The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries (Arabic: کتاب الآثار الباقية عن القرون الخاليةKitāb al-āthār al-bāqiyah `an al-qurūn al-khāliyah, also known as Chronology of Ancient Nations or Vestiges of the Past, after the translation published by Eduard Sachau in 1879) by Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī is a comparative study of calendars of different cultures and civilizations, interlaced with mathematical, astronomical, and historical information, exploring the customs and religions of different peoples.
Muhammad prohibiting Nasīʾ (sura 9:36f.), fol. 5v. of the 17th century copy (MS Arabe 1489), corresponding to fol. 6v of the Edinburgh codex.[2]
The text survives in an early 14th-century Ilkhanid manuscript by Ibn al-Kutbi (the "Edinburgh codex", AH 707 / AD 1307–8, 179 folios, Northwestern Iran or northern Iraq,[a] kept at the Edinburgh University Library, MS Arab 161). The manuscript contains 25 paintings and survives also in an exact 17th-century Ottoman copy (MS Arabe 1489, kept in the Bibliothèque nationale de France).
Hillenbrand (2000) interprets the choice and placement of illustrations throughout the text as a cycle which emphasizes the interest of the Ilkhanids in religions other than the predominant Islam, many illustrations showing specific episodes related to Manichaeism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity. Other illustrations show a keen interest in topics of history and science. The account of the birth of Julius Caesar is illustrated with a realistic rendition of a cesarean section.
The Shi`ite inclination of those responsible for the production is particularly evident from the two concluding images, the largest and most accomplished in the manuscript, which illustrate two episodes in the life of Muhammad, both centrally involving `Ali, Hasan, and Husayn: The Day of Cursing (fol. 161r) and The Investiture of `Ali at Ghadir Khumm (fol. 162r). The manuscript has a total of five images depicting Muhammad, including the first miniature which shows the Prophet as he prohibits Nasīʾ (fol. 6v).[2] [The cycle is among the earliest depictions of Muhammad in Persian art. The earliest extant representation of Muhammad in a Persian manuscript is in the Marzubannama of 1299 (Archaeology Museum Library, Istanbul, MS 216).[3]]
The style of the images is kept in a hybrid style between that of pre-Mongol period Persia and the Chinese style introduced with the Mongol invasions.
HistoryEdit
He discussed his idea of history in The Chronology of Ancient Nations,[4] also known as The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries. It is a comparative study of calendars of different cultures and civilizations, interlaced with mathematical, astronomical, and historical information, exploring the customs and religions of different peoples.
In The Chronology of Ancient Nations, he mentions the birth and death of the Caliphs, Shia Imams, Fatimah (daughter of Muhammad) and Khadija (Muhammad's wife).[5]
C. Eduard Sachau (ed.), Chronologie orientalischer Völker von Alberuni, Leipzig 1878 (Internet Archive link), reprinted Leipzig 1923, Baghdad 1963.
C. Eduard Sachau (transl.), The Chronology of Ancient Nations: An English Version of the Arabic Text of the Athâr-ul-Bâkiya of Albîrûnî, or 'Vestiges of the Past', Collected and Reduced ... by the Author in A. H. 390 - 1, A. D. 1000 , London 1879 (Internet Archive link).
^The precise place of origin is uncertain. Soucek (1975:156) suggested Tabriz or Maragha; Carboni (1988–89,17; 1992, 432f., suggested Mosul on the basis of a comparison of some of its illustrations with others in the so-called London Qazvini (cat. nos. 14–16). Hillenbrand supports the attribution to Mosul.
ReferencesEdit
^Seyyed Hossein Nasr, An Introduction to Islamic Cosmological Doctrines (1993), ISBN0-7914-1515-5, p. 108.
^fig. 49 in Marianna Shreve Simpson. 'The Role of Baghdad in the Formation of Persian Painting.' In Art et société dans le monde iranien, ed. Chahryar Adle, 91–116. Institut Français d'Iranologie de Téhéran, Bibliothèque iranienne, 26. Recherche sur les grandes civilisations, Synthèse, 9. Paris: Éditions Recherche sur les civilisations, 1982.
