of two versions of The Prayer of Manasseh. Combing state-of-the-art computational tools together with traditional philology, the texts are compared at all linguistic levels, from their vocabulary up to their discursive structure, with a special emphasis on their morphology and syntax. The results are revealing not only for the question of the relationship between the two versions, but they also illuminate various debates pertaining to Syriac syntax.
Introduction to Syriac Reading and Writing Cover
Format: Paperback
Pages: 56
ISBN: 9781463200855
Pub Date: 01 Aug 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Gorgias Handbooks
Description:
This volume introduces the letters of the Syriac alphabet a few at the time, and each set of letters is accompanied by guides to pronunciation and the correct way to write the letters, including helpful charts and illustrations. Practice exercises at the end of each section provide the user with copious opportunities for review to facilitate rapid acquisition. This volume will be helpful to all who want to learn the basics of Syriac pronunciation and orthography without being inundated with technical linguistic jargon.
Bibliothecae Syriacae Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 266
ISBN: 9781611434736
Pub Date: 28 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Syriac Studies Library
Description:
Most of the Bible in Syriac, with eight fragments in Greek.
The History of the New Testament Canon in the Syrian Church Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 77
ISBN: 9781611433562
Pub Date: 21 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Syriac Studies Library
Description:
In this volume, Julius Bewer attempts to construct a coherent history of the tramsission of the New Testament documents in the early Syriac tradition.
The Semitic Alphabets Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 376
ISBN: 9781611436815
Pub Date: 21 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Kiraz Historical Grammars Archive
Description:
Isaac Taylor (1829-1901) is best known for his archaeological and philological works, especially his detailed study of the alphabets published in 1883. This book on the Semitic alphabets comprises the first volume of Taylor’s 1883 study. Taylor begins with a discussion on the invention of writing and the origin of the alphabet, then gives a discussion of three alphabetic families, what he calls the Phoenician alphabet, the Aramean alphabets (covering Palmyra, Hebrew, Syriac, Mongolian, and Arabic), and the south Semitic alphabets (covering Sabean and Ethiopic).
The Religions of Modern Syria and Palestine Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 372
ISBN: 9781611436044
Pub Date: 21 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Syriac Studies Library
Description:
This volume represents the Bross Lectures given by Frederick J. Bliss in 1908 in which he describes the religious practices of Christians and Muslims in Syria and Palestine.
Les origines de l’église d’Édesse et des églises syriennes Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 161
ISBN: 9781617192289
Pub Date: 21 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Syriac Studies Library
Description:
Beginning with the letters of Paul and the Acts of the Apostles, Martin follows the course of Christianity into its becoming so important in Edessa and its branching out from there to other regions.
Auszüge aus syrischen Akten persischer Märtyrer Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 349
ISBN: 9781611436273
Pub Date: 21 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Syriac Studies Library
Description:
Georg Hoffmann provides here a German translation of several extensive excerpts from the Syriac Acts of the Persian Martyers.
A Catalogue of Articles on Syriac Subjects in the Arabic Periodicals (vol 2) Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 450
ISBN: 9781607243403
Pub Date: 21 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Kiraz References Archive
Description:
A comprehensive catalogue of articles relating to Syriac studies published in Arabic-language periodicals up to the 1970s. Volume 1 covers articles published in the journal Al-Mashriq, while Volume 2 covers articles published in all other journals.
Christians in China Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 354
ISBN: 9781611436051
Pub Date: 21 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Syriac Studies Library
Description:
A. C. Moule presents here a survey of the sources for Christianity in China prior to 1550 in order to construct a history of Christianity in China prior to the modern missions of the sixteenth century.
Saint Ephrem le Syrien Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 180
ISBN: 9781617193095
Pub Date: 12 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Syriac Studies Library
Description:
In this multi-faceted study of Greek texts related to Ephrem, Emereau examines these works from a number of angles, including their poetic form, their influence on homily writers of the 5th cent., and Byzantine hymnography.
La Chaldée Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 219
ISBN: 9781617192555
Pub Date: 12 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Syriac Studies Library
Description:
French orientalist Paulin Martin (1840-1890) here discusses Christianity in 19th century Iraq and the surrounding areas.
Les origines de l’église d’Édesse et la légende d’Abgar Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 203
ISBN: 9781617191800
Pub Date: 12 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Syriac Studies Library
Description:
This volume is a study of the origins of Christianity in Edessa, covering the question from both a historical and a legendary perspective, including the Doctrine of Addai.
Neo-Assyrian Prophecy and the Hebrew Bible: Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 404
ISBN: 9781463200770
Pub Date: 12 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Perspectives on Hebrew Scriptures and its Contexts
Description:
Previous generations of scholars believed that prophecy was unique to ancient Israel. However, recent archaeological discoveries reveal that numerous societies in the ancient Near East practiced prophecy. This study examines the similarities and differences between Neo-Assyrian and biblical prophecy, particularly focusing on the 7th c.
Nestorius and his Teaching Cover
Format: Hardback
Pages: 254
ISBN: 9781617192418
Pub Date: 12 Jul 2011
Imprint: Gorgias Press
Series: Syriac Studies Library
Description:
This still standard study on Nestorius is guided by the question: Did Nestorius mean what people have thought that he meant? Chapters cover the sources and content for our knowledge about his teaching.