Product Description

"Sisters of Sinai" tells an extraordinary tale of nineteenth century exploration; how two Scottish sisters made one of the most important ancient manuscript finds of the age. Hidden in a cupboard beneath the monastic library at St Catherine's in the Sinai desert the twins discovered what looked like a palimpsest: one text written over another. It was Agnes who recognized the obscured text for what it was - one of the earliest copies of the Gospels written in ancient Syriac. Once they had overcome the stubborn reluctance of Cambridge scholars to authenticate the find and had lead an expedition of quarrelsome academics back to Sinai to copy it, Agnes and Margaret - in middle years and neither with any university qualifications - embarked on a life of demanding scholarship and bold travel. In this enthralling book, Janet Soskice takes the reader on an astonishing journey from the Ayreshire of the sisters' childhood to the lost treasure trove of the Cairo genizah. We trace the footsteps of the intrepid pair as they voyage to Egypt, Sinai and beyond, Murray's guide book in hand coping with camels, unscrupulous dragomen, and unpredictable welcomes. We enter the excitement and mystery of the Gospel origins at a time when Christianity was under attack in Europe. Crucially this is the story of two remarkable women who, as widows, were undeterred in their spirit of adventure and who overcame insuperable odds to become world class scholars with a place in history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10713 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

Review
`This rattling tale appears to come straight from an Indiana Jones adventure. An excellent job.'
--Scotland on Sunday

Review
`a cracking tale of two irresistible characters'

From the Inside Flap
Sisters of Sinai tells an extraordinary tale of nineteenth century exploration; how two Scottish sisters made one of the most important ancient manuscript finds of the age. Hidden in a cupboard beneath the monastic library at St Catherine’s in the Sinai desert the twins discovered what looked like a palimpsest: one text written over another. It was Agnes who recognized the obscured text for what it was – one of the earliest copies of the Gospels written in ancient Syriac. Once they had overcome the stubborn reluctance of Cambridge scholars to authenticate the find and had lead an expedition of quarrelsome academics back to Sinai to copy it, Agnes and Margaret –in middle years and neither with any university qualifications – embarked on a life of demanding scholarship and bold travel.
In this enthralling book, Janet Soskice takes the reader on an astonishing journey from the Ayreshire of the sisters’ childhood to the lost treasure trove of the Cairo Genizah. We trace the footsteps of the intrepid pair as they voyage to Egypt, Sinai and beyond, Murray’s guide book in hand coping with camels, unscrupulous dragomen, and unpredictable welcomes. We enter the excitement and mystery of the Gospel origins at a time when Christianity was under attack in Europe. Crucially this is the story of two remarkable women who, as widows, were undeterred in their spirit of adventure and who overcame insuperable odds to become world class scholars with a place in history.

Customer Reviews

Stars of Sinai
Janet Soskice has brought to vivid life the extraordinary story of the Smith sisters, Agnes and Margaret, staunch Scottish Presbyterians, who did the unthinkable for two respectable ladies of the mid Victorian era. Not only were they well educated, in itself unusual at a time when education for ladies tended to stop at watercolouring, embroidery, a little piano playing and possibly a smattering of French. The Smith sisters were fortunate in having considerable private means, but their intellectual vigour ( encouraged from the earliest by their widower father ) led them to pursue biblical scholarship. They learnt to speak and read, (besides the customary European languages, French, Italian and German), Greek, classical and modern, Arabic, Hebrew, and Syriac.

It was knowledge of the latter which enabled Agnes to make the discovery that transformed their lives, and propelled them into the front rank of Biblical textual scholars. Alerted to the possibility by a scholar friend, they set off for St. Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai, specifically to track down an ancient gospel manuscript in one of the monastery's store cupboards. It turned out to be a palimpsest, an over-written vellum book, containing in the partially erased original writing, one of the very earliest copies of the four gospels. It was written in Syriac, a language very close to the Aramaic spoken by people in Israel at the time of Jesus.

The journey, one they were to repeat six times, was arduous enough, even with the financial means to assemble the large caravan of camels, dragomans, porters, cooks and so on necessary for an extended crossing of the Sinai desert. It was an even more outstanding achievement for two Victorian ladies to organise the expedition for and by themselves. But they were always encouraged by their thought that they were following in the footsteps of characters from the Bible.

In the 19th century, at a time when the literal written word of the Bible was still sacrosanct to most Christians, Biblical scholarship was beginning to show that the manuscript sources of the Bible were many, varied, and often contradictory. The Gospel of St.Mark in the Sinai Syriac palimpsest, for instance, ends with the discovery of the empty tomb guarded by shining beings, but no further post-resurrection events. And it is still one of the earliest known versions of Mark's Gospel.

Janet Soskice has written a stunning account of the adventurous Smith twins, their lives, loves and ferocious determination to pursue their scholarly goals in the face of academic and social prejudice against women intellectuals. It is a gripping page-turner, as thrilling as any Victorian romance. Whether you are interested in Biblical studies or not, as a story of detection, courage and scholarship, it is a fascinating and enthralling read. Unputdownable.

Sisters of Sinai: How two Lady Adventurers found the hidden gospels
Janet Soskice paints an incredible picture of the life of two women who are incredibly tenacious. Adventurers they certainly were. Despite setbacks and sadness in their personal lives, (both Agnes and Margaret ended up as widows) When they have a project they belive in they never falter in seeking a sucessful end to it. At a time when further education for women was not the norm Agnes and Margaret seek out those who were prepared to teach them ancient languages including Greek and Syriac. With this knowledge they are able to recognise and later translate important documents including early copies of the Gospels, which had been hidden for centuries.

Without male guidence or escourt they travel extensivly through Europe and the Middle East, learning from their mistakes and becoming popular with the Monks at St Catherine's Covent on Mount Siani. In all they make seven trips to find, rescue and spend time translating ancient manuscripts.

Janet Soskice seems to have gone to great lengths in researching this book which as well as telling the stories of the life and travels of two exraordinary ladies illustrates how the people of the time lived.

a review of the " Sisters of Sinai "
Sisters of Sinai: How Two Lady Adventurers Found the Hidden Gospels: How Two Lady Adventurers Unearthed the Hidden GospelsThis a tale of adventure. An adventure by two women at a time when such behaviour was socially radical. These two redoubtable women created an academic and social event, at a time when women were not offered degrees from Cambridge University,they brought to the worlds attention previously unknown Biblical texts. This could have been a dry academic study but Janet Soskice has allowed these two tough adventurers to emerge again as rish taking, social non-conformist,can-do types. A wonderful tale and well told.