Canon of Medicine, a medieval Latin translation of the text by Avicenna, 13th century
Contents
The Canon of Medicine contained in MS 165 is a medieval translation of the work by 11th century Persian scholar, physician and astronomer, Avicenna. Avicenna's original Arabic text was translated into Latin in the 12th century by Gerard of Cremona (or perhaps by a slightly later Gerard of Cremona, 'Gerard de Sabloneta'). This 'Canon of Medicine' is an encylcopedic text of five books that give an extensive overview of contemporary medicine in the 11th century, based on the works of Aristotle and Galen. The comprehensive nature of Avicenna's work makes it a very large text, and therefore manuscript copies that contain all five books are not very common, both of the original Arabic text or Latin translation. MS 165 does contain all five books in Latin translation.
The work begins on f. 1r, with the words Liber Canonis primus quem princeps abohali abviscem de medicina edidit translatus a Mag. Girardo Cremonensi in atoleto. Verba Abohali Abvicem... This first folio is difficult to read, as much is erased.
Liber I begins on f. 2v with Dico quod medicina est scientia.... The rubric for the beginning of Book I has been erased. This first book ends on f. 62v.
Liber II begins on f. 63r with a table of contents. The text begins on f. 64r, Liber canonis secundus. Verba principis albuhai. Orum librorum quos de medicina specificauim. primus..., and ends on f. 121v.
Liber III begins after a table of contents (ff. 122r-123v), on f. 124v: Dictio pria de universis egritudinibus capitis terta libri canonis i medicina. Capitulum prius... Book III ends on f. 295v.
Liber IV has a table of contents (ff. 296r-297v), and the text begins on f. 298r with Debris est calor extraneus accensus in corde et percedens ab eo mediantibus... It ends on f. 377v.
Liber V begins on f. 378r with the words Postquam expediti sumus in libris quatorum a relatione... Book V ends on f. 406r with the words ad tinnitum aurium. Explicit quintus liber et ultimus Avicenne. Deo Gratias.
Dates
- Creation: 13th century
Creator
- From the Item: Avicenna, 980-1037 (Persian physician, astronomer, thinker and writer) (Author, Person)
- From the Item: Gherardo, da Cremona, 1113 or 1114-1187 (translator of Arabic works into Latin) (Translator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.
Full Extent
406 folios
Language of Materials
Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
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Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
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