Ṯābit ibn Qurra the Ḥarrānian on Talismans and the Spirits of the Planets
2007; Volume: 36; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/cor.2007.0030
ISSN1947-4261
Autores Tópico(s)Medieval and Classical Philosophy
ResumoTÄBIT IBN QURRA THE HARRÄNLAN ON TALISMANS AND THE SPIRITS OF THE PLANETS Charles Burnett Warburg Institute, University of London Near the beginning of his book on magic and talismans, die kitäb assirr al-maktüm (The Book of lhe Hidden Secrel), the twelfth-century polymath, Fahr ad-Din ar-RäzI (1149-1209), records some personal experiences ofTäbit ibn Qurra. Since, as far as I know, diese have not hitherto been cited in die scholarlv literature on Täbit, it is worth quoting the text in full:1 1 . Täbit ibn Qurra, die Harränian, told die following story: "The spirits [ani'äh] ofSaturn were united with me and were helping me against everyone who was opposing me. It happened dial an invidious person incited al-Muwaffaq against me in lhe affair of his son, al-Mucladid, and claimed that I had incited him to do something vile. Consequendy he [al-Muwaffaq] was very angry with me, and I thought he was going to kill me. As I was sleeping on my bed my spirit [rulichilya] came to me, aroused me from my slumber, and ordered me to flee. So I left my house and went into die house of a friend. Just before dawn a messenger from al-Muwaffaq came and looked for me, but did notfind me eidier in my own house, or in Üiose ofmy neighbours. I am grateful for the help ofDavidJuste, Benedek Lang, Sophie Page, Vittoria Perrone Compagni and Peter E. Pormaun. I must also thank Venetia Porter for showing me Islamic magic talismans in the British Museum and explaining how they were constructed. 1 The translation has been made from the Arabic text in MS Berlin, StaatsbibliothekPreu ßischer Kulturbesitz, 588Ö (Pet. I 207), fols 2v-3r. Manfred Ullmami pointed out that Täbit was cited in this text, but did not quote or summarise the citation (390). I am grateful to Sophia Vasalou and Kevin van Bladel for help in interpreting this text. La CORoNiCA 36.1 (Fall, 2007): 13-40 14Charles BurnettLa coránica 3(5.1. 2007 When I got up, I received the news from niv house that the messenger of al-Muwaffaq had looked for me; then he looked for my son Sinän. He was in his bed, but thev did not see him. Then I received the news that [the spirit] concealed him from the search. Moreover, the torches that he [the messenger] had with him, went out, and thev [the messenger's entourage] tried to re-light them but failed. Mv son was coming and going among them in the house and thev did not recognise him, but thev thought that, he was one oftheir own number. Then I questioned my spirit, saving: "Whv did you not do the same for me as you did for niv son?" Thev [the spirits] replied: "Your hayhlg" was in opposition to Mars and to a Fixed star of Mars' complexion. So we did not feel secure in vour case as we did in that ofyour son Sinan; for his lurxlâg was safe from the malefics". 2.Then I made a talisman and it overcame the enemv after 40 days. I got help against him [my enemv] from one of niv brothers, over whom Mars was dominant, and he met with a dreadful end. Then mv spirit was angrv with me and punished me so that 1 feared for mv life. So I apologised to her and told her: "I thought von were too important to be concerned with affairs like those for which I was asking help from others". 1 did not stop Irving to placate her with sacrifice and prayer until she stopped harming my condition. 3.Then I asked him [the spirit of Saturn] to mend the heart of al-Muwaffaq towards me. But Saturn is a cold planet by nature and slow in movement, and so was taking a long time to deal with my case. So I asked Venus for help and made a sacrifice to her. At the same time I made a sacrifice to niv spirit so that she should not harm me for asking for Venus...
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