Magic and Divination in the Middle Ages: Texts and Techniques in the Islamic and Christian Worlds - Couverture rigide

Burnett, Charles

 
9780860786153: Magic and Divination in the Middle Ages: Texts and Techniques in the Islamic and Christian Worlds
Couverture rigide
ISBN 10 : 0860786153 ISBN 13 : 9780860786153
Editeur : Variorum, 1996

Synopsis

After discussing the terminology of talismanic magic (or necromancy) and its position in divisions of science in the Middle Ages, this book traces the history of talismanic texts from the Classical period through the Arabic world to the Latin Middle Ages. The principal authorities are Hermes and Aristotle, and the search for the 'secret knowledge' of these ancient sages is shown to have been a catalyst for the translating activity from Arabic into Latin in 12th-century Spain. The second half of the volume is devoted to examples of the kinds of divination prevalent in Arabic and Latin-reading societies: chiromancy, onomancy, scapulimancy, geomancy and fortune-telling. The book ends with advice on when to practice alchemy and a prophetic letter of supposed Arabic provenance, warning of the coming of the Mongols. Several editions of previously unedited texts are included, with translations.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

À propos de l?auteur

Charles Burnett is Professor of the History of Islamic Influences in Europe at the Warburg Institute, University of London, UK

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Variorum
Date d'édition
1996
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
0860786153
ISBN 13 
9780860786153
Reliure
Relié
Nombre de pages
384
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
non disponible