CiNii Books - An eleventh-century Egyptian guide to the universe : the Book of curiosities

Acquired by the Bodleian Library in 2002, the Book of Curiosities is now recognized as one of the most important discoveries in the history of cartography in recent decades. This eleventh-century Arabic treatise, composed in Egypt under the Fatimid caliphs, is a detailed account of the heavens and the Earth, illustrated by an unparalleled series of maps and astronomical diagrams. With topics ranging from comets to the island of Sicily, from lunar mansions to the sources of the Nile, it represents the extent of geographical, astronomical and astrological knowledge of the time. This authoritative edition and translation, accompanied by a colour facsimile reproduction, opens a unique window onto the worldview of medieval Islam. An extensive glossary of star-names and seven indices, on birds, animals and other items have been added for easy reference.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Introduction Facsimile of Oxford, Bodleian MS Arab. c. 90 Arabic edition Book One Book Two Translation with Commentary Book One The first chapter on the extent of the celestial sphere, and a summary of the sayings of the scholars regarding its knowledge and structure. The second chapter on the attributes of the signs of the zodiac and their merit. The third chapter on the northern and southern constellations and their attributes. The fourth chapter on thirty stars with occult influences. The fifth chapter on the forms of the northern and southern stars. The sixth chapter on the attributes of stars with tails [comets] and their curiosities. The seventh chapter on the obscure stars having faint lances in the ninth sphere, which have immense favorable and malevolent influences. The eighth chapter on the attributes of the planets, their influences, special characteristics, and dimensions, along with the manner of their pictorial representations and their various names. The ninth chapter on the lunar mansions, their attributes and occult influences, together with an explanation of their heliacal risings and settings, their forms, and their 'ayyuqat-stars (indicator stars). The tenth chapter on the blowing of winds, earthquakes, and tremors. Book Two The first chapter of the second book on the measurement of the Earth and its division into seven climes, as related by Ptolemy and others. The second chapter on the map of the Earth. The third chapter on the seven climes and their conditions, the lands beyond the equator and the lands at the edge of the northern boundary. The fifth chapter on the cities (ams ar) of the remote regions. The sixth chapter on the depiction of the seas, their islands and havens. The seventh chapter on the cities and fortresses along its shores. The tenth chapter on the Western Sea - i.e., the Syrian Sea - and its harbours and islands and anchorages. The eleventh chapter on the Sea of Khazaran [the Caspian Sea]. The twelfth chapter presenting a brief description of the largest islands in these seas. The thirteenth chapter on the peninsula of al-Mahdi yah. The fourteenth chapter concerning the island of Tinnis. The fifteenth chapter on the islands of the infidels. The sixteenth chapter on the depiction of inlets, i.e., bays, in particular the bays of Byzantium. The seventeenth chapter on the description of the lakes. The eighteenth chapter on the rivers, their forms, and the cities near them. The nineteenth chapter on the description of the [other] rivers. The twentieth chapter, on the marvellous aquatic creatures amongst the fishes and the sea animals ... and on marine creatures which are associated with the shape of the lunar mansions. The twenty-first chapter on deformed humans. The twenty-second chapter on wondrous waters. The twenty-third chapter on strange plants. The twenty-fourth chapter on strange wild animals. The twenty-fifth chapter on wondrous birds. Bibliography Glossary of star-names Index of animals and plants Index of astronomical and astrological terms Index of peoples and Tribes Index of place names Index of persons and treatises cited in the Book of Curiosities General index

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An eleventh-century Egyptian guide to the universe : the Book of curiosities

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