A Pseudo-Aristotelian Magical Arabic Manuscript at the John Rylands Library
| Dates: | 26 January 2016 |
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| Times: | 16:00 - 17:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | John Rylands Research Institute |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, Adults |
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| Speaker: | , Dr Taro Mimura |
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The John Rylands Library is in possession of a mysterious manuscript (MS 372 404) containing a collection of medieval Islamic magical texts, most notably the Kit?b al-miy?l???s, a “Talismanic Pseudo-Aristotelian” work of Hermetica, influential in the history of medieval magic in both the Middle East and Europe. This text has not been previously edited. In collaboration with Dr. Emily Selove (the University of Exeter), I will produce a preliminary transcription of this historical work, as well as an article describing its contents and significance. The John Rylands manuscript (collectively entitled The Book of Venus) was apparently edited by Siraj Din Sakkaki, a famous philologist and grammarian, whose edition’s existence in Persian translation suggests its popularity. In this talk, I will attempt to describe Sakkaki’s editorial decisions in compiling this collection, as well as the relationship of this copy of Kit?b al-miy?l???s to other similarly titled manuscripts.
Speakers
Dr Taro Mimura
Role: Research Associate
Organisation: University of Manchester
Biography: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/taro.mimura/
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
The Christie Room
John Rylands Research Institute and Library
150 Deansgate
Manchester
Gtr Manchester
