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A Physician on the Nile A Description of Egypt and Journal of the Famine Years.

Flora, fauna, and famine in thirteenth-century EgyptA Physician on the Nile begins as a description of everyday life in Egypt at the turn of the seventh/thirteenth century, before becoming a harrowing account of famine and pestilence. Written by the polymath and physician ʻAbd al-Laṭīf al-Baghdād...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Clasificación:Libro Electrónico
Autor principal: al-Baghdādī, ʻAbd al-Laṭīf
Otros Autores: Mackintosh-Smith, Tim
Formato: Electrónico eBook
Idioma:Inglés
Publicado: New York : New York University Press, 2021.
Colección:Library of Arabic Literature Ser.
Temas:
Acceso en línea:Texto completo
Descripción
Sumario:Flora, fauna, and famine in thirteenth-century EgyptA Physician on the Nile begins as a description of everyday life in Egypt at the turn of the seventh/thirteenth century, before becoming a harrowing account of famine and pestilence. Written by the polymath and physician ʻAbd al-Laṭīf al-Baghdādī, and intended for the Abbasid caliph al-Nāṣir, the first part of the book offers detailed descriptions of Egypt's geography, plants, animals, and local cuisine, including a recipe for a giant picnic pie made with three entire roast lambs and dozens of chickens. ʻAbd al-Laṭīf's text is also a pioneering work of ancient Egyptology, with detailed observations of Pharaonic monuments, sculptures, and mummies. An early and ardent champion of archaeological conservation, ʻAbd al-Laṭīf condemns the vandalism wrought by tomb-robbers and notes with distaste that Egyptian grocers price their goods with labels written on recycled mummy-wrappings.The book's second half relates his horrific eyewitness account of the great famine that afflicted Egypt in the years 597-598/1200-1202. ʻAbd al-Laṭīf was a keen observer of humanity, and he offers vivid first-hand depictions of starvation, cannibalism, and a society in moral free-fall.A Physician on the Nile contains great diversity in a small compass, distinguished by the acute, humane, and ever-curious mind of its author. It is rare to be able to hear the voice of such a man responding so directly to novelty, beauty, and tragedy.A bilingual Arabic-English edition.
Notas:Description based upon print version of record.
Descripción Física:1 online resource (251 p.).
ISBN:1479806234
9781479806232