Sirr al-asrār; سر الاسرار

Contributor:

Aristotle (attributed name)

Timespan:

Early works to 1800

Date:

1193

Description:

Early copy of the long form of this popular treatise presented as a letter from Aristotle to Alexander the Great on statecraft, astronomy, astrology, magic, and medicine. The ending of the manuscript is missing; the text breaks off during a discussion of magical alphabets.

Language:

Arabic

Provenance:

Formerly owned by Nūr al-Dīn Arslān Shah, Turkmen ruler of Mosul, 1193-1211 (illuminated name, f. 1r).; Sold by Sam Fogg Ltd., Islamic Calligraphy catalog (2003), no. 25, to Lawrence J. Schoenberg.; Deposit by Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle, 2012.; Gift of Barbara Brizdle Schoenberg, 2016.; Nūr al-Dīn Arslān Shah, former owner.; Schoenberg, Lawrence J., former owner.

Relation:

The Lawrence J. Schoenberg and Barbara Brizdle Manuscript Initiative Fund Home Page: http://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017.12/366278; Digital facsimile for download (OPenn): https://openn.library.upenn.edu/Data/0001/html/ljs459.html; Video orientation: https://hdl.library.upenn.edu/1017.12/100000467

Subject:

Alexander, the Great, 356 B.C.-323 B.C.; Islamic magic; Alexander, the Great, 356 B.C.-323 B.C. In literature; Education of princes -- Early works to 1800; Education of princes; Kings and rulers -- Duties -- Early works to 1800; Kings and rulers -- Duties; Political ethics -- Early works to 1800; Political ethics; Astronomy -- Early works to 1800; Astronomy; Islamic magic -- Early works to 1800

Resource Type:

Text

Form/Genre:

codices (bound manuscripts); illuminations (paintings); treatises; Tables (Data); Manuscripts, Arabic; Manuscripts, Medieval; manuscripts (documents)

Physical Description:

127 leaves : paper, color illustrations; 190 x 127 (120 x 65) mm bound to 190 x 140 mm

Rights:

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

Notes:

Ms. codex.; Title from introduction (f. 1v).; Foliation: Paper, i + 127; 1-127, later foliation ink, upper left recto.; Layout: Written in 9 long lines.; Script: Written in naskh script, with some headings in a larger naskh and some in thuluth; opening bismillāh in Early Abbasid style script (f. 1v); occasional marginal notes in a later hand.; Decoration: Illuminated name and titles of Nūr al-Dīn Arslān Shah (f. 1r); bismillāh in blue ink outlined in red (f. 1v); open octagon in gold, red, and blue, with text running around the edge (f. 80r); geometric illustration of a bell in black, gold, and red (f. 108v); tables outlined in red ink with headings in red and green ink (f. 114v-117r); names of the planets in colored inks (f. 124r); significant words, phrases, and punctuation in red ink.; Binding: 15th-century blind-stamped morocco with flap (Type II), different but coordinating stamps on each board and flap; repaired.; Origin: Probably written in Mosul, Iraq, between 1193 and 1211 (reign of owner named on f. 1r).; Arabic.

Physical Location:

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Manuscripts, LJS 459

Collection:

Lawrence J. Schoenberg Collection (University of Pennsylvania)