^M. S. Khan (1976). "al-Biruni and the Political History of India", Oriens25, pp. 86-115.
^The Chronology of Ancient Nations, transl. Edward Sachau. London, 1879, pp. 325-334.
^Boris Abramovich Rozenfelʹd, A History of Non-Euclidean Geometry, trans. Abe Shenitzer, Springer (1988), ISBN0-387-96458-4, p. 127.
^Fiorini, M. (April 1891). "Le proiezioni cartografiche di Albiruni". Bollettino della Società geografica italiana: 287–294.
SourcesEdit
Hillenbrand, Robert (2000). "Images of Muhammad in al-Biruni's Chronology of Ancient Nations.'". In Hillenbrand (ed.). Persian Painting from the Mongols to the Qajars: Studies in Honour of Basil W. Robinson. Pembroke Persian Papers, 3. London and New York: I. B. Tauris in association with the Centre of Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge.
Soucek, Priscilla P. (1975). "An Illustrated Manuscript of al-Biruni's Chronology of Ancient Nations". In Peter J. Chelkowski (ed.). The Scholar and the Saint: Studies in Commemoration of Abul-Rayhan al-Biruni and Jalal al-Din al-Rumi. New York: Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies, New York University Press.
Blair, Sheila S. (1993). The Development of the Illustrated Book in Iran. Muqarnas.
Hopkins, J. F. P. (2006). "Geographical and navigational literature". Religion, Learning and Science in the 'Abbasid Period. Cambridge University Press. pp. 405–423. ISBN0-521-02887-6.
External linksEdit
Media related to The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries at Wikimedia Commons
October 21, 2023
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The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries Arabic کتاب الآثار الباقية عن القرون الخالية Kitab al athar al baqiyah an al qurun al khaliyah also known as Chronology of Ancient Nations or Vestiges of the Past after the translation published by Eduard Sachau in 1879 by Abu Rayhan al Biruni is a comparative study of calendars of different cultures and civilizations interlaced with mathematical astronomical and historical information exploring the customs and religions of different peoples The Remaining Signs of Past CenturiesThe Investiture of Ali at Ghadir Khumm MS Arab 161 fol 162r Original titleکتاب الآثار الباقية عن القرون الخاليةCompleted in 1000 AD AH 390 1 it is Al Biruni s first major work compiled in Gorgan at the court of Qabus when he was in his late twenties 1 Contents 1 Overview 2 History 3 Mathematical geography 4 Editions 5 Notes 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksOverview Edit nbsp Muhammad prohibiting Nasiʾ sura 9 36f fol 5v of the 17th century copy MS Arabe 1489 corresponding to fol 6v of the Edinburgh codex 2 The text survives in an early 14th century Ilkhanid manuscript by Ibn al Kutbi the Edinburgh codex AH 707 AD 1307 8 179 folios Northwestern Iran or northern Iraq a kept at the Edinburgh University Library MS Arab 161 The manuscript contains 25 paintings and survives also in an exact 17th century Ottoman copy MS Arabe 1489 kept in the Bibliotheque nationale de France Hillenbrand 2000 interprets the choice and placement of illustrations throughout the text as a cycle which emphasizes the interest of the Ilkhanids in religions other than the predominant Islam many illustrations showing specific episodes related to Manichaeism Buddhism Judaism and Christianity Other illustrations show a keen interest in topics of history and science The account of the birth of Julius Caesar is illustrated with a realistic rendition of a cesarean section The Shi ite inclination of those responsible for the production is particularly evident from the two concluding images the largest and most accomplished in the manuscript which illustrate two episodes in the life of Muhammad both centrally involving Ali Hasan and Husayn The Day of Cursing fol 161r and The Investiture of Ali at Ghadir Khumm fol 162r The manuscript has a total of five images depicting Muhammad including the first miniature which shows the Prophet as he prohibits Nasiʾ fol 6v 2 The cycle is among the earliest depictions of Muhammad in Persian art The earliest extant representation