self-identification of some syriac christians with arameans is well documented in syriac literature. mentions by notable individuals include that of the poet-theologian jacob of serugh, (c. 451 – 29 november 521) who describes venerated father st. ephrem the syrian (c. 306 – 373) as "he who became a crown for the people of the aramaeans [armāyūthā], (and) by him we have been brought close to spiritual beauty". ephrem himself made references to aramean origins, calling his country aram-nahrin and his language aramaic, and describing bar-daisan (d. 222) of edessa as "the philosopher of the arameans", who "made himself a laughing-stock among arameans and greeks.” michael the elder (d. 1199) writes of his race as that of "the aramaeans, namely the descendants of aram, who were called syrians.” bar hebraeus (d. 1286) writes in his book of rays of the "aramean-syrian nation".