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Book/Printed Material Introduction to Astronomy, Containing the Eight Divided Books of Abu Ma'shar Abalachus. Introductorium in astronomiam Albumasaris Abalachi octo continens libros partiales

About this Item

Title

  • Introduction to Astronomy, Containing the Eight Divided Books of Abu Ma'shar Abalachus.

Other Title

  • Introductorium in astronomiam Albumasaris Abalachi octo continens libros partiales

Summary

  • Ja'far ibn Muḥammad al-Balkhī (787--886), known as Abū Ma'shar, lived in Baghdad in the 9th century. Originally an Islamic scholar of the hadith (the prophetic traditions of Muhammad) and a contemporary of the famous philosopher al-Kindī, Abū Ma'shar developed an interest in astrology at the relatively late age of 47. He became the most important and prolific writer on astrology in the Middle Ages. His discourses incorporated and expanded upon the studies of earlier scholars of Islamic, Persian, Greek, and Mesopotamian origin. His works were translated into Latin in the 12th century and, through their wide circulation in manuscript form, had a great influence on Western scholars. Kitab al-Mudkhal al-Kabīr (Great introduction) is his most important work and the one most frequently cited by scholars in the West. It contains an astrological theory on the nature of the moon's influence on the tides and was the key work on the subject during the Middle Ages. This edition is the 1140 translation into Latin by Hermann of Carinthia, first printed by Erhard Ratdolt in Augsburg, Germany, in 1489. The woodcut title vignette of a black-faced astronomer reading the stars with an astrolabe and dividers is one of the best-known Renaissance representations of an astronomer.

Names

  • Abū Ma'shar, 787-886 Author.
  • Hermann of Carinthia, flourished 1143 Translator.

Created / Published

  • Venice : Melchior Sessa for Jacob Pentius Leucensis, 1506.

Headings

  • -  Afghanistan
  • -  Iraq
  • -  835 to 1506
  • -  Astrology
  • -  Astronomy, Arab
  • -  Astronomy, Medieval
  • -  Library of Congress Afghanistan Project

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 126 pages; illustrations.
  • -  Original resource at: Qatar National Library.
  • -  Content in Latin.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • Arabic and Islamic Science and Its Influence on the Western Scientific Tradition: Technology

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021666125

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

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Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Abū Ma'Shar, 787-886 Author, and Flourished 1143 Translator Hermann Of Carinthia. Introduction to Astronomy, Containing the Eight Divided Books of Abu Ma'shar Abalachus. Venice: Melchior Sessa for Jacob Pentius Leucensis, 1506. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666125/.

APA citation style:

Abū Ma'Shar, 7. A. & Hermann Of Carinthia, F. 1. T. (1506) Introduction to Astronomy, Containing the Eight Divided Books of Abu Ma'shar Abalachus. Venice: Melchior Sessa for Jacob Pentius Leucensis. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666125/.

MLA citation style:

Abū Ma'Shar, 787-886 Author, and Flourished 1143 Translator Hermann Of Carinthia. Introduction to Astronomy, Containing the Eight Divided Books of Abu Ma'shar Abalachus. Venice: Melchior Sessa for Jacob Pentius Leucensis, 1506. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021666125/>.