of Muhammad in a Persian manuscript is in the Marzubannama of 1299 Archaeology Museum Library Istanbul MS 216 3 The style of the images is kept in a hybrid style between that of pre Mongol period Persia and the Chinese style introduced with the Mongol invasions History EditHe discussed his idea of history in The Chronology of Ancient Nations 4 also known as The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries It is a comparative study of calendars of different cultures and civilizations interlaced with mathematical astronomical and historical information exploring the customs and religions of different peoples In The Chronology of Ancient Nations he mentions the birth and death of the Caliphs Shia Imams Fatimah daughter of Muhammad and Khadija Muhammad s wife 5 Mathematical geography EditDiscussing the astrolabe Al Biruni considers the orthographic cylindrical projection as his own invention expanding upon the work of Al Saghani 6 He also describes two novel projections he has created which are nowadays called the azimuthal equidistant and the Nicolosi globular 7 Editions EditC Eduard Sachau ed Chronologie orientalischer Volker von Alberuni Leipzig 1878 Internet Archive link reprinted Leipzig 1923 Baghdad 1963 C Eduard Sachau transl The Chronology of Ancient Nations An English Version of the Arabic Text of the Athar ul Bakiya of Albiruni or Vestiges of the Past Collected and Reduced by the Author in A H 390 1 A D 1000 London 1879 Internet Archive link 1969 reprint Minerva Verlag Unverand edition 1984 reprint Aristide D Caratzas Pub ISBN 978 0 89241 178 8 2002 reprint Adamant Media Corporation ISBN 978 1 4021 6079 0 2004 reprint Kessinger Publishing ISBN 0 7661 8908 2 Notes Edit The precise place of origin is uncertain Soucek 1975 156 suggested Tabriz or Maragha Carboni 1988 89 17 1992 432f suggested Mosul on the basis of a comparison of some of its illustrations with others in the so called London Qazvini cat nos 14 16 Hillenbrand supports the attribution to Mosul References Edit Seyyed Hossein Nasr An Introduction to Islamic Cosmological Doctrines 1993 ISBN 0 7914 1515 5 p 108 a b Hillenbrand 2000 p 129 146 fig 49 in Marianna Shreve Simpson The Role of Baghdad in the Formation of Persian Painting In Art et societe dans le monde iranien ed Chahryar Adle 91 116 Institut Francais d Iranologie de Teheran Bibliotheque iranienne 26 Recherche sur les grandes civilisations Synthese 9 Paris Editions Recherche sur les civilisations 1982 M S Khan 1976 al Biruni and the Political History of India Oriens 25 pp 86 115 The Chronology of Ancient Nations transl Edward Sachau London 1879 pp 325 334 Boris Abramovich Rozenfelʹd A History of Non Euclidean Geometry trans Abe Shenitzer Springer 1988 ISBN 0 387 96458 4 p 127 Fiorini M April 1891 Le proiezioni cartografiche di Albiruni Bollettino della Societa geografica italiana 287 294 Sources EditHillenbrand Robert 2000 Images of Muhammad in al Biruni s Chronology of Ancient Nations In Hillenbrand ed Persian Painting from the Mongols to the Qajars Studies in Honour of Basil W Robinson Pembroke Persian Papers 3 London and New York I B Tauris in association with the Centre of Middle Eastern Studies University of Cambridge Soucek Priscilla P 1975 An Illustrated Manuscript of al Biruni s Chronology of Ancient Nations In Peter J Chelkowski ed The Scholar and the Saint Studies in Commemoration of Abul Rayhan al Biruni and Jalal al Din al Rumi New York Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies New York University Press Blair Sheila S 1993 The Development of the Illustrated Book in Iran Muqarnas Saliba G 2006 Al Biruni and the sciences of his time Religion Learning and Science in the Abbasid Period Cambridge University Press p 316 ISBN 0 521 02887 6 Hopkins J F P 2006 Geographical and navigational literature Religion Learning and Science in the Abbasid Period Cambridge University Press pp 405 423 ISBN 0 521 02887 6 External links Edit nbsp Media related to The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries amp oldid 1172102100, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
