University of Érenat

From Almeopedia

The University of Érenat (Šriftanáe i Érenat) is the premier scholarly institution in Érenat. It's located on the north side of the Eren river, once a pleasant ride from Avéla, now incorporated in the metropolitan area.

1 The seminary of Avéla
2 The University proper
3 Scholars’ Circle of Avéla
4 Notable scholars

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The seminary of Avéla

One of the fruits of the Union of 2987 which united the Arašei and the Elenicoi was the establishment of a seminary for training priests, the Cletana i Eleďát. The patriarch, Bar Šautom, was concerned that priests understand both traditions, and ideally learn Cuêzi, Caďinor, and Greek. The first visanoro or rector was Atipa Nërongáyo, a descendant of the adopted heirs of the Elenicoi.

The seminary's focus was on theology, church law, the holy languages, though there were required courses in history, literature, and kestora (natural philosophy). At first the only students accepted were candidates for the priesthood, and no tuition was charged.

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The University proper

In 3024 the Este Kal, the Érenat legislature, chartered a "University of Érenat", feeling that a proper nation ought to have its own university. It didn't actually allocate any funds for this till 3051, and this was primarily by endowing a faculty of law at the seminary, and prevailing upon the seminary to allow cross-matriculations, with the understanding that those not pursuing the priesthood would pay tuition.

Pagan students were a touchy issue. Pagans could study law, but were not welcome at the seminary. The university arranged separate courses in history, kestora, and Caďinor for them; sometimes professors from the seminary were hired to teach them. Eventually good sense prevailed, and in 3124 the faculty and courses for these subjects were consolidated. (There was no attempt to secularize the classes themselves; Eleďe professors continued to open with a prayer and teach from an Eleďe perspective.)

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Scholars’ Circle of Avéla

In 3205 a group of university scholars, graduates, and interested amateurs began meeting to discuss developments in kestora. In 3208, when Adriano Boďmorey's monopoly on the new technology of printing expired, it began publishing papers and books, almost all on what we would call scientific or philological subjects.

This group became known as the Scholars’ Circle of Avéla, and it quickly became the focus for research on physics, astronomy, and chemistry. In 3252 the Scholars’ Circle was formally incorporated into the University; its meeting house and printing press were relocated to the university campus and its indumec or Recorder, previously a volunteer, became a paid position.

In recent years the Scholars’ Circle has been an important focus for the study of modern languages. Some of its projects:

Publication of a dictionary of Avéle Verdurian, the Teplenë Logora, which covers slang and regional language much better than the University of Verduria dictionary
The best modern grammar of Cuêzi, the Aluatas Cuezë; the Circle also publishes the best edition of the classic ancient grammar, that of Pirãusio.
Two excellent journals, Curitevisano (Linguistics) and Onemî Řonei Avéle (Studies in Avéle); both are very broad in coverage, but the first is more linguistic and the second more philological.
The most comprehensive human work on Eteodäole, the language of the iliu— volume 4 of Soa mencora iliuë (The Culture of the Ilii)
A full translation of the Baburkunim into Verdurian
The study and reconstruction of ancient Meťaiun.
The Circle is also the only institution outside Dhekhnam to offer courses in the Dhekhnami language.