Author
the mathematician Euclid of Alexandria
Publication Date
15 Rabī‘ II 656 (AH, Hijri)
Type
Book
Language
Arabic
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
Yes
Pages Count
1
Physical Dimensions
165 x 127 mm
Library
Qatar Digital Library
Library Asset ID
Add MS 23387
Record ID
vdc_100022599883.0x000001
Library Location
British Library: Oriental Manuscripts
Date
15 Rabī‘ II 656 (AH, Hijri)
Notes
Arabic Version of The Fundamental Introduction to Geometry, The
Elements
(Στοιχεῖα; الأصول) by the mathematician Euclid of Alexandria (Εὐκλείδης, Euclid; fl. 300 BC), in the annotated edition (edition) of Naṣīr al-Dīn Muhammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ṭūsī (Nasir al-Din Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Tusi; d. 1274). The edition was completed on 22 Sha‘bān 646/10 December 1248 (see f. 216v, line 10, transcribed below).
The text is divided into fifteen books (essays), the last two of which (Books 14 and 15) are correctly said not to have been written by Euclid, and al-Ṭūsī attributes both to the astronomer and mathematician Hypsicles of Alexandria 2nd century BC).
The copy was completed on 15 Rabī‘ II 656/21 April 1258 by an anonymous scribe (see scribe's
colophon
Section at the end of a manuscript text.
, f. 216v, lines 12-13, transcribed below). Although al-Ṭūsī did not die until 1274, the scribe clearly believed he was already dead as indicated by the use of the phrase 'may God sanctify his soul and illuminate his tomb'
The text contains numerous diagrams.
Title page (f. 2r):
The Book of Euclid
Tahrir al-Muwli al-Imam al-Alama Sultan al-Hakma al-Mudaqeen Naseer
الحق والملة والدين قدس الله has a bright soul and light
Contents:
Book One (first article, ff. 2v-38r);
Book Two (Second Article, ff. 38r-48r);
Book Three (Translation III, ff. 48r-66v);
Book Four (Al-Maqala al-Raba'a, ff. 66v-77v);
Book Five (The Fifth Treatise, ff. 77v-89v);
Book Six (al-Maqala al-Sadsa, ff. 89v-107r);
Book Seven (Seventh Treatise, ff. 107r-117v);
Book Eight (al-Thamna, ff. 117v-126r);
Book Nine (Al-Tasa'a, ff. 126r-134r);
Book Ten (Translation 10, ff. 134r-163v);
Book Eleven (Al-Hadiyya Ashr, ff. 163v-182r);
Book Twelve (Second Article Asher, ff. 182r-194v);
Book Thirteen (Translation Thirteen, ff. 194v-208r);
Book Fourteen (Al-Maqala al-Raba'a Ashar, ff. 208r-214r);
Book Fifteen (Al-Maqala al-Khamsa Asher, ff. 214r-216v);
Begins (f. 2v, lines 2-4):
Praise be to Allah, Who is the Beginning and to Whom the End
الأشياء وصلواته على محمد وآله الأسفياء وبعد فلما فرغت من
The book of principles of geometry and calculation attributed to Euclid al-Suri
Ends (f. 216v, lines 6-11):
And if Allah is able and successful in editing this
الكتاب حسب ما قصد به فلأختم الكلام
Praise be to Allah, the successful author
Man Tahrira Quds Allah's soul and light are shining
On 22 Sha'ban 646 AH
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds
Colophon
Section at the end of a manuscript text.
(f. 216v, lines 12-15):
There is a gap between the copy and your answer to the original copy in fifty-two
Rabi' al-Akhr 656 May Allah have mercy on him
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family
وبالله التوفيق
Erişim Koşulları
Unrestricted
Bulma Yardımcıları
Cureton, William and Charles Rieu,
Catalogus codicum manuscriptorum orientalium qui in Museo Britannico asservantur. Pars secunda, codices arabicos amplectens
(London: The British Museum 1846-71), Item 1334, pp. 618-19
Edinme Kaynağı
Purchased from Mrs Taylor, April 1860
Seçilmiş kaynakça
Editions and partial editions:
Euclid,
Kitāb taḥrīr uṣūl li-Ūqlīdis min ta’līf Khwājah Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī. Euclidis Elementorum geometricorum libri tredecim ex traditione doctissimi Nasiridini Tusini nunc primum Arabicè impressi
, (Romæ: In Typographia Medicea, 1594)
Euclid,
Kitāb taḥrīr al-Ūqlīdis lil-Ṭūsī. Sittat maqālāt min kitāb Taḥrīr al-Uqlīdis. Tarjamah-i shish maqālah-i kitāb-i taḥrīr-i Uqlīdi
s
(Kalkatah: Hindustani Press, 1824)
Euclid,
Kitāb taḥrīr uṣūl Ūqlīd
is ta’līf
Khūjah Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī
, (Fās: al-Maṭba‘ah al-ʻĀmirah, 1293 [1876])
Edition of original Greek text:
Euclidis Opera Omnia
, Johan Ludvig Heiberg (ed.), vols. 1-4, (Lipsiae: Teubner, 1883-85)
Study:
Sezgin, Fuat,
Geschichte des arabischen Schrifttums
, vol. 5 (Leiden: Brill, 1974). pp. 111-13
