Der ’Kitāb al-adwiya al-mufrada҆ des Abu l-Mutarrif’ Ibn Wāfid und der ’Liber aggregatus in medicinis simplicibus’ des Pseudo-Serapion (English shop)

Ein Vergleich zweier arabischer Simplizienbücher, deren Gemeinsamkeiten und deren Unterschiede

Preview

Extract, PDF (93 KB)

A textual comparison reveals an unmistakable affinity between the two pharmacopoeias, which initially suggests a common author. On closer comparison, however, differences emerge that argue rather for a later revision of the ’Kitāb al-adwiya al-mufrada҆ of Abu l-Mutarrif’ Ibn Wāfid, a pharmacopoeia composed by him in the 11th century. The ‘Liber aggregatus in medicinis simplicibus’ of Pseudo-Serapion, a translation from Arabic into the Latin language of scholarship undertaken by Simon of Genoa with the assistance of Abraham of Tortosa at the end of the 13th century, contains additional text and further quotations from various, mostly Arabic authors. In the list of simples, new drugs were included among the Mineralia and Animalia, whereby the number of chapters was considerably increased. A juxtaposition of the opening lines of corresponding chapters of the two books of simples demonstrates the further development of the 13th-century pharmacopoeia. Alongside other Arabic designations of the drug, Latin synonyms are given, which considerably facilitate the use of the pharmacopoeia. This contributed to the esteem in which the Pseudo-Serapionic book of simples was held and led to this compilation of mostly Greek and Arabic sources being regarded as a textbook for physicians and apothecaries.