Syriac Tools and Resources


A compilation of information and resources you need to work with the Syriac biblical texts 
MGVHoffman (Last updated: 2009.09.14)

Return to Scroll and Screen = Biblical Studies and Technological Tools


FONTS
Some old TrueType fonts are still available at the SBL site (SPEdessa) and at Peshitta.org (Estrangelo). What you really want, however, are the Unicode Syriac fonts such as TITUS Cyberbit or the wonderful collection of Meltho OpenType, Syriac scripts at Beth Mardutho. If you want to see what the fonts look like, go to this gallery page. (This page indicates that Syriac is not supported by TITUS Cyberbit, but the latest version I have linked above does indeed include it.) For OS X, note the offering from XenoType. (You will also get a Syriac font with the Accordance program.)
Also note the large collection of 43 free TrueType fonts at Assyrian Information Management.


TYPING IN SYRIAC
Here's your best guide to getting your system set up for Syriac and registering the keyboards. For biblical text work, I recommend that you install the Syriac Phonetic keyboard. For more detailed information on setting up your system for Syriac, Roger Pearse has a page on Unicode here and another one on coding for right-to-left here.

Do you forget where all the accents and such are located on the keyboard? I can recommend two good options.


ONLINE SYRIAC TEXTS
The Peshitta is the primary text of interest for biblical scholars. (The linked Wikipedia article looks quite accurate and is worth checking.)

Old Testament

New Testament Other Syriac Biblical and Non-biblical Texts
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS and INTERLINEARS (Online)
For English translations of the Peshitta, you have a number of options in the public domain.

LEXICONS and GRAMMARS
SYRIAC TEXTS in BIBLE SOFTWARE
For Further Study