ʿĪsā Ibn ʿalī's Book on the Useful Properties of Animal Parts: Edition, Translation and Study of a Fluid Tradition (Science, Technology, and Medicine in Ancient Cultures, 6)

The ‘Science of properties’ represents a large and fascinating part of Arabic technical literature. The book of ʿĪsā ibn ʿAlī (9th cent.) ‘On the useful properties of animal parts’ was the first of such compositions in Arabic. His author was a Syriac physician, disciple of Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq, who worked at the Abbasid court during the __floruit__ of the translation movement. For the composition of his book, as a multilingual scholar, he collected many different antique and late antique sources. The structure of the text itself—a collection of recipes that favoured a fluid transmission—becomes here the key to a new formal analysis that oriented the editorial solutions as well. The ‘Book on the useful properties of animal parts’ is a new tile that the Arabic tradition offers to the larger mosaic representing the transfer of technical knowledge in pre-modern times. This text is an important passage in that process of acquisition and original elaboration of knowledge that characterized the early Abbasid period. Preface 5 Acknowledgements 5 Table of Contents 7 Edition and translation 8 Introduction 11 Bibliography 35 Introduction 37 1. Man 42 2. Lion 64 3. Wolf 76 4. Hyena 86 5. Bear 96 6. Jerboa 104 7. Pig 106 8. Dog 112 9. Hare 128 10. Gazelle 140 11. Mountain Goat 148 12. Deer 150 13. Fox 160 14. Crocodile 170 15. Cow 174 16. Horse 198 17. Mule 210 18. Donkey 216 19. Wild Donkey 224 20. Camel 232 21. Sheep 240 22. Goat 252 23. Wild Cow 270 24. Roe Deer 272 25. Cheetah 276 26. Elephant 280 27. Ichneumon 284 28. Stellion 286 29. Buffalo 288 30. Cat 290 31. Lynx 298 32. Badger 300 33. Weasel 302 34. Jackal & Chamois 306 35. Monkey 310 36. Hyrax 312 37. Beaver 314 38. Hedgehog 316 39. Indian Hedgehog 324 40. Kāša 326 41. Salamander 328 42. Rhinoceros 330 43. Mouse 332 44. Mole 338 45. Sandgrouse 344 46. Vulture 348 47. Collared Pigeon 352 48. Wood Pigeon 354 49. Hoopoe 356 50. Swallow 364 51. Quail 372 52. Sparrow 374 53. Bat 380 54. Abū Tamra Bird 392 55. Pigeon 394 56. Egyptian Vulture 400 57. Starling 406 58. Kite 408 59. Crow 412 60. Owl 422 61. Rooster 428 62. Hen 434 63. Ostrich 440 64. Goose and Duck 442 65. Crane 448 66. Bustard 452 67. Saker Falcon 454 68. Peacock 456 69. Curlew 458 70. Eagle 460 71. Zummaǧ falcon 464 72. Sparrow Hawk 466 73. Merlin 468 74. Hawk 470 75.Green Woodpecker 472 76. Guinea Fowl 474 77. Turtledove 476 78. Wild Pigeon 480 79. Snake 484 80. Scorpion 494 81. Ladybird 500 82. Lizard 502 83. Dung Beetle 508 84. Chameleon 510 85. Blister Beetle 514 86. White Worm 516 87. Gecko 518 88. Fly 522 89. Spanish Fly 524 90. Hornet 526 91. Mantis 528 92. Ant 530 93. Scarab 534 94. Bedbugs 538 95. Lice 540 96. Flea 542 97. Spider 544 98. Kanǧ 546 99. Earthworm 550 100. Sperm Whale 552 101. River Crab 554 102. Sea Crab 558 103. Whale 560 104. Turtle 562 105. River Snail 570 106. Pearl Oyster 572 107. Leech 576 108. Frog 580 109. Freshwater Fish 586 110. Saltwater Fish 588 Appendix 595 Thematic Index 609 Arabic-English Glossary 612 English-Arabic Glossary 620 The ?Science of properties? represents a large and fascinating part of Arabic technical literature. The book of Isa Ibn Ali's (9th cent.) ?On the useful properties of animal parts? was the first of such compositions in Arabic. His author was a Syriac physician, disciple of Hunayn ibn Ishaq, who worked at the Abbasid court during the 'floruit' of the translation movement. For the composition of his book, as a multilingual scholar, he collected many different antique and late antique sources. The structure of the text itself?a collection of recipes that favoured a fluid transmission?becomes here the key to a new formal analysis that oriented the editorial solutions as well. The ?Book on the useful properties of animal parts? is a new tile that the Arabic tradition offers to the larger mosaic representing the transfer of technical knowledge in pre-modern times. This text is an important passage in that process of acquisition and original elaboration of knowledge that characterized the early Abbasid period.-- Source other than the Library of Congress "The 'Science of properties' represents a large and fascinating part of Arabic technical literature. The book of ʻĪsā ibn ʻAlī (9th cent.) 'On the useful properties of animal parts' was the first of such compositions in Arabic. His author was a Syriac physician, disciple of Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq, who worked at the Abbasid court during the floruit of the translation movement. For the composition of his book, as a multilingual scholar, he collected many different antique and late antique sources. The structure of the text itself--a collection of recipes that favoured a fluid transmission--becomes here the key to a new formal analysis that oriented the editorial solutions as well. The 'Book on the useful properties of animal parts' is a new tile that the Arabic tradition offers to the larger mosaic representing the transfer of technical knowledge in pre-modern times. This text is an important passage in that process of acquisition and original elaboration of knowledge that characterized the early Abbasid period."--Résumé de l'éditeur