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.
:
1 online resource. :
Includes bibliographical references and index. :
9789004256996
Enigmatic charms : medieval Arabic block printed amulets in American and European libraries and museums /
:
This is the first comprehensive examination of block printing in the medieval Islamic world. Examples of Arabic block prints have been preserved in various collections across the globe, but they have long been treated as curiosities and oddities. Here, for the first time, a large representative corpus of block prints is examined and illustrated. The first section of the book places Arabic block printing in historical perspective and recounts their rediscovery by modern day scholars. The second section illustrates fifty-five examples of medieval Arabic block printed amulets, provides detailed techical descriptions of each, presents transcriptions of their texts into legible Arabic and offers translations of those texts into English.
:
1 online resource (xiii, 250 pages, [64] pages of plates) : illustrations (some color) :
Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-240) and indexes. :
9789047408529 :
Available to subscribing member institutions only.