Recensione a Ionut̹ Daniel BĂNCILĂ, Die mandäische Religion und der aramäische Hintergrund des Manichäismus. Forschungsgeschichte, Textvergleiche, historisch-geographische Verortung (Mandäistische Forschungen 6). Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz Verlag, 2018. x-301 p. 24.5 x 17.5. 76,10. ; Recensione a Ionut That Daniel Băncilă, The Mandean religion and the Arameic background of Manicheism. Research history, text comparisons, historical/geographical location (Mandäist research 6). Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz Verlag, 2018. x-301 p. 24.5 x 17.5. 76,10.

Presentatin of the research developed by Dr. Băncilă as a PhD dissertation in the Theological Faculty of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin during the Winter semester 2014-15. This work represents an important step forward in the investigation of the profound connections between Mandaeism and Manichaeism, and further demonstrates the pertinence of the study of the religious background behind both traditions, which share many common roots. The volume is organized in three large chapters, after a preface and a helpful in0roduction. The first chapter mainly concerns the history of scholarship from the earliest investigations up to the present (Das Verhältnis zwischen Manichäismus und Mandäismus: eine Forschungsgeschichte, 24-82). The second chapter (Literarisch Beziehungen zwischen Mandäismus und Manichäismus, 83-157) is dedicated to the literary connections between these two religions, while the last chapter (Mandäische und manichäische mythische und historische Geographie, 158-233) offers an overview of mythical and historical geography in both traditions, focusing on the central role of Jerusalem. The volume concludes with a short final section and an extensive bibliography