Author
Sharaf al-Zamān Ṭāhir al-Marwazī
Publication Date
12th century (CE, Gregorian)
Publication Place
Dead/Merv (?) -
Type
Book
Language
Arabic
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
Yes
Pages Count
1
Physical Dimensions
310 x 185 mm
Library
Qatar Digital Library
Library Asset ID
Delhi Arabic 1949
Record ID
vdc_100028004317.0x000001
Library Location
British Library: Oriental Manuscripts
Date
12th century (CE, Gregorian)
Notes
Treatise on zoology in five chapters (articles) by Sharaf al-Zamān Ṭāhir al-Marwazī (Sharaf al-Zamān Tahir al-Marwazi; fl. 1056-1125). It is likely that this copy was transcribed by a student of al-Marwazī, during the author's lifetime (see the scribal aside at f. 214v, lines 18-19).
This copy contains Chapter One (missing the first three
bābs
), the whole of Chapters Two to Four and Chapter Five (defective at the end; see Iskandar, 'A Doctor's Book on Zoology',
Oriens
27/28 (1981) p. 270, n. 22):
[
Maqālah
One] ([first article]; ff. 1r-66v);
Maqālah
Two: On Domesticated, Wild and Predatory Quardrupeds, Forty-five Bābs (the second article on mentioning livestock, beasts, and quadrupeds, which is fifty-four chapters; ff. 66v-139r);
Maqālah
Three: On Birds (the third treatise on birds; ff. 139r-181r);
Maqālah
Four: On Insects (Fourth Article [On Insects]; ff. 181r-217v).
Begins (f. 1r, lines 1-3, defective at beginning):
The kings and took control of Iranshahr and the Persian kingdoms and the kings of the earth that governed it
The famous and venerable ones are the king of China, called Faghfur, and the king of the Turks, called Khaqan
The king of the Romans is called Caesar, the king of the Persians is called Chosroes, and the king of India is called Bulhara.
Ends (f. 217v, lines 19-21, defective at end):
...the marine animals on it
Solid ceramics, such as shells and hedgehogs, some of which have no meat inside
Such as the sea urchin, some of which have meat inside them, such as the turtle, and ceramic heads in the relic
Erişim Koşulları
Unrestricted
Edinme Kaynağı
Purchased by the Government of India at sale organised by Delhi Prize Agents, 1859; administrative deposit
India Office
The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors.
Library, 1876
Köken
Large (Mughal?) seal, erased (f. 1r)
The Government of India, Delhi MSS, its seal (ff. 1r and 217v);
Covered seal (beneath paper on which is The Government of India, Delhi MSS seal, f. 1r);
Seal inscribed اهيا اشر اهيا (Arabic transcription of אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה [Exodus 3:14; King James Version: 'I AM THAT I AM']), dated 771/1369-70 (f. 217v).
Seçilmiş kaynakça
Studies and partial editions:
Arberry, Arthur J., 'An Unknown Work on Zoology',
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
, pt. 3 (1937) pp. 481-82
Iskandar, Albert Z., 'A Doctor's Book on Zoology: al-Marwazī's Ṭabā’i‘ al-ḥayawān (Nature of Animals) Re-assessed',
Oriens
27/28 (1981) pp. 266–312
Marwazī, Sharaf al-Zamān Ṭāhir,
Sharaf Al-Zamān Tạ̄hir Marvazī on China, the Turks and India
, edited and translated by Vladimir Minorsky (London: Royal Asiatic Society, 1942; reprinted as vol. 8 in the series
The Muslim world, 1100-1700: Early Sources on Middle East History, Geography and Travel
, edited by Hiroyuki Mashita [London: Routledge, 2007])
Stern, S.M., 'Some Fragments of Galen's
On Dispositions
(Περὶ ἠθῶν) in Arabic',
Classical Quarterly
, new series 6, (1956) pp. 91-101, on pp. 93-96 and 98-101
